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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2007
Enfield, CT
AHF AGAIN SUCCESSFULLY
AWARDED JOINT COMMISSION (JCAHO) CERTIFICATION
“The Joint
Commission would like to thank your organization for participating
in the Joint Commission’s accreditation process. This process is
designed to help your organization continuously provide safe,
high-quality care, treatment, and services by identifying
opportunities for improvement in your processes and helping you
follow
through on and implement these improvements. We encourage you to use
the accreditation process as a continuous standards compliance and
operational improvement tool.
The Joint
Commission is granting your organization an accreditation decision
of Accredited for all services surveyed under the applicable
manual(s) noted below: • Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Home
Care.
This accreditation cycle is effective beginning November 14, 2007.
The Joint Commission reserves the right to shorten or lengthen the
duration of the cycle; however, the certificate and cycle are
customarily valid for up to 39 months. “
“Linda S.
Murphy-Knoll
Interim Executive Vice President
Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2007
Enfield, CT
2007 Award Winners Announced
AHF®, Inc. – the Bleeding Disorders Homecare Company – is proud to
announce the winners of the 2007 Kathy Ann Keenan National
Award for Excellence in Bleeding Disorders Care.
Created in 2005, this bi-annual award was originally entitled the
National Award for Excellence in Bleeding Disorders Care.
The Award was renamed in 2007 for Kathy Ann Keenan, 18-year Vice
President of AHF and the wife of AHF's founder, Donald Colburn.
This Award honors Kathy Ann, who passed away in 2006, for her
courage and her inspiration.
Award winners this year include community leaders, doctors, nurses
and social workers from around the country. Each of them was
nominated in recognition of their service to the bleeding disorders
community and their commitment to excellence. We congratulate each
of the winners this year and wish them continued success.
Award Recipients – 2007
Community Leaders
Mary Ann
Ludwig, Vice President for Development
National Hemophilia Foundation (New York, NY)
Kevin
O’Connor, President
United Virginia Chapter of NHF (Midlothian, VA)
Jane
Smith, Program Director
New
England Hemophilia Association (Shrewsbury, MA)
Susan
Swindle, Administrative Director
Hemophilia Federation of America (Lafayette, LA)
Bob
Robinson, Executive Director
Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois (Chicago, IL)
Kelly
Waters, Executive Director
United Virginia Chapter of NHF (Midlothian, VA)
Doctors
Emlen
Jones, MD, Head of Pediatrics
Amherst Pediatrics (Amherst, MA)
Craig
Kessler, MD, Hematology|
Georgetown University Medical Center (Washington, DC)
Mark
Musselman, MD, Hematology
Carle Clinic (Urbana, IL)
Nehal
Parikh, MD, Hematology
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (Hartford, CT)
John
Puetz, MD, Pediatric Hematology
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center (Saint Louis, MO)
Richard
Steingart, MD, Hematology
D’Amour Center for Cancer Care (Springfield, MA)
Nurses
Julie
Arnone, Registered Nurse
Yale-New Haven Hemophilia Treatment Center (New Haven, CT)
Kim
DelaRocher, Registered Nurse
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (Hartford, CT)
Glenda
Eckert, Registered Nurse/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Arkansas Children’s Hospital Hemophilia Treatment Center (Little
Rock, AK)
Pat
Forand, Registered Nurse
Clinical Trials, New England Hemophilia Treatment Center (Worcester,
MA)
Sarah
Hawk, Physician’s Assistant
Oklahoma Center for Bleeding Disorders (Oklahoma City, OK)
Stephanie Knight, Registered Nurse
onnecticut Children’s Medical Center (Hartford, CT)
Jan
Kuhn, Registered Nurse
VCU - Central Virginia Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation Clinic
(Richmond, VA)
Judy
Martin, Registered Nurse(Deltaville,
VA)
Tammy
Plante, Registered Nurse
Maxim Home Health (Smithfield, VA)
Glen
Roy, Registered Nurse
Maine Medical Center (Scarborough, ME)
Mark
Womack, Registered Nurse
Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center (Houston, TX)
Social Workers
Bill
Berger, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
St. Louis University Medical Center (St. Louis, MO)
Katie
Lynch, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Bleeding Disorders Center of Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Enfield, CT
August 2007
AHF – THE BLEEDING
DISORDERS HOMECARE COMPANY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS 2007 ANNUAL
SURVEY RESULTS
2007 AHF ANNUAL CLIENT
EXPECTATIONS AND SATISFACTION SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
OUR CLIENTS HAVE JUDGED THE QUALITY OF THE AHF HOMECARE PROGRAM. WE
ARE VERY PROUD TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH YOU.
