Occasionally my phone rings and it’s Jack, who lives in Connecticut. His mom lives on my dirt road out in the country and he’s hoping I’ll make sure her steps are safe from ice, power is on, and driveway is clear of trees—whatever conditions might call for. I’m always glad to take his
call. My folks live in Massachusetts, and I know the stress of being far from aging parents when they might need assistance. It’s not all give either. I’ve always been handy, and I get a real sense of purpose making sure those around me are safe during a storm, heat wave or cold snap.
This past weekend was a bitter cold spell, and like countless other Vermonters staffing warming shelters, working in our health care and other essential facilities, fixing frozen pipes and clearing the way for emergency fuel deliveries, I offered a helping hand where I could. Frankly, there’s nothing really special about this; it’s what Vermonters do. What is special about it is the impact we can have when we all work together.
I didn’t grow up here, but I’ve been here in Vermont all of my adult life and I’ve learned that this is just the way things are. There’s little anonymity in our state the size of some small cities, and that creates a sense of community not found in many places. It’s not cliché or even aspirational; it just is the way it is. There’s less time to prioritize self-interest when the state and people you love are counting on you to put their needs high on that priority list too. Of all the things I love about Vermont, this sense of community is right up there with watching my kids play sports, deer hunting and advocating for our non-profit hospitals. I know what you’re thinking: this guy just put his job on a list of things he loves. What’s up with that? Yes, I did. I told you; I like to have a sense of purpose and there’s no shortage of that in health care, especially for those on the frontlines of care delivery.
Reading the headlines in Vermont this week, it’s easy to think we’ve lost our sense of
community, but that is far from the truth. It was all around me this weekend. It’s all around us all the time. We just have to look harder to find it sometimes.
These are really hard times for many, and we know stress, frustration and grief can bring out the absolute worst in people. The remedy for all of this pain is the love of community. I am grateful for my many communities and all they give to me and my family, and in turn, I do my best to give back when I can. Who are your communities? How do you give to them? Can you give a little more to fill the void for others who are struggling?
Thanks for listening. Have a great week.
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Vt. bill aims to protect health care workers from violence |
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WCAX
A new Vermont law is aimed at deterring assaults against health care workers at health facilities.
A Senate committee Wednesday heard from health care workers across the state about the dangers of physical and verbal assaults while working inside health care facilities.
The proposed bill would permit law enforcement to directly arrest a person who interferes with health care services rather than just issue a citation.
Marc Sacco, the emergency department manager at Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor gave emotional testimony about an assault that left him in need of multiple surgeries and deaf in one ear. “It changes how I look at every single person. I am struggling every day to go to work, put on a good face. I should have just retired,” he said.
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Health care providers seek legislative action to curb workplace violence |
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VTDigger
Smacked in the face. Punched and choked. Kicked in the stomach so hard you throw up.
Nurses, doctors and administrators from hospitals around Vermont provided those examples of violence — from just the past week — to lawmakers on Wednesday. One after another, in often tearful testimony, the direct care providers also described their most traumatizing experiences from the last few years.
“I have been spit at, kicked, had my hair pulled, been sexually harassed, had my life threatened,” said Jill Maynard, director of emergency nursing at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. In one case, she said, the patient who threatened her began stalking her in the community and near her family’s home.
During a joint session of the Senate Judiciary and Health and Welfare committees, 10 witnesses organized by the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems urged legislators to support S.26. The new bill would add three clauses specific to health care workers and health care facilities to Rule 3 of the Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure, which governs when law enforcement officers can arrest someone without a warrant.
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Seven Days
Vermont lawmakers are considering bills to protect health workers who provide reproductive and gender-affirming care from legal threats that originate in other states.
Doctors, nurses and support staff worry they could face legal exposure or harassment if they treat patients who travel to Vermont from the increasing number of states where the services are banned or restricted.
