VNA HealthSource: VNA Health
VNA Health President & CEO Lynda Tanner receives the College of Nursing 2020 Professional Achievement Award from Idaho State University. Given annually during Commencement, the Professional Achievement Awards are bestowed to nominated alumni who have made significant contributions in their careers serving the social, political or economic well-being of their communities and the world surrounding them. Tanner is the sole recipient for the 2020 College of Nursing Award. Due to the impact of COVID19, like many other commencements, the formal award presentation and ceremony was cancelled.
“Receiving this recognition is such an honor and it would have been even more wonderful to attend the award ceremony, wear my alma mater regalia, and lead the procession of the 2020 Nurse graduates, one of them was my PhD graduate daughter,” shares Tanner. “As a mother, an alumna, and a nurse, that would have been a uniquely memorable moment.”
“Looking back, I am grateful for having a solid education at ISU, great mentors, and even greater colleagues. Looking ahead, I am excited to see the nursing profession continue to provide leadership regarding patient care at the bedside as well as strategic guidance in the boardroom to effect change and ensure high quality care. At VNA Health, our vision is that that every person lives with health and dignity.”
Tanner has more than 35 years of experience working in homecare and an extensive background in strategic and organizational planning, project management, and accreditation and regulatory experience. Prior to joining VNA Health, Tanner worked as a consultant and a surveyor for The Joint Commission and as Chief Clinical Executive at Sutter VNA and Hospice.
In 2008 Tanner joined VNA Health (formerly known as Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care) as COO and in two years became President & CEO. In 2011, Tanner successfully pressed for state legislation to increase the maximum number of permitted inpatient hospice beds, and she oversaw the development and opening of VNA Health’s new Serenity House, a state-of-the-art hospice facility with 18 beds (instead of six). That same year, Tanner directed the acquisition of Community Home Health, which increased VNA Health’s delivery of home health care services by 35%, and she grew VNA Health’s geographic market share by opening a branch in North County to serve Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. By 2012, the organization had grown, and Tanner directed the purchase and relocation of its current corporate offices. In 2014, the organization created an annual healthcare symposium called PHorum: Perspectives in Healthcare, and Tanner facilitated healthcare experts and stakeholders, community leaders, and the public at large in meaningful, progressive dialogue about relevant and timely healthcare issues. PHorum was nationally recognized as the 2018 ElevatingHOME Program of the Year for VNAA. In 2019 Tanner led the company’s strategic rebranding and name change to VNA Health.
Tanner graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later earned a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration. Tanner is active in many professional, service, business and community organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors for California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA), and CenCal Health where she is also Vice Chair and Finance Committee Chair. In 2017, the Pacific Coast Business Times named Tanner the “Grand Champion of Healthcare.” The publication also distinguished VNA Health as one of the “Best Places to Work” for three consecutive years; and the Santa Barbara News-Press awarded VNA Health the “Reader’s Choice Award for Senior At Home Services.”