Based upon their expectations and their level of satisfaction during
2006 – 2007, AHF clients answered the questions on our yearly
survey. The AHF Expectations and Satisfaction Survey is distributed
to all clients yearly in the spring and the results are published
yearly in the fall.
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR OVERALL EXPERIENCES AND YOUR SUGGESTIONS
FOR IMPROVEMENT
OVERALL EXPERIENCES WITH AHF SERVICES
• Wonderful • Excellent – you always go above and beyond. • Awesome • Good work! • Very happy- staff is always caring and supportive • We are new to AHF and have been very impressed with the quality of
care given • We love AHF • The Best • Excellent, I can always depend on Shirley • Outstanding Service • Wonderful, everybody at AHF demonstrates that they really care
about you and your needs. Just like family. • As always it has been great! I have spoken to the kindest people
ever. • Amazing • Thank you for all you do for my 10 year old daughter, it is so
very helplful. • The small goodies you include in our order makes it a nice
surprise for my son to open when we receive the package. I really
appreciate it.
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
WHEN I ORDER MEDICATION FROM AHF, I EXPECT IT TO ARRIVE WHEN I NEED
IT. Yes = 100%
AHF DELIVERS MY MEDICATIONS WHEN I NEED THEM.
Agree = 100%
WHEN I OPEN MY ORDERS, I EXPECT THAT THEY WILL CONTAIN THE
MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES I HAVE ORDERED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. Agree = 100%
WHEN MY ORDERS ARRIVE, THEY DO CONTAIN THE MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES
I HAVE ORDERED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. Agree = 100%
WHEN CALLING DURING BUSINESS HOURS, I EXPECT MY CALLS ANSWERED
QUICKLY AND COURTEOUSLY. Yes = 100%
WHEN I CALL AHF DURING BUSINESS HOURS, MY CALLS ARE ANSWERED QUICKLY
AND COURTEOUSLY. Agree = 100%
WHEN I CALL AHF AFTER HOURS, I EXPECT MY CALLS TO BE ANSWERED
QUICKLY AND COURTEOUSLY. Yes = 100%
WHEN I CALL AHF AFTER HOURS, MY CALLS ARE ANSWERED QUICKLY AND
COURTEOUSLY. Agree = 100%
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT AHF CALLS REGULARLY TO CHECK ON THE
AMOUNT OF FACTOR MEDICATION AND SUPPLIES THAT I HAVE ON HAND. Agree = 100%
I THINK THE EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES, ARTICLE REPRINTS, AND THE AHF
WEBSITE, WWW.AHFINFO.COM ARE VALUABLE PARTS OF THE AHF SERVICE
PROGRAM. Agree = 85% Sometimes Agree = 15%
I EXPECT AHF TO KEEP ME WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY
INSURANCE BILLING AND CLAIMS. Yes = 100%
AHF KEEPS ME WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY INSURANCE BILLING
AND CLAIMS. Agree = 90% Sometimes Agree = 10%
I EXPECT AHF TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY
OF MY HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION. Yes = 100%
I FEEL I AM KEPT INFORMED ABOUT THE WAYS AHF PROTECTS THE PRIVACY,
SECURITY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF MY HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION. Agree = 100%
I RELY ON AHF’S SAFETY PROGRAM, INCLUDING INFORMATION, AND I
REGULARLY USE THE SHARPS CONTAINERS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO ME FOR THE
DISPOSAL OF WASTE. Agree = 100%
I AM VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO ME/MY
FAMILY BY AHF. Yes = 100%
SUGGESTIONS –
• None, you do a great job, Thank You! • Nothing to suggest, you are all wonderful • You keep improving – good luck with the latest computer upgrade. • I appreciate all your efforts and TLC in transitioning us to AHF.
Send more information about HIV & Factor VIII. • Quality assurance on shipping labels could be improved.
[Follow-up: Computer software program was adjusted to modify
shipping label information.] • We are so glad to be a part of the AHF family-finally. • Keep up the good work! • The many years I received services from AHF I never had even one
problem, so I don’t know how you would improve perfection. Please
keep up the great work. • None you do a great job. Thank you! • A box arrived with bent cardboard corners. [Follow-up: Shipping
ice pack arrangement was adjusted to prevent items shifting.] • No suggestions at this time. • No complaints at all. Your service is wonderful. Special thanks to
Tabby Mayhan for her service and getting me involved.
