In a sudden move, the Visiting Nurse Association of Staten Island ended operations, laying off its nursing and selling its assets after over 100 years in service, SILive.com reported Sept. 27.
VNASI was a non-profit organization that had provided in-home health care to the community since 1917. It was staffed by 15 registered nurses who saw as many as 30 patients each. Nurses provided therapeutic, supportive and preventive healthcare services to patients.
The agency was officially operating under Staten Island, N.Y.-based Richmond University Medical Center's umbrella since 2022 and was sold this year to Brooklyn-based Prime Home Health Services, Alex Lutz, a RUMC hospital spokesperson told the news outlet.
As of Sept. 27, the agency is no longer active. It is not clear why the agency shuttered.
"We are extremely grateful to the entire VNASI staff for their commitment to upholding the strong tradition and outstanding reputation of VNASI," Mr. Lutz said.
VNASI's staff and patients were given a 30-day notice. Patients have been transferred to other agencies and staff were given severance packages based on years of service.