Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1235493
A Year of This past year was filled with changes for the organization and for healthcare in Ventura County. In May, we said goodbye to Dr. Charles Hair. Livingston would not exist today if it were not for Dr. Hair. Few people have affected Ventura County more positively; his vision and dedication to helping patients stay in their homes to heal led him to create an alliance with the Ventura Visiting Nurse Association. That alliance grew and in 1982, the VNA changed its name to the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. Dr. Hair served as Board Chairman for 30 years and he continued to be an advocate for Livingston until his death. Laura K. McAvoy, Board Chairman Lanyard K. Dial,MD President and CEO Dr. Hair touched the lives of countless Ventura County residents, both directly and indirectly. His greatest legacy is in the warm memories and deep gratitude that we all carry for him. Part of Dr. Hair's legacy is Livingston's commitment to serving Ventura County residents that would otherwise not be able to receive quality home health, palliative and hospice care. Through the years, we have served thousands of patients through our subsidized care program. For many years, Livingston was the only home health and medical hospice that would provide care to the uninsured and underinsured. We saw the number of subsidized care patients reach a peak in 2015. We continue to be the primary safety net for the underinsured and uninsured in the County. As changes have happened in health care insurance reimbursement and coverage, we are grateful to see other home health and hospice agencies opening up to vulnerable patients. This shift has helped to ease the burden on Livingston's subsidized care program and allowed us to expand other much needed services to the community, such as grief and bereavement counseling in the local schools and community education regarding end of life decisions. Our mission is to provide care to Ventura County residents. Over time, the type of care that is needed may change. We are ready to respond to those changes in the community. We continue to provide excellent, patient-centered care through our home- based care, community education programs, and grief services. We are proud to call Ventura County home and honored to help take care of our neighbors in need. Changes The Changing Face of Health Care in Ventura County