Amanda F. Van Straten, MD - Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
Transcription
Amanda F. Van Straten, MD - Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
JULY/AUGUST 2014 Amanda F. Van Straten, MD is New Full Time Neurologist at NVRH Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. Amanda F. Van Straten, new full time neurologist at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Dr. Van Straten grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL in 2005, and her MD from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City in 2009. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her Residency in Neurology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She most recently (2013-2014) completed a Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Van Straten received the Outstanding Neurology Resident of 2013, chosen by the faculty. She’s given multiple presentations on neurologic conditions. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society, has published several papers, and is Board Certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Laural Ruggles, VP Marketing and Community Health Improvement says of Van Straten’s arrival, “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Van Straten join us. She’s extremely capable with a wide array of knowledge. Her genuine care for patients is exceptional.” Van Straten’s specialties include seizures, headaches, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, dementia, spinal cord injuries, neuropathy and other neurologic conditions. She lives in St. Johnsbury with her husband Peter and son Jacob. They enjoy the great outdoors and their dogs. In this issue of The BrightLook Dr. John Elliott Community Service Award - Paula Gaskin FLEK, Inc. and NVRH Earn Bronze Award Raising Funds in Memory of Sue Hoffman, CNM Human Resources Corner Annual Recognition Dinner Investing Wisely NVRH Gray Gallery - Matthew Gauvin Real Time Feedback 5K Run for the Melissa Jenkins Scholarship Fund “The Hungry Heart” Film in the Medical Library The Sounds of Summer... MedQuest UVM Medical Students in Charge of MedQuest Students - Meghan Breen Safety Bulletin... NVRH Emergency Codes Employee Safety Committee Seeking New Members Devin Harbin - Clinical Rotation at Corner Medical ATOD Recent Changes Dr. Ken Danielson Re-certified Online Patient Portal NVRH Birth Center Welcomes Little Rivers Obstetric Patients Auxiliary/Volunteer News Ann Creaser Donates Hair for Wigs for Cancer Patients Mandy Degre, RN Completes Rotation in Women’s Wellness Dr. Joyce Dobbertin Spoke at June Corporator Meeting Karyn Patno, MD Speaks about Newborn Care Monique Paquette, RN Retires Construction Update A+ Standard of Caring - May 2014 The BrightLook is a monthly publication for NVRH employees, volunteers, physicians, corporators and board members. Our next deadline is September 19 for the September 2014 issue. Please contact Hilary De Carlo at ext. 7303 if you have an article or picture(s) to submit. NVRH Awards Dr. John Elliott Community Service Award Paula Gaskin was presented with the Dr. John Elliott Community Service Award for employees of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital at the NVRH Recognition Dinner on June 26. Gaskin is the Practice Manager for Corner Medical in Lyndon. Dr. John Elliott joined what is now Corner Medical in Lyndon in the 1970’s. Dr. Elliott passed away unexpectedly in 2008. This award was created by employees at NVRH in his memory to recognize a current employee who exemplifies Dr. Elliott’s quiet dedication to community. “This award is especially meaningful to all of us who knew and worked with Dr. Elliott,” said Paul Bengtson, CEO at NVRH. Angela Williamson, a past recipient of the award, spoke of Gaskin’s special relationship with Dr. Elliott. “Dr. Elliott would be humbled by this award in his honor and this year would be very special because Paula holds a special place in his heart.” The Dr. John Elliott award rewards employees of the hospital for their volunteer and community work outside of their normal job responsibilities. Like Dr. Elliott, Gaskin has a long history of quiet service to the community. When presenting the award, Dr. Joyce Dobbertin listed Gaskin’s long list of service including serving as a trustee for the Cobleigh Public Library, on the Lyndon Institute Alumni Board, leading a Relay for Life team, and fundraising for numerous organizations like the March of Dimes. The Dr. John Elliott Community Service Award is rewarded annually. Past winners were Linda Garey, Donna Racine, Ramona Letourneau, Angela Williamson, and Barbara Byrne. FLEK, INC and NVRH Earn Bronze Award in National Advertising Competition Florence Chamberlin and Amy Hale, from FLEK, Inc., were recently recognized with a Bronze Award by the Aster Awards, which honors excellence in medical marketing nationwide. The Bronze Award, which equates to the top 16% in the nation, was for Northeastern Vermont’s Regional Hospital 2013 Annual Report titled Team Economy. NVRH competed in the category “Hospitals Under 75 beds” with other hospitals nationwide. The Aster Awards, one of the largest national competitions of its kind, is hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today Magazine and Creative Images, Inc. This well-known program recognized outstanding healthcare professionals for excellence in their advertising/marketing efforts for the calendar year 2013. The 2014 Aster Awards received nearly 3,000 entries from across the United States as well as Canada and 2 continued South America. All entries are judged by industry experts and are scored on multiple criteria which included creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality and overall appeal with a possibility of 100 total points. “We work very well with Florence and Amy from FLEK. Since we’ve collaborated with them for years, their knowledge of the hospital and our role in the community is like second nature to them, and I believe that our publications and advertisements reflect that,” said Laural Ruggles, Vice President of Marketing and Community Health Improvement at NVRH. “The creativity of this year’s healthcare marketing professionals continues to be at an all time high. The 2014 Aster Awards program contained some of the best advertising arguably in the world,” said Melinda Lucas, Aster Awards Program Coordinator. For further information about the Aster Awards Program, please visit www.asterawards.com. Raising Funds to Support Maternity Hospital in West Ghana in Memory of Sue Hoffman, CNM Since the death last year of Sue Hoffman, Certified Nurse Midwife at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital for 27 years, friends and employees have been looking for a lasting way to honor Sue’s work and memory. In 2008, Sue volunteered in Ghana, West Africa with Project Hope, where she trained midwives. She loved her month-long experience there, calling it a “wonderful cultural exchange experience.” Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems, with the mission of helping people to help themselves. The Mampong Hospital located in The Republic of Ghana in West Africa, is currently conducting a capital campaign to renovate the Maternity Wing and Women’s Hostel, and purchase new equipment and supplies. NVRH plans to raise $6500, enough to renovate the Women’s Hostel in Sue’s name. The Hostel is where new mothers stay. A school of midwifery is associated with the Mampong Hospital. There are about 5,000 deliveries a year at the hospital, with the majority of children delivered by midwives; there are currently 3,000 women in the midwifery school. NVRH is partnering with the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts to raise funds for the Mampong Hospital Maternity Wing and to make this donation in Sue’s name and memory. The Diocese has a long history of work in Ghana. Maggie Addai, who runs the orphanage at Mampong recently visited NVRH with her friend and longtime supporter of the orphanage, Reverend Annie Ryder of Christ Church Episcopal & Trinity Lutheran in Sheffield, MA. Sue’s life-long work as a midwife made a huge impact on many peoples’ lives. If you would like to make a donation in her memory on behalf of The Mampong hospital, please visit www.nvrh.org. At the top of the home page, find “donate” and proceed to the donation page. Please put Sue’s name “In Memory Of.” Or send a check made out to NVRH and add a memo with Sue’s name and send it to the attention of Jennifer Layn, NVRH, PO Box 905, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. 