Caregivers, Public Health Leaders, & Educators To Receive Home Care and Hospice Excellence Awards

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) is presenting awards this week to eight exceptional individuals and programs, recognizing their excellence in the home care and hospice fields across New York State.

“We are so pleased to honor an outstanding group of recipients this year, who embody the very best of our profession. Through their skills, dedication and talents, they have made indelible contributions to home care and hospice,” said Al Cardillo, president and CEO of HCA. “It is our great privilege to recognize their efforts.” 

This year’s recipients are:

Ruth F. Wilson Award: HCA’s highest honor is given to a dedicated individual, who has significantly contributed to home care over their career.  Ginger Hall, Public Health Director, Jefferson County, Watertown, has been a home care leader for 35 years, championing needs and solutions throughout the field, and especially giving voice for rural and small communities home care needs across the state. She currently leads the Jefferson County Public Health Service, where she has held progressive roles with increasing responsibility, from Public Health Nurse to Quality Improvement Coordinator, Supervising Public Health Nurse and Director of Patient Services.  

In addition, Ginger devoted eight years of statewide service to the HCA board from 2009 to 2017, and was a powerful and effective voice at the Board’s policy, advocacy, member service and visionary levels.  Under a grant with HCA, she is currently piloting a Collaborative Model of Community Medicine and Paramedicine the Jefferson County/North Country region of NY intended to be a prototype for the entire state. The model integrates home care, hospitals, primary care and emergency medical services, to create a potential new collaborative paradigm in service delivery. Her work has since been shared with the Governor’s Office, Department of Health, Health Plans and others as the model for how innovation and collaboration can be done across the state. 

Caring Awards: The awards recognize those who have exhibited exemplary compassion, skills and service and/or whose actions exemplify caring in the home care setting. 

Yolanda Drayton, RN Educator, Americare, Brooklyn has trained countless nurses and caregivers over the course of her near 50-year career. Many home health aides often talk about their training from Miss Yolanda and the impact she has made on their lives. Recently, she ran Americare’s first Hybrid Training program to remotely train new home health aides to meet workforce shortages. 

Janet Sovik, Home Health Aide, Nascentia Health, Syracuse, is one of her agency’s most reliable and dedicated aides. At 82 years of age, she has no plans to retire. She often works seven days a week to care for her patients and never misses a shift due to inclement weather.  She views home care as a calling, “because you’re caring for someone. You know you’re doing something good for someone that they can’t do for themselves.” 

Home Care Champion Award: The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a strong and model commitment to home care patients and agency partners. 

Tracy Crandall, RN Case Manager, Eddy VNRA, Troy, was recognized for always going the extra mile with her patients and her team. She routinely delivers outstanding patient care and accepts extra visits. She is the first nurse to volunteer for training new hires and allowing them to shadow her for the day. She makes sure that her patients’ needs are met, often donating food for those who might not have enough to eat. 

Trailblazer Award for Quality and Innovation: The award recognizes a home care or hospice provider agency, Managed Long Term Care plan or team that has implemented an innovative clinical model, workforce supports, patient or staff education program, or other initiative with improved outcomes in terms of client satisfaction, population health improvement, and/or cost reduction or avoidance. 

The VNS Health Nurse Residency Program in New York City supports the transition to practice for recent nursing school graduates who are licensed, or nurses new to the home care specialty, with less than a year of nursing experience. It includes classroom activity, shadow visits alongside veteran nurses, and support in the field. Residents are paired with experienced field nurses assigned as their “Preceptors,” who support their development in hands-on patient care skills and help residents become more confident. Representatives: Monica Cayemitte, Elizer Cooper Audain, Yvonne Eaddy, and Alice Rainford-Miller. 

Media are invited to hear from awardees and learn about their extraordinary work during our awards ceremony. If wishing to attend, please contact HCA’s Communications Director Brandon Vogel in advance. Award photos are available upon request.  HCA Annual Awards Ceremony May 4, 2023 Noon to 1:30 p.m. Saratoga Hilton 534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866