SUMMARY NOTES ON METHOD
• Percentages were based on a variance of +/- 1 response.
• In some cases where respondents selected N/A it may have been that
they were new clients unable to evaluation changes “in the past
year” or changes “compared to last year”.
• In some cases respondents may have selected N/A to state that the
particular service did not apply to their family.
• Responses of “N/A” - “not applicable to me or my family” have been
excluded from totals for that particular question. For example: if
100 responses were recorded for a question and 10 of the responses
were “N/A” then the base used for calculation would be 90
respondents.
• In some cases where respondents selected “no” when asked their
expectations, it may be that their expectations were noted as
negative while the service they actually received was noted as
positive.
Contact us to make AHF part of your treatment team, and we will
promise you that your call will receive personalized attention
800-243-4621.
• Full line of clotting medications and supplies to complete an
infusion
• On-site pharmacy warehouse
• 24/7 personal client services support
• Next-day home/clinic delivery coast-to-coast
• All reimbursements negotiated for the client
• Visiting nurse services when required
• Reimbursement coordination services
• Waste disposal (sharps containers) at no cost
• MedicAlert program identification
• Individualized usage history permanently retained
• Wallet information cards upon request
• Nearly 100% client satisfaction year-after-year ... as you can
see!
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006
Suffield, CT
IN
MEMORIAM
Donald
E. Colburn,
of
Suffield, CT,
was
born on March 27th, 1951 in Springfield, MA, the younger
child of Ernest and Elaine (Cizek) Colburn.
Donald died in his home on July 17 from complications of lung
cancer. He was raised
in Agawam, MA and was a graduate of Agawam High School; he had
attended American International College in Springfield, MA.
He was a long time resident of Springfield, MA, before moving
to Suffield in 1998; he was also a long time summer resident of
North Eastham, MA.
Donald’s
life was one of outstanding community service to the bleeding
disorders community. Donald lived with severe Hemophilia A and many
of its complications and, as a consequence, was committed to the
creation of a better world for individuals and families living with
bleeding disorders.
He
experienced the many decades of family-led blood drives, the months
that so many young people, like himself, had to spend homebound and
in wheelchairs, and then the devastation of HIV and AIDS.
Donald understood the importance of community strength,
community advocacy, and comprehensive approaches to bleeding
disorders treatment.
Donald’s volunteer
leadership activities, in support of quality hemophilia care, have
spanned the last 35 years and have included his years as Executive
Director of the New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA).
His national volunteer work included participation in the
Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Hemophilia Treatment
Center grant review program; the Centers for Disease Control’s
Care Standards Committee and its Hemophilia/HIV Treatment Center
Compliance Site Visit program; and the National Hemophilia
Foundation’s (NHF’s) Blood Products Monitoring Committee, Blood
Safety Committee, MANN Committee, the Committee of Ten Thousand,
Advocacy Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and It’s Time
for a Cure committee; he won many awards and citations from NEHA
and NHF for his volunteer work and fund raising efforts, including
the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Act of 1998.
He was a supporter of the Hemophilia Foundation of America,
especially of its advocacy programs. Donald was a consultant to the
President of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and to
physicians of WFH to help develop quality international hemophilia
programs including Operation Access.
He was a past president,
volunteer, and supporter of the Kiwanis International Club of
Greater Springfield and the Cape.
He supported the United Way of the Pioneer Valley, the Jimmy
Fund, Special Olympics, many of the first AIDS service
organizations, including Project Inform, AIDS Action, Camp
Heartland, Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang Camp, and the Elizabeth Glasser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
He was an award-winning
employee of Miles/Cutter, division of Bayer, and was a volunteer
participant in their clinical studies for the development of
recombinant factor VIII products.
In
1989, he and his beloved wife Kathy Ann Keenan, founded AHF®,
Inc. a homecare pharmacy whose mission is to serve the needs of the
bleeding disorders community by supplying life-giving medications
and support to individuals and families. As Founder, President
& CEO of AHF ®, Inc. along with Kathy as Executive Vice
President, AHF, for the past 18 years, has offered the bleeding
disorders community a completely reliable homecare alternative.