3 NVRH Holds Annual Recognition Dinner July Orientation: We are pleased to welcome 13 new employees to the NVRH team! Pictured left to right: (kneeling) Brock Leavitt, Multi-Modality Technologist (Diagnostic Imaging), Samantha Davis, Access Specialist (Access Department), Brandy Hein, Medical Assistant (Externship, Everest College), Jennifer Hooker, Imaging Assistant (Diagnostic Imaging); (standing) Lee Loyer, Tobacco Grant Coordinator (Tobacco Grant), Barandee Peterson, RN Medical Office (Kingdom Internal Medicine), Lewis Apgar, Community Health Worker (Community Connections), Anna Driscoll, Registered Nurse Clinician (Hospitalist), Hannah Lawrie, Registered Nurse (Birth Center), Jamie Pell, Ultrasound Technologist (Diagnostic Imaging), Samuel Rice, Access Specialist (Access Department). Not pictured are Aaron Persons, Master Mechanic (Plant Operations) and Dr. Amanda Van Straten who joins NVRH as a Neurologist in Specialty Clinics. Welcome! We’re glad to have you all on board! Human Resources Corner Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital held its annual recognition dinner for employees on Thursday evening, June 26, at The Sherburne Base Lodge on Burke Mountain. One hundred and fifty people attended; employees were recognized for their years of service as well as certifications they earned during the past year. Paul Bengtson, CEO was the Master of Ceremonies, and his sense of humor, genuine gratitude to employees and stories made the evening enjoyable and entertaining. Five Years of Service: Chaplaincy: Abby Pollender; Corner Medical: Lise Lussier, Laurie Pearsons; Day Surgery: Paula Geil, RN, Diabetes Education: Erika Owen, RN; Diagnostic Imaging: Glenda Fay Bernier; Emergency Medicine: Rachel Somers, Jennifer Starling, RN, Cynthia Taylor, RN, Janet Wilson, APRN; Finance: Kimberly Hill, Linda Sherman; Intensive Care Unit: Alden Littlefield, RN, Katherine Walters, RN; Laundry: Frederick Wells; Medical Staff: Krista Haight, MD, Karen Kenny, MD, Richard Merrick, MD, Medical/ Surgical: Stephanie Porter, RN; Nursing Administration: Melanie Young; Nutrition & Food Service: Karen Barss; Orthopaedics Clinic: Martha Erwin, Jane Vinton; Physician Practices: Marie Dimick; St. J Pediatrics: Danielle Ball, RN; Tobacco Cessation: Cheryl Glick; Volunteer Services: Charles Bucknam, Jeannette Farmer, Donna May, Barbara Stamm, Arlene Stuart, Dyanna Thresher, Women’s Wellness: Annie Montminy, Cynthia Turner, LPN. August Orientation: Welcome Everyone!: Mitchell Sullivan, MD (Corner Medical); Nichole Bachelder (Access Specialist); Kari Harris (Access Specialist); Nicholas Selig (Medical Technologist); Aaron Persons (Master Mechanic); Joanna Aldrich (Phlebotomist); Front Kneeling: Annick-Marie Kaufman, MD (Surgical Department); Front sitting: Melissa Gagnon (Access Specialist). Ten Years of Service: Community Connections: Pam Smart; Corner Medical: Holly McKeon, RN; Development: James Flynn; Diagnostic Imaging: Deborah Haselton, Richard Page, Yvette Parker, Konnie Perkins; Information Services: Keith Willey; Medical Staff: Michael Rousse, MD; Medical Surgical: Norah Lewis, RN; Patient Accounts: Deanne Robinson, Volunteer Services: Diana Reynolds. Fifteen Years of Service: Access: Jeannine LaCoss; Anesthesia: Carroll Ruhlman, CRNA; Birth Center: Constance Rath Kruszyna, RN; Emergency Medicine: Marlene Quilliam, RN; Finance: 4 continued Robert Hersey, Ella Kelsey, Madeline Robertson; Human Resources: Betty Ann Gwatkin; Information Services: Thomas Quackenbush; Medical Staff: Marc Bouchard, MD, Candice Ortiz, MD, Elaine Stasny, MD; Medical Surgical: Denise Stevens, RN; Nutrition & Food Service: Virginia Jenks Flanders; Plant Operations: Gary Hatcher; St. J Pediatrics: Linda Ward; SPD: Diana Baugh-Lopez; Volunteer Services: Rachel Charron; Women’s Wellness: Lorraine Black, Deborah Morse, LPN. Twenty Years of Service: Emergency Medicine: Debra Bach, RN, Karen Jenkins; Health Information Management: Holly Barrett, Marilyn Berube; Kingdom Internal Medicine: Elaine Robinson, APRN; Medical Staff: Stanley Baker, MD, David Brody, MD, Katherine Silloway, DDS; Medical Surgical: Christine Thompson, RN; Nursing Administration: Constance Charron, RN; Nursing Education: Carol Hodges, RN; Pathology: Lynn Collins; Pediatric/Med Surg: James Becker, RN; Volunteer Services: Gail Roberts; Women’s Wellness: Anea Lelong, CNM. Twenty-Five Years of Service: Corner Medical: Miriam Simon, PA; Emergency Medicine: Lori Ely; Environmental Services: Teala Hooker; Intensive Care Unit: Colleen Herrity, RN, Laura Sophrin, RN; Kingdom Internal Medicine: Linda Hunkins, RN; Orthopaedics Clinic: Kimberly Gammell; Plant Operations: Scott Willman; SPD: Linda Lockwood. Thirty Years of Service: Medical Staff: John Ajamie, MD, Richard Bennum, MD, Craig Dreisbach, MD, Gregory MacDonald, MD; Nursing Administration: Eugenie Kroeger, Janice Santaw, RN; Operating Room: Keith Ruede, PA; Quality Management: James Coulson. Thirty-Five Years of Service: Medical Staff: William Sargent, MD; Nursing Education: Barbara Byrne, RN. Forty Years of Service: Health Information Management: Marcia Little; Medical Staff: Ted Houle, MD; Nutrition & Food Service: Ann Creaser. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Certification: Birth Center: Valerie Lemieux, RN; Day Surgery Unit: Judith Wheeler, RN; Intensive Care Unit: Eric Kierstead, RN, Lyndi Medico, RN; Medical Surgical: Kathryn Butterfield, RN, Erika Downing, RN, Megan Fenoff, RN, Marilee Norcross, RN, Brenda Smith, RN; Operating Room: Susannah Keller, RN; Pediatric/Med Surg: Lynn Kostur, RN, Norah Lewis, RN. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Instructor Certification: Intensive Care Unit: Eric Kierstead, RN, Barbara Byrne, RN. Advanced Certification in Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Bone Densitometry: Diagnostic Imaging: Deborah Haselton. Advanced Certification in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Diagnostic Imaging: Tyler Fournier American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Diagnostic Imaging: Jacquelyn Zaun Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration: SPD: Michael Janesik Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Day Surgery Unit: Kelly Lemieux, RN; Emergency Medicine: Monique Paquette, RN; Intensive Care Unit: Jonathan Dupuis, RN, Deborah Keon, RN, Katherine Walters, RN. Certified Healthcare Assister: Community Connections: Shauna Barrett, Stephen Kline. 5 continued Certified Healthcare Leader: SPD: Diana Baugh-Lopez Certified Healthcare Navigator: Community Connections: Regina O’Meara, Laura Rooker. Certified in Healthcare Compliance: Quality Management: James Coulson Certified Patient Account Technician: Patient Accounts: Kimber Gladding. Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist – Institutional: Access: Michele Knight, Amber Lyon. Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist – Professional: Access: Tammy Upton. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor: Finance: Ella Kelsey Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor: Finance: Ella Kelsey Licensed Nursing Assistant: Otolaryngology: Sarah Winans, LNA Master Electrician: Plant Operations: Greg Lepine Master of Public Health: Community Health: Laural Ruggles Master of Science in Health Informatics: Health Information Management: Ashley Bruno Neonatal Resuscitation Program: Emergency Medicine: Susan Steele, RN Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification: Medical Surgical: Erika Downing, RN, Megan Fenoff, RN, Terry Gray, RN, Kristyn Walker, RN; Operating Room: Susannah Keller, RN; Pediatric/Med Surg: Norah Lewis, RN. Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor Certification: Intensive Care Unit: Eric Kierstead, RN; Medical Surgical: Jodi Campbell, RN, Kara Lawrence, RN, Rachel Malachuk, RN. Senior Professional in Human Resources: Human Resources: Betty Ann Gwatkin. Trauma Nursing Core Course: Emergency Medicine: Ashley Malshuk, RN, Debra Smith, RN. Special Recognition Vermont State Nurses Association: Clinical Educator of the Year: Carol Hodges, RN; Staff Nurse of the Year: Deborah Keon, RN. 5 years 10 years Laboratorians 6 continued 15 years Grace Bengtson and Trustee Steve Nichols Lynn and Hilde 25 years 30 years Rachel and Greg Annual Recognition Dinner Carol Hodges Marcia Littel, 40 years Investing Wisely Small cap, mid cap, dividends, shares, equities….understanding how to invest your money can be confusing! All NVRH employees are eligible to participate in the 401K Retirement Plan which NVRH contributes to, but knowing how to make it work most effectively can be a challenge. In September, Ron York, NVRH’s independent registered investment advisor will be on-site for 20 minute one-on-one meetings with employees to answer questions and help you understand your investment options for your 401K account. To schedule an appointment, please contact Laura in Human Resources at 748-7312 or [email protected]. If you are unable to meet with Ron in person, you can also contact him by phone at 508-281-8212 or email him at [email protected]. Before you meet with Ron or any Investment Advisor, you should consider your investment goals including when you plan to retire, how much risk you are willing to take, what your current savings are, what your income needs will be when you retire, future major expenses such as college tuition, etc. The better prepared you are with questions, the more your investment advisor can help you make the right decisions for your unique retirement savings needs. Information about your NVRH 401K Retirement Plan can be accessed at www.gwrs.com (Great West Financial Retirement Services). The site also has a wealth of information about your investment options, financial planning calculators, savings tips and more. We encourage you to check out the site and make the most of this benefit. Your future self will thank you! 7 East Burke Artist and Illustrator Hangs Exhibit at NVRH Gray Gallery Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is pleased to announce a new exhibit by East Burke artist Matthew Gauvin in the Charles M. and Hanna H. Gray Gallery. Born in Vermont, Gauvin graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Matthew Gauvin has always known he wanted to make art. Prior to attending college, he was the recipient of seven awards and prestigious honors, including the “Congressional Art Competition,” presented by U.S. Senator James Jeffords. He also placed first in the third annual “Art at the National Examiner Contest.” Close to home, he has exhibited at the Burke Wine and Art Showcase in Lyndonville, Dream Scape Studios, St. Johnsbury and Lincoln Bond Gallery in Woodstock, and in the Vermont Capital Building, Montpelier. He also presented work at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild National Exhibition. An accomplished illustrator, Gauvin’s clients include Cobblestone Magazine, Leahy One of Matthew Gauvin’s recently illustrated children’s books Press, Redmond Channel Partner Magazine, and Half Price Books, along with greeting is Pigs! Under the Post Office, card companies, magazines, CD covers, murals, logos, and 18 books. One of Gauvin’s in collaboration with Vermont favorite forms of painting is landscapes, whether from a photo in his studio, or watercolauthor, Kristen Van Aken. ors produced en plein air (in the open), often with a quality of light that be described as special or magical. No matter where he finds himself, he is constantly looking for possible landscapes, and finds inspiration in the out-of-doors. During the past year, Matthew and his wife have created a new line of illustrated products called “Vermoosin’ “, featuring a moose named Kirby, who enjoys Vermont living. Some of the designs can be seen and purchased at http://www. zazzle.com/sneezingleopard. Matthew lives and works in East Burke, Vermont with his wife Barbara. For more information about the illustrator and his work, visit http://www.matthewgauvin.com/bio.htm. REAL TIME FEEDBACK --Jan Oliver, Nurse Manager Med/Surg We all read the Press Ganey survey comments and often see things we could have fixed while the patient was here. On Med/Surg we began a process to help us ensure the patient has the best experience while they are here. In March we began seeking Real Time Feedback from patients. The purpose was to identify and address patient concerns in a timely fashion. When we receive feedback from patients while they are here, we can make sure we meet their needs. We can address their concerns and/or give recognition to staff who get positive comments. Hopefully our patient satisfaction scores will improve. We developed a form that asks patients what we can do to make improvements, whether there is an employee they would like to recognize. Nurses hand them out to the patient. There is a box at the nurse’s station where they are deposited. Jan Oliver checks the box daily and addresses the issues. Since we began the process, the response has been very positive. Almost every day, there are cards returned. By June, we had 33 cards returned and 3 letters written. Seven departments (i.e. food service, environmental services, physical therapy, care management, etc.) received recognition and 24 employees were mentioned by name. This feedback was provided to the departments and the individuals identified. In addition to the positive recognition, there were opportunities to improve our care to patients. I will share 2 examples. One patient commented that our soap had a scent and that was a problem for them. 8 continued We are a scent-free environment and I thought we had transitioned to a scent free soap some time ago. Apparently a vendor change resulted in scented soap. We quickly corrected the problem. Another example was a patient who commented that our tub didn’t have grab bars located where they could use them. We have since added grab bars in our tub and shower. The Real Time Feedback project has expanded to the ICU. We will also be placing a collection box in the day room on Second floor. Recently, a suggestion was made by a Med/ Surg nurse to include the comments from Real Time Feedback in our patient comment section in the Brightlook. I will be working with Hilary to do this. The first quarter of Press Ganey and HCAPs scores showed improvements in our satisfaction scores. We hope to continue the trend. Did you know that we have this film in the Medical Library for you to sign out? Take advantage of all that the library offers! This film is amazing. A few of the Dan Wyand PT staff who organized and volunteered for the 5K Run on August 9th to raise money for the Melissa Jenkins Scholarship Fund. 9 The Sounds of Summer… MedQuest, Learning Through Exploration -Betsy Merrill Ahhh, I love the sounds of summer, which includes the voices of young people, as they explore their world. Such were the sounds heard at NVRH during our annual MedQuest experience, on July 16 and 17, 2014. A buzz, a hum, how can I describe it? The sound of excitement, barely contained. The second week in July is always exciting with MedQuest students here; each year is different from the previous years! For the sixteenth year, NVRH, North Country Hospital, UVM and Northeastern Vermont Health Education Center (AHEC) joined with local practices, individuals and providers creating a unique week-long summer program for students who want to explore health careers, during July. Students are always rising sophomores or juniors in high school. This year, students came from Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties, fifteen young women and five young men. MedQuest is an AHEC project in collaboration with local hospitals, health clinics and facilities, and local colleges. MedQuest is a structured, diversified program. The program is funded through a variety of community partners, which include: Vermont Women’s Fund, NVRH, NCH, Gifford Medical Center, UVM College of Medicine and VSAC . Their mission is to improve the health of our communities through the development of the health care work force. The program allows students to experience a variety of health care careers, gain exposure to professional work environments, and build skills and resources for health career pathways. Students stayed at Lyndon State College, providing possibly their first experience of residential life. Why do students want to do this? The majority of them told me that they want to make a difference, to possibly improve the world. With over 50 applicants, 20 were selected to take part in this exploratory experience. Supervision and leadership