Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A study of nearly 2,000 children found that those who reported playing video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to children who had never played video games. Published October 24 in JAMA Network Open, this study analyzed data from the ongoing Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other entities of the National Institutes of Health. Although a number of studies have investigated the relationship between video gaming and cognitive behavior, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the associations are not well understood. Only a handful of neuroimaging studies have addressed this topic, and the sample sizes for those studies have been small, with fewer than 80 participants.

Vermont Business Magazine Each November the home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, we call upon all Americans to commemorate the power of caring, both at the home and in their local communities and join with the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) by celebrating November as National Home Care & Hospice Month.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford staff members are wearing pink on Friday, October 21 to remind women about the importance of getting their annual mammogram during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 630 new female breast cancer cases and 80 deaths from breast cancer in Vermont this year. While it is the most common cancer diagnosis for women in the state, it can be treated very well if found early. Gifford General Surgeon Dr. Dawn Holman, who has a clinical interest in breast surgery, encourages women to get their mammograms, starting at the age of 40, and annually, continuing until much later in life.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Family Network (VFN) announced Monday that Dr. Jacqueline Kelleher has joined the team as the new Executive Director. Dr. Kelleher brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about the needs of families of children with a disability, special health need or mental health issue. She is also the parent of four now-adult children with developmental disabilities and disorders. She understands firsthand the lived experience of families navigating essential but complex systems to support their loved ones. Dr. Kelleher worked as the State Director of Special Education with the Vermont Agency of Education from 2019-2022. She oversaw the implementation of special education policies, practices, and procedures with federal and state laws for districts in the state. In this role, she viewed VFN as a partner and was a vocal proponent of the education system’s need to partner with parents to serve students best.

Vermont Business Magazine Members of the public can now dispose of expired prescriptions, including controlled substances, at the White River Junction, VT and Manchester, NH Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers on Saturday, October 29th from 10am to 2pm for National Medication Take Back Day October 29. VA is aligning with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), welcoming non-Veterans to its health facilities across the nation for the purpose of safe and secure drug disposal on designated dates during the year. Any member of the public is welcome, whether or not they have any affiliation to Veterans or VA.

Vermont Business Magazine If there’s one thing the team at Integrative Acupuncture know how to do, that is in addition to acupuncture, massage therapy and other healing services, it’s how to throw a party! The team of the downtown Montpelier wellness center hosted their first event in their newly renovated 1840’s house, turned healing retreat last month and the community showed up. Over 100 people interested in acupuncture or the center’s new floatation therapy descended on the 2700 square foot building and spilled into the ½ acre of a promising, retreat like landscape. They sampled the team’s own versions of congee, a staple of a healing breakfast in Asian countries. It is a rice porridge cooked slowly with 8 parts water and 1 part rice.

Vermont Business Magazine Rheumatologist Matthew Stanishewski, DO, is the next guest on Medical Matters Weekly. He practices with SVMC Rheumatology, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, in Bennigton. The show airs on Facebook Live at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26. Stanishewski earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and most recently served as a Fellow in Rheumatology at Roger Williams Medical Center, Rhode Island Hospital, and the VA Medical Center in Providence. He also worked as a clinical trial investigator with the Center for Medical Research, also in Providence.

Vermont Business Magazine A report released last week recognized the University of Vermont Health Network as one of the most transparent health systems in the country based on its efforts to make pricing available publicly. Turquoise Health analyzed nearly 5,000 hospitals and health systems based on how well they are following a federal requirement to publish their negotiated rates with private insurers. Categories included whether hospitals have complied with federal requirements by posting a machine-readable pricing file with negotiated, cash and list rates. The UVM Health Network was one of 104 hospitals or health systems to receive the top score.

Vermont Business Magazine A majority of states, including Vermont, saw scores decline for fourth- and eighth-graders in mathematics and reading between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation's Report Card, released today by the US Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The national average score declines in mathematics for fourth- and eighth-graders were the largest ever recorded in that subject.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) announced today the release of a request for applications (RFA) for farmers, producers, and organizations to apply for Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) funding. Approximately $200,000 will be awarded to farms and organizations that demonstrate an ability to purchase and distribute local food from socially disadvantaged producers to underserved community members across Vermont. Funds must be used to start new programs or expand existing offerings to purchase local food and move to neighbors in need. Farmers and producers who fall under USDA’s definition of socially disadvantaged will receive priority for funding.