ORD The home health department at Valley County Health System (VCHS) in Ord has been named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States.

The annual review identifies the top 25 percent of home care agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

The department, which serves eight counties, also received the distinction last year.

Carol Schroeder, director of home health at VCHS, said staff members are dedicated to enhancing their patients' quality of life.

"We focus on providing the highest quality care to patients," Schroeder said. "We are willing to take on very difficult and complex cases, providing patients and their families the opportunity to be cared for at home."

The 2007 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2007 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS Inc., a provider of health care informatics; and DecisionHealth, publisher of the home care newsletter Home Health Line.

Waddell & Reed named to mutual fund list

Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and Ivy Funds are featured in the list of Best Mutual Fund Families for 2007 as ranked and published in Barron's.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds were the top ranked fund family, and Ivy Funds were ranked No. 8. A total of 67 fund families were ranked.

Barron's rankings are based on asset-weighted returns in five categories: domestic equity, world equity (including international and global portfolios), mixed equity (stocks and bonds), taxable bonds and tax-exempt funds. Rankings take into account an individual fund's performance within its Lipper peer group.

"Our clients understand that financial planning is a long-term commitment supported by quality investment products, which we are pleased to provide to them in the Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and the Ivy Funds," said Paul Bowman, who manages the Waddell & Reed office in Grand Island and Kearney.