were provided by four first-year medical students from University of Vermont’s College of Medicine, working as Assistant Directors. Assistant Directors were available 24 hours a day to the students. As a group, students learn about things like basic first aid, CPR, medical ethics, infection control, pathology, preparing for college, nursing dynamics, and cultural competency. At NVRH, they learned about diabetes self-testing, CPR, virtual heart and lung sounds in the Simulation Lab, and experienced virtual IV techniques. In addition, students learned on a one-on-one basis during job shadows with health professionals. Students had 40 job shadow opportunities in the St. Johnsbury area, and a like number at North Country Hospital and Health Center (Newport). Their local experiences took them not only to NVRH and NVRH practices, but also to CALEX, Eye Associates of New England, and St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center. Altogether, a combined 82.75 hours of observation was shared while students were at NVRH, utilizing 15 work sites, and 47 professionals. Comments shared from students in the program included: “I worked with a nurse, and got to understand some of what happens with patient care; just a wonderful experience” “I was in the lab… they showed me the equipment and ‘stuff ’; it was fascinating.” “I was impressed by the personal care…. given in the medical practice…” “It was cool….it’s too bad I can’t come back tomorrow and see the results of this 24 hour test.” “I’m taking AP courses this year…it’s exciting. I want to be a part of caring for people.” “As a medical student, I observed that needs for care change, especially at different times in our lives. I am grateful for this experience; I want to know more about palliative care.” (UVM Medical Student, after observation at Norris Cotton Cancer Center-North) 10 continued Many thanks go out to the staff and others who provided 40 job shadow opportunities for this experience. Extra special thanks go to those department managers who created new opportunities, by “thinking outside the box.” One of the students who had such an experience left his quiet and reserved comfort zone. So excited, he talked about his experience all during lunch. “It was really, WAY COOL! WOW! I never saw anything like that before! Focusing on math and science! Want to be able to do that for people!” There are a number of folks without whom this opportunity would not have been such a success: Kim O’Conner, AHEC Health Careers Coordinator / MedQuest Director; Carol Hodges, RN, Barb Byrne, RN, and Betsy Merrill (NVRH job shadow coordinator) make up the “in house planning team”… working with all our NVRH staff; VTC nursing students and graduates, who provided guidance and demonstration in the simulation lab activities; All the NVRH staff and volunteers - in all their capacities; Our bus driver…without whom we would have been “stuck”; UVM, Lyndon State College and Springfield College staff & personnel; All the staff members in all the settings This year, there were six MedQuest programs offered in Vermont: in Champlain Valley at Fletcher Allen, in both Bennington and Brattleboro, in Southern Vermont and Northeastern Vermont locations. For more information about MedQuest experiences available in 2015, contact Kim O’Connor at Northeastern Vermont AHEC, 802-748-25010 or email, [email protected]. Meghan Breen was one of the four UVM Medical students in charge of the twenty Medquest students who visited and observed at NVRH in July. Meghan is starting her second year at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. I have known Meghan for years, since she grew up a couple of miles down the road from me. We were at The Riverside School at the same time – she as a student and I as an employee. She graduated from Riverside in ’04, graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in ’08 and from Williams College in ’12. She plans to graduate from Medical School in ’17. Meghan took a gap year in 2012-13 to work at Project Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro (population 2300), Alabama. “ Working closely with our community, Project Horseshoe Farm was founded on the idea that we must come together as communities around our strengths to meet the needs of our children, seniors, and adults with mental illness”. (website) Project Horseshoe Farm is managed by John Dorsey, MD, MBA. Meghan worked with six women, who lived at the residence. They all struggled with mental illness and/or addiction, ranging from schizophrenia, bi-polar, personality disorders and substance and drug abuse; Meghan loved her year at Project Horseshoe Farm. She learned an “amazing amount about EVERYTHING,” she told me. She also did math tutoring and reading skills for grades 4-8 at the local school. One of the reasons Meghan chose to go to medical school is from her own experience of having severe scoliosis, resulting in back surgery after graduating from St. Johnsbury Academy; she had the summer to recover before starting her freshman year at Williams. Meghan had a female surgeon, who, with her knowledge, skill and bedside manner, enticed her to think about attending medical school. Not surprisingly, Meghan loves medical school. But truthfully, as long as I’ve known her, she embraces life and its experiences with open arms and an open heart. She starts her clinical rotations in March, 2015, completing the standards first and then going for her electives. She loves human interaction, living in small towns and is very excited about becoming a physician. By Hilary De Carlo 11 Safety Bulletin…. NVRH Emergency Codes By Pete Gummere The Emergency Operation Planning Team (EOP) has been working quite hard on improving the ability of NVRH to respond to both internal and external disasters. For many years, NVRH has had emergency codes in order to communicate the specifics of emergencies as they emerge. Going back about two years ago, we recognized a need to revise the Codes and the actual responses to them. We even revised the colors associated with some of the codes – particularly the codes related to security incidents. The changes in code colors were made in order to bring NVRH into compliance with standard colors used in many of the surrounding institutions. CODE PINK has replaced the old Code Purple. Some of the responses have changed while others remain the same. The steps pertaining to most of the employee population remain similar to the steps in the old Code Purple. In a nutshell, the majority of us are called upon to secure building perimeter- that is, all entry and exit doors need to be controlled. Any person carrying a baby or a package which could be used to disguise a baby should be stopped. This includes persons in typical hospital attire – i.e. scrub-suits. The sheriff should be notified through the switchboard if there are any problems. Previously, incidents involving threatening behavior, violence or potential violence were called as “Code Green”. The response to such incidents is now fundamentally different from our previous response. Hence, Code Green was eliminated. Instead, we have created two new codes, CODE GRAY and CODE SILVER. While the old Code Green called for generalized assistance from other departments, CODE GRAY and CODE SILVER explicitly call for staff from other departments to stay completely away from the area in which the incident has arisen. The on-site sheriff will respond. Please note that Code Gray is to be called when disorderly, violent or threatening behavior arises. The Maintenance department has been instructed to respond in assisting the sheriff. However, if a weapon has been shown, or if the disruptive person can be seen to have a weapon on them, this is a more serious incident. This is when a CODE SILVER should be called. Again, DO NOT GO TO A CODE SILVER OR A CODE GRAY, except for Maintenance staff which responds only as a back-up to the sheriff in a Code Grey. For information on how your own department should respond to any code you should locate the specific instructions that were written for you and your department co-workers. These instructions are called Department Extracts in that they extract from the overall plan (Emergency Operations Plan) what your area needs to know in response to a code being called. Each department has a different set of instructions for their response to a particular