When Kathy McNutt, R.N., accepted the position of director at Santa Cruz’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) in May, she knew she had come home. Although McNutt had been living and working in Tucson, Arizona for the last seven years, she had previously worked at the VNA for seven years and grew up in Salinas.

“I was very excited to be offered this leadership position back at the VNA,” says McNutt. “Home health care is my passion. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to play a part in offering the best possible home health care in the place where our patients feel most comfortable.”

McNutt ― who replaced the VNA’s previous director, Bella Hughes, R.N., after her retirement ― oversees all operations at the VNA ensuring that everything runs smoothly. This involves directing the clinical care for approximately 300 local patients, from the referral and admissions process to the provision of direct patient care, as well as financial operations and clerical support areas such as reception and medical records. There are 73 staff members at the VNA consisting of home care coordinators, patient care nurse specialists, physical, occupational and speech therapists, home health aides and medical social workers.

“I’d describe my role as being much like the conductor of an orchestra who works closely together with the lead musicians of each section of the orchestra,” says McNutt. “I feel very fortunate that I’m working together with the most wonderful people here at the VNA. Everyone is very focused on providing the best possible care to our home-based patients.”

McNutt brings more than 20 years of administrative experience in home and community health care to her new position. Prior to moving back to the Santa Cruz area in May, McNutt helped to start up and run a home health care agency in Tucson. Previously, McNutt worked as director of clinical services and administrator at Heartland Hospice Services in Tucson, an in-home hospice.

McNutt holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco.
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