Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1044134
wbjournal.com | October 29, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 15 Kennedy CHC celebrates a decade of exceptional women. Congratulations to all the honorees, past and present. A special congratulations to our President and CEO, Antonia "Toni" G. McGuire, Outstanding Women in Business honoree, 2016. O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F O C U S 2010 ALUMNAE S ince Elaine Fluet became an Outstanding Women in Business eight years ago, her organization has been doing more palliative care – care for those with a life-limiting condition – in addition to post-acute care, which is care such as oxygen administration and wound care aer a hospital stay. e home healthcare organization has grown from 160 employees to 200, serving a geographically more diverse area over the past eight years. "e number of visits have increased 53 percent," Fluet said. "ose are pretty high numbers." An employee since 1985 and its CEO since 2004, Fluet said GVNA works hard to meet increasing caseloads while hiring the best and brightest to join its team. Fluet said it is not unusual for people to live beyong 100 and want to stay in their homes. "Our biggest challenge is in hiring paraprofessionals. It's not easy work, but for the right person, it's wonderful work," she said. GVNA works to ensure arrangements work for its employees, too. e organiza- tion has a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In addition to quality staffing to maintain high standards of care, technology is always evolving, Fluet said. e company is always working to keep updated, seeking the best and most-efficient ways to serve its clients. e group is changing its elec- tronic medical records' vendor, for example. "We'll be able to capture better quality outcomes, help employees maintain a better work-life balance," said Fluet. "is product is easier to use." GVNA stays current with technology to help keep people in their homes, not to take the place of visits, but to provide better monitoring in between for things like vital signs for patients with diabetes or heart disease. Since winning the award, Fluet has welcomed three more grandchildren, and now has five altogether. "ey bring me great joy," she said. - Written by Susan Shalhoub Elaine Fluet Now: President & CEO of GVNA HealthCare in Gardner W