code. Your department should have a copy of these extracts for you to familiarize yourself with so you are prepared for the future. In addition, we have created two new Codes. Some of you may have already heard a “CODE D” paged. This is a signal to all employees that a potential disaster in underway and that they should return to their own departments. It is also a message to members of the Emergency Operations Team to meet in Conference Room 224, the location of the Incident Command Center during a major incident. If the Emergency Operations Team determines that the incident requires activation of a Code Yellow (disaster) or another response, that information will be announced via overhead page. Incident Command knows that there is a need to share information with all employees; hence, detailed information will be shared as needed via e-mail. The second addition to the Emergency Codes is rather self-explanatory – LOCKDOWN. In Lockdown, all access to the building will be channeled through the Access Entrance. Lockdown is undertaken out of an abundance of caution, should actual circumstances require protection of the perimeter of the building. It should also be understood that a Lockdown does not mean that the hospital is closed; we are limiting access and control for certain circumstances. Examples might include an actual or perceived security threat, an extremely large number of patients or visitors being expected or other events where access to the hospital needs more control than usual. In the coming weeks we ask that all employees review the Codes in the Emergency Operations Plan located on the NVRH Pulse page. Remember that all employees should have the NVRH Code Colors card with their ID card at all times. Your cooperation on this issue is absolutely essential to our collective success. 12 Employee Safety Committee Seeking New Members Several years ago MEMIC, our Workman’s Compensation Insurance carrier asked us to institute an Employee Safety Committee so that we could have a front line team that could provide the important interface of safety and observation. From its inception, it has been a highly successful group that saw the need for change and was able to recommend and act on what needed to be done. In recent years we have formed a core group of committed employees that are dedicated to observing their work environment and making sure safety is in the forefront. At the same time we have seen a few of our members retire or move to other locations. We need to replace those important contributors. The membership of the committee comes from across the spectrum of employees at NVRH. While it is important to have a varied membership, it is equally important to have representation from our Nursing staff. They are important to have on the committee for many reasons. They are relied upon for their clinical expertise but also because they come in contact with so much in the facility, both equipment and the physical plant, but also with their contact with the many family members and visitors. They are also the highest number represented in the employee population of the hospital. We are also looking for representation from the many other departments that make up our hospital family. It is difficult for all of us to try to commit to one more meeting during a busy schedule. But I also know how important it is to have employees who will volunteer to work for a safe environment. I think it is possible to maintain a busy schedule and allow for an individual to take an hour or two every other month to attend a meeting and take part in some committeeoriented activities. In addition to hearing about recommendations for improving safety, our committee is also responsible for monitoring the safety in our environment by taking part in surveillance rounds. For this, we are assigned an area of the hospital to inspect similar to what might be done by a CMS or OSHA inspector. We have a list of items to look for and sample questions to ask our fellow employees, both of which measure our preparedness and response to safety issues. If you would be interested in volunteering for the NVRH Employee Safety Committee please contact Jim Coulson at [email protected] or call x7380. We are planning on meeting on Sept. 3 at 10:00 AM in room 126. Devin Harbin, currently at Dartmouth Medical School stands with Dr. Joe Hebert, his preceptor at NVRH Corner Medical. Working at Corner Medical was Devin’s first clinical rotation and he enjoyed it immensely. Devin was very grateful to all of the physicians and healthcare providers he worked with; he found everyone’s kindness, willingness and patience exceptional. He was impressed with the knowledge that all the Family Medicine practitioners had, since they saw so many different issues daily. Dr. Hebert called Devin “a pleasure to work with.” Devin grew up in Houston, Texas. He received a BS in Biology and a minor in chemistry from The University of Houston. After shadowing his aunt, a physician in San Antonio, TX working with underserved and underprivileged patients, Devin decided to apply to medical school. He spent time as a research assistant at Texas Children’s Hospital Emergency Center and at Dartmouth, researching cystic fibrosis and septic conditions in pediatric patients. His next rotation is an elective research rotation in neuropsychiatry at Dartmouth. The next two years are spent completing medical rotations in various fields, and although he has a real attraction to research, he enjoyed spending time with patients so much at Corner Medical, he may rethink the research aspect! 13 The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (A.T.O.D.) Prevention Task Force at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital has gone through a lot of changes! We want the community to know we are still here and a lot of work is happening to help people live a healthier life. On Thursday, August 21st from 2:00 to 7:00PM the ATOD Prevention Task Force and Tobacco Cessation staff will host an Open House to welcome community members to our new space and answer questions about what we do. We are now located in the NVRH Dr. Bobs House at 297 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury. The ATOD Prevention Task Force is made up of one full and two part-time paid staff and two or more volunteers. Staff, volunteers, and more than twenty community partners meet monthly to plan and evaluate program activities to ensure that goals and objectives are being met. Lee Loyer, was hired on July 1, 2014 as our new Tobacco Grants Coordinator, taking over much of the work previously done by Rose Sheehan, Program Director. Lee works 30hrs per week carrying out the goals and objectives of the Combined Community Prevention grant, which include initiatives aimed at preventing youth tobacco use, providing resources to people who want to quit, increasing smoke-free spaces throughout the community, and educating community leaders about the role of advertising and tobacco product types, such as the e-Cigarette on youth initiation. Cheryl Glick is our Outreach Educator and can been seen throughout the community on any given day, educating community members about the programs we offer. She does this by disseminating program materials, hosting informational booths at community-wide events, and talking with anyone that is interested. Because of her pleasant personality and her passion for helping people Cheryl is instrumental in drawing individuals to our services. Several people have reported they quit smoking as a result of being invited to a group by her. All of our programs are directed by Rose Sheehan, who has worked for NVRH for twelve years. Over the past year Rose reduced her hours in order to take on new work in the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union as a guidance counselor in two schools. She continues to oversee A.T.O.D. with the bulk of her hours spent helping adults quit tobacco use, which is her greatest passion. To learn more about all the great work and the opportunities to get involved, please join us for the Open House on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 2:00-7:00PM at 297 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury. Refreshments will be provided. The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Task Force grew out of its 55 Sherman Drive home and is now located at 297 Summer Street. They offer free Tobacco Cessation Services and many other prevention initiatives to promote health and wellness in the community. To learn more please contact Rose Sheehan, Director, or Lee Loyer, Tobacco Grant Coordinator at 748-7532 or 748-8400. Dr. Ken Danielson was recently re-certified by the American Society of Breast Surgeons in Breast Ultrasound. He submitted documentation, as well as clinical case studies, and a panel of reviewers critiqued his submissions. The American Society of Breast Surgeons, the primary leadership organization for general surgeons who treat patients with breast disease, is committed to continually improving the practice of breast surgery by serving as an advocate for surgeons who seek excellence in the care of breast patients. 