Visiting Nurse Service of New York: strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities

Visiting Nurse Service of New York provides in home health care services to numerous patients throughout the state of New York. It was founded by one of the most famous nurses of the 19th and 20th centuries, Lillian Wald. It is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to administer health care services at affordable rates to its burgeoning population of patients. As of yet, there are no plans to expand the practice outside the borders of New York.

Strengths

The lengthy history of this organization offers it a degree of familiarity and trust with its customer base. Additionally, Wald's involvement provides a degree of credibility within the healthcare industry as a whole.

Human Resources: The storied history of this organization is partly responsible for its ability to attract myriad employees (approximately 15,000) (Hoover's, 2015), who are able to serve a broad spectrum of the population by speaking numerous languages.

Not-For-Profit Status: The not-for-practice status of this entity enables it to access government funds to augment its own financial practices.

Structuring: Visiting Nurse Service of New York is the central agency for numerous other entities, including VNSNY Home Care and its subsidiary, Partners in Care, VSNY Hospice and Palliative Care, and VNSNY Choice Health Funds. These entities enable the primary organization to expand its presence and customer base.

Weaknesses

Funding: Due to its non-profit status, Visiting Nurse Service of New York is effectively dependent on funding from outside sources. Fluctuations in governmental budgets can conceivably noxiously impact its ability to deliver services.

Location: The fact that this entity solely operates in New York prevents it from expanding to other regions. Thus, national competitors might be able to establish contracts with local companies that can possibly detract from Visiting Nurse Service of New York's business.

Patient and Affordable Care Act: This piece of legislation has enabled those with previously existent conditions and a lack of health care insurance to access conventional health care services, which can reduce the population served by Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Threats

Health Care Advances -- Advances in technology, science and healthcare have resulted in a situation in which people have increased access to care and are able to live longer without as much healthcare as they previously needed.

National Care providers -- National home healthcare providers, such as Gentiva, are regularly making acquisitions to gain traction throughout the country as home health care providers that are familiar to clients (Gentiva, 2015) -- some of which are even in New York. National competition can infringe on the New York territory.