Top 500 agency

Top 500 agency

Austintown

Shepherd of the Valley Home Health has been named one of the top 500 home-health agencies in the country, according to the 2010 HomeCare Elite.

Now in its fifth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of home-health agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

Ann Sevenich, associate director of Community Services, credits Kris Siciliano, home health director, and all of Shepherd of the Valley Home Health’s staff with the company’s ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite.

The 2010 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home-health industry and is brought to the industry by OCS HomeCare, the leading provider of home-care information.

The entire list of the 2010 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS HomeCare website at www.ocshomecare.com.

Holiday fundraiser

CANFIELD

Farmers National Bank is involved in holiday fundraisers to benefit Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman.

Farmers — along with other corporate partners — underwrote the “Koins for Kids” campaign. The annual event encourages area school students to collect change that is donated to Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.

Farmers’ 17 branch offices are giving customers money envelopes. The envelopes, decorated with holiday images, make an attractive wrapping for those choosing to give gifts of cash. Packages of 10 envelopes are available for donations of $1.

The bank also is offering a Holiday Loan Sale. Customers who secure loans through Farmers before the end of the year will see $25 of their loan fees donated to the hospital.

“We’re very pleased to have three innovative and effective ways of helping our Valley’s only children’s hospital,” said John Gulas, Farmers president and CEO.

Seeking nominations

COLUMBUS

Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is now accepting nominations from the public for its 2011 Family Physician of the Year award.

From the nominees, the OAFP Awards Selection Committee will select a family-physician recipient who meets these preliminary criteria: currently in practice and a member of OAFP; has at least 10 years of post-residency experience; possesses high professional standards; provides high-quality, family-centered care; and is involved in the community.

Each nominee also will be judged on his or her contributions to the community, demonstration of beyond-the-call-of-duty merit, encouragement of fellow OAFP members and/or students to pursue the principles of family medicine, and conveyance of the ideals of family medicine to the community.

The nomination deadline is April 8. The public is invited to send letters of nomination to: OAFP Awards Selection Committee, Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, 4075 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214-3296. To verify if a family physician is a member of OAFP, nominators may send an e-mail to ksmith@ohioafp.org or call 800-742-7327.

The 2011 Family Physician of the Year will be recognized Aug. 6 at Columbus Marriott Northwest in Dublin, Ohio.

The academy is a statewide, professional association with more than 4,200 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents and medical students.