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VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region CEO Ronald J. Cioffi, RN Announces Retirement After 40-Year Career at Agency

RUTLAND, VT (November23, 2020)– Ronald J. Cioffi, RN, and CEO of the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR), one of the state’s largest providers of skilled home health and hospice services, announced plans to retire in June of 2021.

Cioffi, a registered nurse, and native Vermonter joined the VNA (then known as the Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association) in 1980 as a dialysis nurse. In 1992 he was promoted to the Chief Executive Officer role and oversaw the agency through unprecedented financial growth and an expansion in areas served and breadth of services. Cioffi led the agency in establishing new services and partnerships including specialty clinical programs such as pediatric rehabilitation, pediatric high-tech services, wound care, hospice and palliative care, and telemonitoring.

Under Cioffi’s leadership, the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region continues to be recognized nationally for quality patient care, including obtaining the HomeCare Elite designation ten times in the last twelve years and in 2017 being named a Top 100 Agency, as well as surpassing national benchmarks in Home Care and Hospice Care.

Ron Cioffi, leadership, RAVNAH, VNA & Hospice, CEO

Cioffi, a sought-after expert on home health care, serves on the Board of Directors at Rutland Regional Medical Center and the VNAs of Vermont and VNA Health System. He was one of the initial partners in the VNA Health System and has served as Board Chair for the VNAs of Vermont three times. In 2014, he was named the Rutland Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year.

“It’s difficult to articulate how much Ron has done for the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region and those who live and work in Rutland and Bennington Counties,” said Dan DiBattista, President of the Board of Directors. “Ron is a visionary who has led the agency through some of the most challenging times in healthcare and he has led with expertise, energy, passion, and a dedication to the residents of the communities we serve.”

“Ron’s strategic vision and tireless advocacy for patient care have been the driving forces behind the growth of the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region,” said Bill Bannerman, Vice President of the Board of Directors.

“I have been fortunate to work with some of the best, brightest, and talented professionals throughout this agency, with our Board of Directors, our generous donors, and our community partners,” said Cioffi. “They have allowed me to leave a legacy at the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region and work in the communities I love.”

Major Milestones achieved during Cioffi’s leadership include:

  • Expanded the agency’s service area through strategic growth by merging with Rutland Area Hospice in 1996, the Dorset Visiting Nurse Association in 2007, acquiring the VNA & Hospice of Southern Vermont Medical Center in 2014 and merging with Manchester Health Services in 2017 and unifying the agency under the name of VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region.
  • Increased the agency’s financial strength from $600,000 in net assets in 1992 to over $21 million today, and grew operating revenue from $3.4 million in 1992 to over $22 million today, thus positioning the agency for future growth.
  • Successfully led the agency’s first capital campaign in 2003 for an expansion of the agency headquarters and the second campaign in 2018 that culminated in the building of the Bannerman Family Hospice & Palliative Care Center.
  • Grew a system of diverse offerings through the addition of services that reflected the needs of the community, including Kids on the Move, pediatric rehabilitation services in 1995, and merged with the volunteer-based Hospice program in 1996 fully integrating clinical and volunteer services.
  • Pursued innovative partnerships that created the VNA Health System of Vermont, the Coalition for Adult Immunization in the Rutland Region (CAIRR), Bridges and Beyond, and the Rutland Health Foundation.
  • Strengthened operational performance by establishing an organization-wide strategic planning process that advanced the agency through growth, expansion, and innovative programs.
  • Invested in technologies and systems that helped guide the agency through three Medicare payment systems (the Interim Payment System, Prospective Payment System, and most recently the Patient Driven Grouping Model) that challenged agencies nationwide.
  • Guided the organization through a critical response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the safety of both staff and patients.

A committee from the VNAHSR Board of Directors has created a committee to begin the process of selecting the agency’s next Chief Executive Officer.

About the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region

Founded in Rutland, Vermont, the VNAHSR has grown to include locations throughout Bennington and Rutland Counties. VNAHSR is a non-profit, Medicare-certified home health and hospice agency delivering a wide range of advanced medical care with compassion, dependability, and expertise to people of all ages.

With office locations in Bennington, Dorset, Manchester, and Rutland, we have over 300 trusted health professionals and caregivers committed to providing exceptional care to patients and families.

Proud of our national reputation for quality care, VNAHSR is highly rated for Quality of Patient Care and Patient Satisfaction from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is recognized as one of the nation’s top performing home health agencies by HomeCare Elite, a market-leading review that identifies top Medicare-certified agencies.