14 Online Patient Portal NVRH Launches for Easier Access to Health Information With its launch of a new patient portal program called MyPortal.NVRH.org, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital now offers patients the option to access select portions of their health records online, through the main hospital website at www.nvrh.org. Signing up for the Patient Portal requires in-person authentication, which can be done at your NVRH healthcare provider’s office or at the Health Information Management office (Medical Records) on the lower level of the hospital. Family members, caretakers or others of the patients’ choosing can have access to your electronic health record, provided they have the proper legal documentation for the Health Information Management office. MyPortal allows patients to more conveniently view certain lab reports, allergies, medication and condition lists, view health records and appointments, update personal profile, view bills, read reports from healthcare providers and message your healthcare providers. Patients are notified by email if they have new information in their record; a red dot will be indicated on the pages that have new activity. Portal passwords are encrypted and URLs are re-written so that they cannot be copied and pasted. The patient and authorized family Ashley Bruno, Director of Health Information members are the only ones who can access the patient’s portal. A Management, assists NVRH volunteer Wanda Hawkins timeout feature protects your information if you leave the Portal page sign up for the Patient Portal. open. Wanda Hawkins, NVRH Volunteer who recently signed up for the portal was thrilled. “I love it,” said Wanda. “I’m very happy that I can help manage my healthcare from home. It’s very convenient.” Ashley Bruno, Director of Health Information Management calls the Portal “a wonderful addition to patient care at NVRH. It can save patients time and energy and allow for greater communication between providers and patients.” If you have questions about signing up for the Patient Portal, please call 802-748-7362. NVRH Birth Center Welcomes Little Rivers Obstetric Patients “We want to provide the patients of Little Rivers with a wonderful place to have their babies, and Drs. Genereaux and Homan are welcome new members of our caring team,” said Mindy Warren, Director of the Birth Center at NVRH. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital’s Birth Center welcomes obstetric patients from Little Rivers Health Center. Drs. Steve Genereaux and Fay Homan, from Little Rivers Health Center have been providing prenatal and post natal care to patients, and delivering their babies for twenty years. Cottage Hospital closed its Birth Center on July 31. “The NVRH Birth Center has welcomed us with enthusiasm. It’s clear that NVRH is an institution that supports the broader community and we are proud and pleased to be a part of this great team,” said Dr. Genereaux. Post natal and prenatal care will continue to be provided at Little Rivers. The NVRH Birth Center emphasizes and encourages the strong bond between the mother and infant. Babies are born in a quiet, private room with a warm home-like atmosphere. The Birth Center is currently the only Vermont hospital designated Baby Friendly by the World Health Organization. 15 Auxiliary/Volunteer NEWS By Pat Forest, Volunteer Coordinator The NVRH Auxiliary will begin their meetings after taking our summer break. Our first meeting will be on Friday, September 12th. The lunch will be in the Courtyard Café at Noon with the meeting to follow in rooms 126 & 127. Our speaker will be our new Vice-President of Professional Services, Seleem Choudhury. He is both entertaining and has a great vision for NVRH. We will then award the items for the Auxiliary Wish List. That is always a great time as we give away all the funds that we have earned through our fundraising efforts throughout the year. On Tuesday, September 9th Uniform Professionals will be at NVRH for their fall sale. Uni Pro sells a full line of uniforms, shoes and accessories for the health care professionals. They feature the latest styles, prints & colors for uniforms and work shoes from major manufacturers. The sale will take place from 7am – 4pm in conference rooms 126 & 127. They accept cash, check, credit cards and payroll deduction (available to employee’s of NVRH). Proceeds benefit NVRH Auxiliary. I would like to thank our student volunteers. You did a great job for NVRH and we are very grateful. Thanks to Meredith Amsden, Kamie Flum, Victoria Gates, Sonja Bangeman-Johnson, and Elizabeth Winchell. Have a great school year, and come back and see us. If you know of someone who would be interested in volunteering at NVRH, please have them call Pat at 748-7310 or stop by the main information desk for a volunteer packet. I would also like to thank our Upward Bound students who were at NVRH from June 23 – July 21. We are happy that you were able to see aspects of the medical field here at NVRH. Those students are Maranda Ruggles, Victoria Ballou, Brianna Gingue, Molly Leighton, Alyssa Cote, and Mael LeScouezec. The Birth Center, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, Medical Library, Physical Therapy and the Emergency Room each sponsored an LSC Upward Bound student. Also in September, on Tuesday the 30th, we will sponsor a Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive will be held from 11am-4pm in conference rooms 126 & 127. Each pint of blood we receive can potentially save up to 3 lives. What a great gift you can give to someone else. Please call Pat at X 7310 to sign up to donate blood or volunteer for the registration desk or the canteen. These drives would not be a success without your assistance as a donor or a volunteer. We are looking for 40 blood donors and 10 volunteers. Come out and help us complete our mission for the drive! Ann Creaser, Food Service Production Coordinator and long-time NVRH employee, recently donated 10 inches of hair to Pantene for wigs for cancer patients. She had her hair cut at The Circle of Care Boutique, the only boutique for cancer patients and their families in the area. 16 Mandy Degre, RN, Completes Five Week Family Nurse Practitioner Rotation in Women’s Wellness Mandy Degre, RN recently completed a five week clinical rotation in Women’s Wellness with Margaret Rowlett, ARNP. Already being a very experienced RN, “Mandy was an exceptional Nurse Practitioner student,” said Margaret. Mandy is obtaining her degree (MSN) from Saint Joseph’s College, where she received her BSN in 2010. She received her Associate’s degree from New Hampshire Community Technical College in 2000 – she has been a nurse for 14 years. She’s currently an office nurse at North Country Primary Care and per-diem at NVRH Corner Medical. She’s worked on Medical/Surgical units, as an office nurse in a family practice setting and as a community health nurse and case manager. For her nurse practitioner’s degree, she’s (almost) completed three clinical rotations: in Primary Care (ages 18-60) at The Barton Clinic from November 2013 to March 2014, Women’s Health at Women’s Wellness and Pediatrics in Newport (March, 2014 to July) and currently older adults (60+) at the Orleans Clinic. Two hundred hours are required in each rotation. The rotation in Women’s Wellness was an intense one; normally they precept once a week, but this rotation was three days a week for five weeks. It takes a great deal of organization and time from both parties. The advantage to Mandy, according to Margaret was that her “women’s health/gynecological skills