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One of my favorite things about the holiday season is having all the family together at once. This year, I’m looking forward to having both of my kids at home for the first time in four months. Both are returning from college—one a freshman, the other a junior. I have to say I may not have predicted how very happy the prospect of simply spending time all together would make me, but it’s absolutely the best holiday gift.
We’re also lucky this year in that my wife, Donna, a hospital nurse, is free—not on call until New Year’s. But it wasn’t always that way. There have been many years when she has not been at our holiday table, On Christmas Eve one year, for example, she got a call from the hospital and jumped up, stating, “Gotta’ go.” But this year, I know some of her colleagues will be in that same position, as Donna gets her turn staying home.
That’s the way it is for health care workers. While medical staff and patients themselves make every attempt to minimize the number of beds that remain full over the heart of the holidays, emergencies and serious illness don’t take a break for festivities. So, all staff—whether they be surgeons or food service workers or environmental service workers—have to be there to care for us.
Despite the fact that it’s been a tough year for Vermont health care workers, they continue to step up and serve us all. We hope you’ll take a moment during your holiday season to keep them in your thoughts. And, if you have a selfless health care worker in your neighborhood or family, take a minute to offer your appreciation. It means a lot to be seen and supported and I know it will be an added boost in these difficult times.
We wanted to be sure to thank them, too, so we created the PSA below to show some love. We hope you’ll see it on your local TV station or whatever channel provides you with content. Feel free to share to help spread the word that we really are so grateful for their compassion and care.
Happy holidays from all of us at VAHHS.
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Ensuring care for substance use disorder in Vt. skilled nursing facilities | |
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WCAX
Skilled nursing facilities in Vermont are key for in-patient rehab and treatment for people with a wide range of needs following an accident, illness or surgery. It can also include treatment for opioid use disorder. As the state’s opioid crisis continues to get worse, are those struggling with addiction being turned away for care?
U.S. Attorney for Vermont Nikolas Kerest says there have not been any reports of skilled nursing facilities turning away patients for substance use disorder but it is a topic of conversation in neighboring states.
“Facilities need to do an individualized assessment of each potential patient,” Kerest wrote in a reminder to each of Vermont’s 30 skilled nursing facilities as a precaution “They can’t have blanket policies against admitting people who use medication, medication-assisted treatment, or substance use disorder.”
Watch
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Vermont wants more funding for mental health supports for first responders | |
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Vermont Public
The Vermont Department of Health will ask lawmakers for additional funding next year for a mental health support program for first responders.
For the past two years the state has been running a program called Skills and Experience for Calling Up Resiliency, or SECURE, which was largely paid for with federal grants.
Stephanie Busch, the injury prevention program manager for the Department of Health, said the federal grants will expire in about a year. The department wants lawmakers to put money into next year’s budget to support — and expand — mental health programs for first responders across the state.
“The research is well established that first responders experience significant occupational stress and trauma related to the work that we do,” Busch said.
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Can Vermonters age with dignity, respect, and autonomy? Not easily. | |
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The Commons
This is no country for old people.
And that's a problem, because there are lots and lots of them, with more coming.
One person who is looking at the consequences of these demographics is Roger Allbee, the former Vermont Secretary of Agriculture and former chief executive officer of Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. He is one of the founders of Windham Aging, a collaboration of people concerned with the challenges of aging in Windham County.
Windham Aging was begun in 2020 by Allbee, Dr. Carolyn Taylor-Olson, and Dr. David Neumeister. The collaboration of 10 health agencies plans to identify Windham County's existing resources, future needs, and best strategies, and then inform legislators and state and local officials - the people who can figure out how to effect these changes. Windham Aging will then track their progress.
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LPNs make hospital comeback | |
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Becker's
The primary places of practice for licensed practical nurses are often outpatient clinics, nursing homes and other ambulatory care settings. Throughout the past few years, however, LPNs have made a hospital comeback as a growing number of health systems embrace nursing team models that aim to ensure registered nurses are able to work at the top of their licenses.
"We have been on that journey for a few years of reintegrating LPNs and trying to understand the best use case of all professionals to the top of their license," Kristen Wolkart, RN, executive vice president and chief nursing officer of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, told Becker's in May. "How do we help train and integrate them back into the acute care setting?"
The Baton Rouge, La.-based system has been working with local nursing schools to grow the region's LPN programs and allow for more clinical rotations within the system so LPNs have a better familiarity with the hospital setting upon graduating.
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Strafford’s Noah Kahan plays for patients at UVM Children’s Hospital | |
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VTDigger
Noah Kahan has performed on some of music’s biggest stages this year, from Lollapalooza to Red Rocks Amphitheatre to Saturday Night Live. On Friday, the Strafford-born singer opted for a different kind of venue: a sunny hallway in the children’s hospital wing of the University of Vermont Medical Center.
“It means the world to be in Vermont,” said Kahan, whose moody, folk-pop songs about life in small-town New England have earned him international fame and, last month, a Grammy nomination. The 26-year-old now lives just outside of Boston.
Kahan played the title track from his latest album, “Stick Season,” for about 20 patients and their families as well as dozens more doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. The UVM Children’s Hospital mascot, a bipedal, break-dancing moose named Monty, had a front-row seat — little wonder, it seemed, as Kahan said Monty was “my biggest fan.”
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RRMC Health Talk: RSV and children | |
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Rutland Herald
Almost all children are exposed to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) before age 2. For most, it’s like having a cold. But some children, especially the very young, can become dangerously sick.
In infant and toddler lungs, the RSV virus triggers an inflammation of the bronchioles, the small breathing tubes that make up the lungs. “Itis” means inflammation, so that is why this infection is termed “bronchiolitis.” It may or may not cause a fever. As with any illness, we recommend that parents and caregivers observe how the child is acting. If they are drinking and playful, they are likely not in danger.
Difficulty breathing: If your infant or toddler is having difficulty breathing, increased rate of breathing, and/or coughing fits that won’t stop, these could be signs of RSV. Lift your child’s shirt to observe the work of breathing.
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