Two bills now making their way through the legislature would clarify that such services are legally protected in the state. S.37 would protect providers from ramifications such as increases in insurance rates or professional disciplinary action for providing the services. Hearings on that bill begin next week in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
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Vt. report outlines improvements to system for treating eating disorders |
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WCAX
A new report out Tuesday details solutions to improve the treatment of eating disorders in Vermont. It’s a problem that was exacerbated by the pandemic, according to experts. Families and providers say the state lacks enough options for families whose loved ones --- especially young adults and teens -- are struggling with an eating disorder. And lawmakers last session told the health and mental health departments to create a working group to find out what the state needs to treat them.
When we spoke last year to eating disorder patients, parents, and providers -- all pointed to an uphill battle to get healthy again in Vermont.
“I knew what might work and I couldn’t get it for her,” said Karen Bates, a mother whose daughter suffered from an eating disorder.
“There isn’t a lot in Vermont in terms of resources, " said Abby Hawkins, a Rutland 21-year-old who says her eating disorder was slowly killing her at college.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders is now the chair of a key Congressional committee. Here are his priorities |
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Vermont Public
Sen. Bernie Sanders was named as the new chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions last week. It's a position that Sanders requested, because it deals with many of the issues he's worked on during his long political career.
Vermont Public senior political correspondent Bob Kinzel had a chance to speak with Sanders about his priorities for the new session. He joined Morning Edition host Mitch Wertlieb to share what he learned.
Mitch Wertlieb: How did this all come about? How was Sen. Sanders able to secure this leadership position on this important committee?
Bob Kinzel: Mitch, this is a great example of where seniority makes a big difference in the Senate. We've had a lot of focus in recent months about the long career of Sen. Patrick Leahy and his 48 years in the Senate. Bernie Sanders was first elected to the Senate in 2006.
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How Vermont first responders cope with financial challenges, staffing shortages |
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Vermont Public
Some emergency medical service providers are having a tough time with staffing and finances. This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak will discuss the future of EMS in Vermont and a new academy that's training the next generation of first responders.
Plus, we'll talk to the state’s head of emergency preparedness on how to stay warm with the upcoming subzero temperatures. Here are tips on how to prepare for the cold temperatures.
Our guests:
Will Moran, director of the division of emergency preparedness, response and injury prevention, Vermont Department of Health
Kate Rothwell, executive director, Middlebury Regional EMS
Dani West, administrator, Vermont EMS Academy in Newfane
Mark Bosma, public information officer, Vermont Emergency Management
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Commentary: Health care in Upper Valley has improved |
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By Susan A. Reeves and Joseph L Perras
As the leaders of two of the largest Upper Valley health care organizations, both of which are members of Dartmouth Health, we want to share some important context missing from the Valley News’ Jan. 22 editorial “Are we now receiving better care?”
The answer to Sunday’s editorial question “Are we now receiving better care?” is, unequivocally, “yes.”
While no health system, regardless of its size or location, has escaped the current healthcare crisis in our country, rural hospitals like ours are especially at risk. A report from the American Hospital Association last fall showed that 136 rural hospitals closed from 2010-2022 … 19 hospitals in 2020 alone. With that in mind, we’d like to correct the assertion that Dartmouth Health has been “swallowing up smaller hospitals and medical practices in the Upper Valley and the wider region.”
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Farewell to a colleague and friend |
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By Dr. William A. Knorr
Most of us will experience many losses over our lives, including the grief that accompanies these sad events. Elizabeth Kubler Ross described the “stages” of grief as denial, anger, bargaining, depression (sadness) and finally acceptance.
Although being familiar with the grief process is helpful, it never dampens the intense feelings associated with the loss of a loved one. These feelings can be overwhelming, but with time and support from friends and family, that sense of loss diminishes as the routine of living returns. The “hole” created by a loved one’s loss remains, despite well-wishers stating that the hole will vanish or be filled with wonderful memories.
In truth, the hole doesn’t fill in but always remains, although often softened to a bump that is tolerable. Eventually, the sadness does resolve and remembrances of positive moments, often stimulated by conversations with mutual friends, bring a sense of joy and a smile. I look forward to that time, but for now, I must feel the sadness and the vacuum from the death of a dear colleague and friend, Dr. Fritz Engstrom.
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