In April, Autism Speaks kicks off World Autism Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. BAYADA employees from across the country showed their support by taking the pledge to “Light It Up Blue” to increase global understanding and acceptance of people with autism.

Pictured from left to right are Practice President Behavioral Health Support Jeff Krepps; Behavior Services Manager Rachel Miller, LBA, BCBA; Area Director Eliza Lipp, LCSW; Associate Director Marchet Fullum; Chief Operating Officer Home Care Services Linda Siessel; and Minister Kumu Kekoa.

A life-size wall made of giant Legos provided the perfect backdrop during a ceremony to mark the grand opening of BAYADA’s Center-Based Services program on Oahu. The celebration follows the successful launch of center-based services on Maui in 2017. BAYADA Home Care is a nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health services throughout Hawai’i

The Lego wall is a signature feature of the center, along with brightly colored floor mats, a crash pad, a climbing structure, bean bag chairs, crayons, puzzles, books, balls, and blocks. It’s all used as part of an evidence-based approach called applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to treat individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and related learning or social disorders.

BAYADA Habilitation, a BAYADA Home Health Care specialty practice, was recently awarded accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). BAYADA Habilitation helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live safely at home and participate in their communities with comfort, independence, and dignity. The CARF accreditation was awarded to habilitation offices in Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, Shelby, Wilmington, and Winston Salem in N.C. and to the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and Wilkes-Barre offices in P.A.

BAYADA Home Health Care has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognizing the Best Places to Work in 2019. The Employees’ Choice Awards program, now in its 11th year, is based solely on the input of employees, who elect to provide feedback on their jobs, work environments and companies on Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites.

By expanding services to Missouri, BAYADA will be able to serve more clients like Leeanna, pictured  with her nurse Cyndi Fitzpatrick.

BAYADA Home Health Care and Integrity Home Care recently announced that BAYADA has acquired Integrity’s pediatrics division. BAYADA is a leading, national home care agency serving children, adults, and seniors from more than 350 offices in 22 states. Integrity is one of Missouri’s largest home care agencies, providing a wide range of home care, hospice, and rehabilitation services to clients throughout the state.

As part of BAYADA Home Health Care’s transition to nonprofit and to show gratitude to BAYADA employees for the meaningful work they do, BAYADA Founder and Chairman Mark Baiada today surprised employees with a $20 million gift to be distributed among RNs, LPNs, social workers, home health aides, therapists, associates, client services managers, clinical managers, office support, and other staff among the ten specialties in the 22 states in which the company operates.

Pictured (from l to r) are Laerdal National Account Manager Robert Reedy, Laerdal Program Development Manager Robert Rupert, Laerdal President David Johnson, BAYADA Division Director Recruitment and Retention Michael Ward, BAYADA Senior Associate Adam Satko, BAYADA Director Pediatric Simulation Operations Heather Kuzara, RN, BSN, CHSE, BAYADA Clinical Simulation Lead Adult Nursing Angie Shaw, RN, BSN, and Associate Director Adult Nursing Jessica Rosofsky.

Laerdal Medical Corporation, a world leader in providing training, education, and therapy products for lifesaving and emergency care, presented BAYADA Home Health Care with the Pinnacle Award for Collaboration in Education (PACE). BAYADA received this prestigious honor for demonstrating excellence in innovative simulation programs to help save lives and improve patient care.  BAYADA is a national provider of care at home to children, adult, and seniors.

BAYADA Pediatrics Minneapolis Associate Director Frances Fernandez, was recently appointed as Chair of the Minnesota Home Care Association’s (MHCA) Workforce Task Force. BAYADA Pediatrics, a BAYADA Home Health Care specialty practice, provides nursing services at home and school for children from birth through adolescence.

MHCA is a professional trade association of 150 home care providers in Minnesota working to ensure that quality home care services continue to be accessible for residents who need it. The Workforce Task Force focuses on helping to feed the pipeline of qualified home care nurses to meet growing population demands and to stem a burgeoning nursing shortage in Minnesota.

                        NJ Assemblyman Anthony Bucco visited the home of a pediatric home care patient. Pictured (from l to r) are BAYADA Pediatrics Director Christine Rios, Christina Cerza, mother of patient Carly Zukowsky; BAYADA Clinical Manager Kathleen Rush; Bucco, and Carly.

Christine Rios, director of the BAYADA Pediatrics office in Morris Plains, NJ, has been recognized as the national BAYADA Home Health Care Government Affairs Ambassador of the Year for her outstanding dedication to legislative advocacy on behalf of patients and staff. She was selected for this prestigious honor from more than 250 Ambassadors across the country.

Pictured  are BAYADA CEO David Baiada, Cristina Gomes, former BAYADA Director Ann Baiada, and BAYADA Chairman Mark Baiada

Cristina Gomes, BSN, RN, a clinical manager with BAYADA Home Health Care, was recently recognized with the prestigious Ann Baiada Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership. Gomes was honored for exemplifying the highest standards of nursing excellence before more than 2,000 employees at the company’s annual awards meeting held in Charlotte, NC.

“It is an honor to be the recipient of this year’s Ann Baiada Award,” said Gomes as she accepted the recognition from the award’s namesake, former BAYADA Director Ann Baiada. “Thank you to my BAYADA family for believing in me, for pushing me to be the best, and for making it so enjoyable to come to work every day.”