AHF’s corporate commitment to charitable giving has included
support for local chapters, support for hemophilia camps across the
country, funding for national lay organizations, academic
scholarship awards for higher education, and contributions to
medical research for a cure. He and Kathy’s final efforts
were the development of the Colburn-Keenan Foundation, as a means to
perpetuate their hopes for and service to the bleeding disorders
community.
Donald was pre-deceased by
his wife and best friend, Kathy Ann Keenan, on May 5, 2006.
He leaves behind his mother Elaine (Cizek) Colburn, sister
Diane Zatyrka and her husband Stephen Zatyrka; nephew Scott Zatyrka
and his partner, Lois Willis and their daughter, Sammie; nephew Mark
Zatyrka and his girlfriend Sasha Fles; his sister-in-law and
brother-in-law Patricia Keenan and Frank Baran; sister-in-law and
brother-in-law Susan and Thomas Keenan and their daughter Hilary
Keenan, and his black lab companion Sadie.
Donald leaves behind dozens of close friends, colleagues, and
neighbors who will miss him and he leaves behind a loving staff who
will honor his life and contributions and will deeply grieve his
passing from us. In
keeping with Donald’s wishes, there will be no services; cremation
and internment will be private and at the convenience of his family.
Instead, he asked for a big party, so there will be a
celebration of his life on September 16th, 2006, at
King’s Philip’s Stockade at Forest Park, in Springfield, MA
starting at 10:15 a.m. His family welcomes any remembrances and stories to be shared
and asks they be sent to their attention in care of AHFÒ,
Inc., PO Box 985, Enfield, CT 06083.
In lieu of flowers, they have requested donations to the Colburn-Keenan
Foundation, PO Box 811, Enfield, CT 06083.
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2005
Enfield, CT
AHF®,
Inc. – the Hemophilia Disease Management Company – is
proud to announce the expansion of our national staff organization.
During the second and third quarters of 2006 AHF added 3 new
staff positions to our organization.
We are proud to welcome Donna Corbin Sobinski who has joined
the staff as a Client Services Specialist.
Donna is based at the AHF corporate headquarters office in
Enfield, Connecticut. In
addition, we are proud to welcome Mandy McCullough, and Sandy Lilly
who join the staff as Client Relations Advisors.
We have the privilege of introducing each to you
individually.
Donna Corbin Sobinski
Donna Corbin
Sobinski joins the AHF staff as a Client Services Specialist.
Donna brings with her over 20 years experience working in
information technology working in the education and manufacturing
sectors as well as in medical billing systems.
Donna also brings years of community service as a Girl Scout
leader and educator and as a current member of her local Board of
Education.
Donna has been
married for 25 years, raised two daughters, and is a breast cancer
survivor. Donna began
her involvement with hemophilia at the start of her career at AHF. However, she has a very personal experience with Hepatitis C.
Donna, as the rest of our staff, looks forward to the day
when medications are developed that will eradicate Hep C.
We are fortunate
that we can offer our clients Donna’s knowledge, skills, and
dedication. We extend a
warm welcome to Donna and wish Donna the very best at AHF.
Mandy
McCullough
In
2002, Mandy and her husband, Mike, welcomed the birth of their first
child. Their new baby
boy was diagnosed at birth with severe Hemophilia A.
With no family history of bleeding disorders and knowing
nothing about hemophilia, the McCullough’s immediately sought out
education and information on Hemophilia.
They
quickly began their community involvement by joining the National
Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and the New England Hemophilia
Association. Mandy’s
family also took an interest in hemophilia and raising funds for
hemophilia. “Our
family farm got involved with the Cow Parade. In 2003 the Cow Parade
was presented in West Hartford, CT.
Working with family and friends, we were able to purchase a
Cow Parade cow. The
proceeds were donated to the National Hemophilia Foundation and to
the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
We have purchased mini cows and pins to sell with proceeds
going to NHF. The cow continues to make its way around the local
area.”
Mandy
has a BA in science from the University of Delaware and has
completed all of her course work for a Masters in Elementary
Education. Mandy brings
6 years of experience in the insurance industry, working in contract
management and consumer service.
Mandy joins the AHF staff as a Client Relations Advisor.
She is happy to talk with other families and give back the
kind of support that has provided so much help to her family.
We
are delighted to be able to bring Mandy’s experience, compassion,
and knowledge of the issues facing young families to our clients. We wish her success and happiness in her new position in the
New England region.
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