improved consistently and brilliantly each day. She made patients feel comfortable and at ease, which takes practice and a genuine commitment to patient care.” Mandy found Margaret a fabulous teacher – “Margaret is very thorough with a huge range of knowledge. She maintains her calm, has a great approach with patients, and listens and suggests with a wholistic approach (looking at the entire picture). She discovers layers in every day patient care and truly exemplifies the profession.” Mandy’s goal as a Family Practitioner is to empower women to take care of themselves. She wants to focus on women’s health as well as Family Practice as a FNP. Mandy husband is Eric Degre, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Lake Region High School, as well as the Varsity baseball coach. Last year, Eric had some sudden and rather complicated health problems that required the two of them to search for specialized care in Nashville, Tennessee. As a nurse, Mandy’s knowledge and advocacy on behalf of Eric was invaluable – she also learned a tremendous amount. She has two sons: Gage (12) and Sam (10). Dr. Joyce Dobbertin, Family Practitioner at NVRH Corner Medical and Board Certified in Palliative Medicine spoke at the June Corporator Meetings about Palliative Care at NVRH. Dr. Dobbertin and Dr. Mary Ready, also Board Certified in Palliative Medicine, see palliative care patients in the Bloch Building in the ENT Suite. Palliative Care is centered around living better with a challenging illness; the goal is to make patients comfortable and to honor their wishes. Drs. Dobbertin and Ready build a team (i.e. physicians/healthcare providers, family, caregivers) that meets regularly to evaluate, assist, implement and alter the plan of care to meet the patient’s needs and desires. Dobbertin also spoke about the need for everyone to fill out Advance Directives and/or COLST (Clinician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment) forms to clarify what patients want in the event of failing health or an unexpected trauma. 17 Karyn Patno, MD, to Speak at NVRH Childbirth Education Program about Newborn Care Dr. Karyn Patno, long-time pediatrician at NVRH St. Johnsbury Pediatrics will be speaking about newborn care on Wednesday, August 20th from 6-8 pm. All are welcome; this program is free and open to the public and will be held in conference room 126 in the Business and Conference Center at the hospital. Dr. Patno is an excellent speaker, with tremendous knowledge about basic infant care as well as Shaken Baby Syndrome. She has established a state-wide program in child abuse pediatrics. Please call 748-7337 if you are interested in attending the class or have further questions. Monique Paquette, RN and Emergency Room nurse for 32 ½ years recently retired from NVRH. She is now a traveling nurse. Her first assignment is in the Emergency Room at Union Hospital in Lynn, MA. Each traveling assignment is 13 weeks. Her bucket list includes working in Alaska during the summer and Savannah, Georgia and Florida in the winter. Good luck Monique! Construction Update! The Moffett Building renovation and expansion is almost completed! Construction is 90% done in St. Johnsbury Pediatrics – they will be working on the last two exam rooms once the Physical Therapy Offices are completed. Dan Wyand PT has moved back into their St. J office, and they’ll be seeing patients in their new office on Monday, the 18 th. The Community-Wide Grand Opening of the Moffett Building is Thursday, September 11 th from 3-6! Food and Games Tours: 3-4:15 Food and Prizes Raffles Music with Val Davis: 3-6 Buddy and Harmonie the clowns from 4:30-6 Ribbon cutting at 5 There’s been some activity in the corner of Parking Lot E. We are planning to add 30 additional spaces with the debris from the sewer, water and storm drain projects in St. Johnsbury. Kingdom Internal Medicine construction will start in September; plant operations will be working through the winter and we’ll have another grand opening in 2015. Stay tuned! The Medical Arts Building, Suite 3 is finished. Dr. Van Straten (Neurology)and Dr. Long (Behavioral Health) will be moving there within the next couple of months. 18 This is how you’ll find the new Medical Arts Building, suite 3 entryway! The” lived in” window is for Occupational Medicine. The two windows to the right are for Behavioral Health and Neurology. A+ Standard of Caring MAY 2014 Ambulatory Surgery + Communication with family members excellent - They were kept informed. + Everyone knows their job and performs to a high level of skill. + Everything moved along smoothly in a well-coordinated manner. + No delays or complaints. + Thanks to Day Surgery staff Brenda and Paula - made me feel safe & comfortable/thanks to Annika & Kate and to Dr. Larsen. + Thanks to Deb Yonker - checking up on me a day or so after. + Not the greatest of procedures but under the circumstances everything went well thanks to an excellent staff & doctor. + Personnel make registration very easy. + All made the procedure as good as possible. + My experience was made as pleasurable as possible because of your staff’s friendliness & expertise. + I thank your excellent staff for all they did. + The nurse (Audrey Stone) who started the IV did a phenomenal job. I told her she should get a raise! + Very good staff that made me very comfortable both before, during & after surgery. + Very good experience and after surgery follow-up. + Very good overall experience. + Everyone was great. + Nice, very clean. + Very skilled and competent. + Very pleasant and competent. + All very helpful & encouraging. + For my first ever surgery, this was a fantastic experience. + Doctor excellent at explaining to me everything he was doing during the surgery. + He asked if I wanted to see my hand during surgery which I did - and I appreciated that + Everyone was cheerful and informative. + Cynthia, Leah and Debbie were excellent in their care of me. Emergency Department + I had taken my medication just before coming to the emergency room so the diuretic was working - the nurse got me to the rest room in a hurry which calmed me down! + An EKG was done immediately and I was assured it wasn’t my pacemaker acting up. + Both the doctor & nurse made sure I had a soon appointment with my primary-care doctor - he agreed with all their findings (it was his day off or I’d have seen him instead of going to Emergency). + Doctor was very nice - I had a great experience. + I had a very good experience. The nurses made me feel very comfortable. I loved the attention I got. + Debbie Smith was professional & polite. + Dr. Mark Keller was professional & cautious to make a diagnosis. + Jackie Zaun - professional - patient focused. + My nurse was wonderful. Gen I believe was her name. + Chris was our RN and he was excellent. + Thank you Dr. Baker. + Got right in because of chest pain + Nurses don’t get much better. + You are a very well managed medical center!!! + Loved the Weather Channel in the waiting room TV! + Radiology - excellent. + Doctor understood my condition and explained treatment and helped as much as he could. Sinus congestion. + Excellent team work. + Excellent care, explained everything and asked if we had any questions. + Great response to the problem. + Susie Duckett was excellent, caring efficient & informative. + Dr. Baker was very kind and patient. + Were very friendly and made sure I was comfortable while waiting. + He was very nice and didn’t make me feel bad during the visit. + Answered my questions and listened well when I double-checked to make sure I understood. Inpatient Department + Kitchen staff was some of the best and the food was great too. + All nurses were excellent. + Made sure I was as comfortable as possible. + All so pleasant and they would offer to help with my tray in any way I needed. + They would come as soon as they could when done with another patient. + They were all so kind and did their best not to hurt me. + All nice all the time. + I felt very comfortable with him. + Everyone was very professional, but very kind and caring at same time. + Staff explained all. And if I had a question, they didn’t make me feel stupid, even if it sounded it. + Just the nicest group of staff, I’ve seen in long time. Included kitchen staff, housekeeping. + All the nurses were very pleasant. + ... & feeling of confidence, neighboring friendliness, yet professional in their patient associations. One has the feeling that he is in “good” hands. + Great nursing staff! + The person who brought me food was very nice to me. + Food service is superb! + Hospitalist was superb (Dr. Dobbertin). 