Jackson man honored as Clinician of the Year
John McCarthy, a certified home health aide at the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, was named 2008 Clinician of the Year by the Visiting Nurse Association of America (VNAA), the national professional association for VNAs.

The national award was given in recognition of outstanding achievement by a clinician in improving an organization's ability to add to patients' quality of life and increase community awareness of home care and VNA services. The award was presented at the VNAA annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn., in May.

McCarthy resides in Jackson and has been a home health aide at VNA of Central Jersey for more than 12 years. According to a press release, he originally planned to pursue a nursing career and began his journey as a home health aide. Over the years he discovered a deep love, satisfaction and fulfillment as an aide.

The majority of patients for whom he cares are terminally ill or critically ill and are enrolled in the VNACJ hospice program or receiving palliative care.

Over the years McCarthy has received recognition as Home Health Aide of the Year by both VNACJ and the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Association for the impact he has had on the lives of his patients and families and the image of the home health profession.

Although the award is open to individuals providing direct care to home care patients, "this may be the first time it has been presented to a home health aide," according to VNAA's Rachel Wilson, director of member services and events.

"John is very deserving of this award and we are so pleased for him," said Mary Ann Christopher, president and CEO of VNA of Central Jersey. "He is the quintessential clinician, a competent and integral member of the interdisciplinary hospice team and a human being with a spirit for giving that leaves those of us who are privileged to know him irrevocably changed."

"I am very honored to receive this award, but one person cannot do it by himself," McCarthy said. "There are so many beautiful, untold stories. I truly believe I am where God wants me to be. It's a journey and I feel blessed to share that journey with my patients and their families."

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, now in its 95th year of service, is a nonprofit provider of in-home health-care and hospice services. The organization also offers community-based health and wellness services throughout its service area of Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.