Message from the CEO
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s good food in abundance and, for me, a time to slow down and enjoy a restful time with family. As I enjoy the welcome pause, I am nevertheless mindful of all the health care workers are doing shifts at hospitals and clinics as we sit down to our bountiful meals. I hope you will join me in giving them a giant thank you.

They brave snowstorms; they move their holiday plans to other days; some may forego the holidays altogether. This year, even more hospital employees will have to put Thanksgiving on hold to attend to our emergency departments, pediatric wings and many other areas, which this year are filled to capacity. 

In addition to offering thanks, we can all take measures to soften the burden on our health care workers as much as possible. We can show our gratitude by taking care of ourselves and our families:

  • If you haven’t gotten a flu shot, do so as soon as possible. Make sure your whole family is vaccinated against flu, as this year is forecast to be a bad flu season and flu can result in serious health consequences.
  • Make sure you and your family are up to date on COVID boosters. The bivalent shots available now have proven to fight the new variants well and can ward off serious illness and even, it appears, long COVID.
  • If you’re planning to hit the stores for Black Friday, etc., consider wearing a mask while indoors and among crowds. Masks can protect you from a wide variety of respiratory illnesses and viruses—not just COVID.
  • While you’re gathering this week, enjoy your time with your family, but keep each other safe—wash your hands often and consider testing for COVID if you’re expecting a big group.

I sincerely wish you and yours the very best this Thanksgiving. May your celebration be warm, hopeful and safe.
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In the News
Study finds 'huge' increase in children going to the emergency room with suicidal thoughts
CNN

There has been a steady increase in the number of children who are seen in emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts, according to a new study – and the increase started even before the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought record high demand for psychological services for children.

The pandemic’s effects drew renewed attention to suicide in teens and young children. In June, the Biden administration called the recent rise in rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among kids an “unprecedented mental health crisis.”

The study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, used data from hospitals in Illinois. The researchers looked at the number of children ages 5 to 19 who sought help for suicide in emergency departments between January 2016 and June 2021.

In that period, there were 81,051 emergency department visits by young people that were coded for suicidal ideation. About a quarter of those visits turned into hospital stays.
Respiratory cases surge at hospital
Rutland Herald

Local health officials are urging people to get flu shots after the hospital found itself almost at capacity this week.

Rutland Regional Medical Center announced Friday it had enacted part of its emergency surge planning in response to a jump in patients coming in with respiratory illness put the hospital nearly at its capacity.

The move did not involve any restrictions on access to the hospital, officials said.
Vermont hospitals tackle RSV surge, with flu season around the corner
Vermont Public

Vermont’s hospitals inundated with cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The virus is especially hard on young kids.

This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with a pediatric critical care doctor about this year’s surge in RSV cases, ahead of what is expected to be a tough flu season. We’ll also hear from a school nurse on what he is experiencing in the wake of most COVID-19 protocols being been dropped in schools.

Our guests are:

  • Dr. Rebecca Bell, pediatric critical care doctor at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and president of the Vermont chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Clayton Wetzel, school nurse at Waitsfield Elementary School and a member of the Vermont State School Nurses Association's executive committee
Don't Kiss That Baby – Vermont Pediatrician Has a Warning Amid Rise in RSV Infections
NECN

With medical facilities around New England reporting increased levels of RSV infections in kids, including surges in admissions at Boston-area hospitals, a prominent Vermont pediatrician is urging all of us to do our part to reduce the spread of disease.

“Everyone has a part to play in this,” said Dr. Becca Bell of the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, referring to steps we can take to reduce the spread of the respiratory virus known as RSV.

Bell said the sickness is often worst for kids under six months — those with the least-developed airways. Since adults kissing babies is a prime way little ones get sick, the pediatrician really wants young families to limit non-essential close contact with visitors now and through the holidays.
Hospitals in the News
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