19 continued + Very, very nice hospital with very friendly staff, nurses, housekeepers, cafeteria and doctors. + Everyone was very nice and caring took good care of me. Dr. David Brody is my doctor. He took me right to ER and I was admitted through the ER. + Better than some other hospitals in the area. + Good job - love that hospital - only place I will go to from now on. + My hospital stay was exceptional in every way. Staff perfect + They took the time & made my wife comfortable as well. + Every nurse I had was outstanding. + I have already sent two people and got them in to see my doctor - he is great. + Very good experience. Scale of things is human and considerate. + I am a long-time patient of this practice and like it very much. Corner Medical + I never have to wait an unreasonable length of time for treatment. + Joyce Dobbertin is my doctor - I cannot stress enough how much I think of Joyce and how much confidence I have in her. + I have lived in big cities and seen doctors there. I have just as much confidence in our clinic. I am very proud of you all. + Joyce Dobbertin and her nurse Amy are remarkable caring, and compassionate. + I am very happy with Dr. Hebert as my doctor. + Thorough, personable, very good efforts to insure my transition into this practice was well-developed. + Took care to get good over-view as well as current particulars. + Well impressed with entire staff. + Sandy is fantastic. She is the best. + Dr. Erisman is simply the best doctor I have ever had + Corner Medical has a lot to be proud of. + Dr. Broderick has always been very good in all respects. Making sure I’m able to leave office and go to my car. Because of the O2 they will take me in a wheel chair. + We are very fortunate to have this clinic and the high quality staff they have to service this area. + On a normal visit, I usually have to wait, but the doctor always gives me time to answer questions, check me, my meds etc. + Overall experience was excellent. + I wish Dr. Gresser a long life & happiness in her retirement! Thank you. + Extremely friendly and professional. + Dr. Erisman is amazing. She’s wonderful, no complaints whatsoever. + Excellent all the way from start to finish. The above ten minute waits were NOT the norm and totally acceptable. + Mary and Dr. Tom Broderick take excellent care of me. They work closely with my neurologist to coordinate my care and make flexible choices to best meet my evolving medical needs. + Mary continues her professional, caring manner. + Dr. Broderick is still at the top of his game. + Absolutely will recommend Corner Medical to others! + Dr. Erisman is a talented and skilled physician. She is always wonderful! + I have a lot of confidence in Corner Medical. + Anyone I have come in contact with at Corner Medical has always been helpful and pleasant. + Just love Sandy! + Katie was great! + Miriam is great! She always answers my questions fully and makes sure I understand everything she is telling me. Kingdom Internal Medicine + The service is very friendly. + I am very happy with all the care I receive. + Staff and doctor were helpful, courteous and cheerful. + No delays. + Best service. + Staff is exceptional! + Excellent nursing staff. + Dr. Tom Ziobrowski does a tremendous job, as well as his staff. Thank you. + Already recommended to 2 people. + I tell everyone to go here. + I am continually delighted by the prompt and efficient processes in this practice. + Jessica McLeod is an exceptional NP. She listens carefully and clarifies information. + She is a real asset to KIM and NURA. + I continue to be enthusiastic about KIM. + It was a pleasure to move right through. I was feeling rather sick that day and needed to be seen. + Everything went very well -- all is good. Thanks so much. + Did a very good job very satisfied. + I was there for an annual exam. The nurse was VERY thorough and personable. + Jessica McLeod made sure I understood what I needed to do. She took my questions seriously and made some notes so I would remember my treatment schedule. + I ALWAYS receive excellent, courteous treatment from staff at KIM. + Even the student NP was courteous, professional & pleasant. I have a chronic illness (asthma) and have COMPLETE confidence in the staff at this practice. + Jessica McLeod NP, is the best for me - she’s kind understanding, careful with meds. plus polite. She makes me feel the best I can! Always. + An excellent group of people. A+. + She gave up her lunch hour to work w/me! + Excellent experience! MD himself conducted specialty care - Outstanding effort! + Great experience, really! 10 on 10. + Everyone there puts you at ease. + Just love Jessica. Like my best friend - so easy to talk with, concerned for my concerns. + Came in for a scheduled visit. No waiting. The nurse came right in with me and the provider arrived as soon as I had changed. 20 continued + I never have any trouble getting an appt. If my doctor is not available they ask me if I am okay with a physician assistant. + Love Dr. Gresser! + I’m glad my doctor does not talk down to me, expecting me to be uninformed or incapable of comprehending medical situations or terms. + She followed up with a phone call to me. I was very impressed with her concern (Ashley Gerrish). St. Johnsbury Pediatrics + I could not be happier! They all are wonderful, polite, helpful and nice! + Dr. Stasney took as much care of me as she did my child! She knew how worried I was and really took the time to listen and then reassure me! She called to check on us 3 times over the weekend. Amazing care. + We could not have a better practice here! We are so blessed! + I called in the morning about needing an appointment and was given an appointment that day (only an hour or two after my phone call). + Dr. Kantrowitz is extremely attentive and thorough. I would highly recommend him. + Love, love, love Dr. Josh!! Outpatient Departments + Staff is very helpful & courteous. + The person doing the MRI was very kind and patient. I had no anxiety at all. + I used to go to Dartmouth for testing - This is much quicker & easier. + As usual NVRH treats with all of the care & concern that I could possibly wish for. + “Very” friendly & professional. + Could not, would not ask for more. + The best. + I cannot say enough good things about the staff & how well I was treated. “Everyone” went way beyond expectations. + Very professional and on time! + Good and on time. + Outstanding. + I went from the doctor’s office to the lab. Very easy and only one person ahead of me. + Very private area for waiting & tech explained things well. + No complaints - wait time is none. + A good job done by everyone. + Very pleasant technicians and receptionist in the x-ray area. + Very easy process to go to the lab and have blood taken. + Pre-registration - Excellent. Womens Wellness Center + Always greeted by cheerful knowledgeable people on all levels. + Very pleasant, and courteous. + I am more than impressed with Dr. O’Connor - her professionalism is always there; but, she has such a great way of putting me at ease! Great sense of humor. + Very conducive to relaxation and comfort. + I did not feel rushed. The provider was calm, knowledgeable and reassuring. + Staff is always friendly and kind. Everyone is patient and their demeanor helps to put you at ease. I always feel comfortable in this office. + I had an excellent time with the doctor- went over all my paper. A very good experience. + I was treated as an elderly lady and Dr. Paul made me very comfortable. + Very thorough evaluation. Very genuine and kind. + Very pleased with care and service! + I was very much @ ease and comfortable. + Everything went smoothly. + Dr. Kenny is FANTASTIC. + The staff at Women’s Wellness is always pleasant. + Margaret is the main reason I come to Women’s Wellness. She is always professional but open and makes you feel like she’s known you for a long time. + It was really good. I called and they got me right in the next day. + I love my doctor - she is awesome. + Dr. Kenney was very thorough and relaxed and generous with her time & knowledge - 21
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