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Visiting Nurses Association outlines staffing changes and a $630,000 operating loss for 2025
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Summary
Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association leaders reported organizational restructuring, growing service volumes in early 2026, and a 2025 operational loss of about $630,000 (partly offset by donor bequests). They asked the commission and community partners to sustain support as they implement operational changes.
Leaders of the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) presented an operational and program update to the commission April 8, describing leadership changes, service expansion and financial pressures.
CEO Melinda Ward and board chair David Thomas said the VNA has hired new senior staff, rebuilt hospice leadership and is expanding clinical programs including a summer vestibular therapy program and enhanced RN support for home health visits. David Thomas said board and community confidence in the agency has increased since the leadership transition and urged continued county support.
Pamela Morgan, chief financial officer, said the agency lost roughly $630,000 in 2025 operations but that large one‑time bequests (~$600,000 in two payments) had prevented an even larger deficit. Morgan said the VNA withdrew $700,000 from one investment account to cover operations and maintains a separate restricted account; she described a multi‑point plan of clinical, operational and partnership changes designed to improve margins, grow census and sustain charitable care.
VNA officials emphasized they do not turn away patients for inability to pay, summarized charity‑care volumes and described partnerships with Lawrence Memorial Hospital for general inpatient (GIP) hospice transfers where the hospital's payment passes through to LMH. Commissioners thanked VNA leaders for transparency and said the commission would continue hearing updates during the budget process.
