Current News

by Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center suffered a breach to several employee email accounts starting late last year, Vermont Business Magazine has learned, potentially exposing sensitive patient data including names, diagnoses and prescription information. The breach, which occurred between November 2, 2018, and February 6, 2019, was identified by an employee who noticed spam emails sent from their account. On February 6, the medical center confirmed that nine employee email accounts had been compromised, and unauthorized users could have accessed any data contained within those accounts.

Over 72,000 patients may have been affected by the breach, according to a press release, which also stated that 3,683 Social Security Numbers were also vulnerable.

Rutland Regional said in a press release that it has not heard of any instances of personal information being misused as a result of the breach.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual “Big Change Roundup for Kids” raised $339,663.75 to support specialized care provided at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.  The Roundup is the largest fundraiser each year for the hospital, and this is the largest preliminary total in the 14-year history of the event, outpacing last year’s mark of $331,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Heather Pelham as the deputy commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing. Pelham joins the marketing team responsible for promoting Vermont as a top tourism destination and attracting 13 million visitors each year who contribute $2.8 billion in spending to the state. For the last four years, Pelham has served as the state’s chief marketing officer. In addition to the deputy commissioner role, Pelham will assume the title of chief marketing executive and will retain oversight of the Chief Marketing Office as part of the Scott Administration’s efforts to ensure marketing and creative services are collaborative and accessible across state agencies.

Vermont Business Magazine Linda Bowden of Burlington has been has been appointed State President of AARP Vermont, a volunteer position working closely with both staff and volunteers throughout the state to help AARP achieve its mission in Vermont. Her responsibilities include serving as a volunteer spokesperson, chairing the AARP Vermont Advisory Council, building networks and community partnerships, and recruiting volunteers.

​Vermont Business Magazine One of Vermont’s fastest growing organic brands has launched the market’s first ever CBD infused maple water beverage. Tretap, which was acquired by Vermont’s original CBD store - Ceres Natural Remedies - in February, officially began selling the first CBD beverage flavor, Tangerine-Turmeric, in all Ceres stores across the state today.

Vermont Business Magazine Each year Rutland Regional Medical Center recognizes a Physician and a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or other Advanced Practice Provider whose contributions to our community, staff, and patients represent the highest ideals in health care. We are pleased to announce that our 2019 Physician of the Year is Stanley Shapiro, MD, FACC, FASNC and 2019 NP/PA of the Year is Michael Vooris, PA-C. 

Dr Stanley Shapiro, left, and Michael Vooris, PA-C

Following a nominating process, the awardees are selected based on the following criteria:

Vermont Business Magazine The UVM Health Network/Porter Medical Center has announced that Seleem Choudhury DNP, MBA, RN, CEN, FAEN will be its new President/Chief Operating Officer as of June 1.  Dr Choudhury will follow Dr Fred Kniffin, who has led Porter since March of 2016.  Dr Kniffin will return to practice in the Porter Emergency Department where he has served Porter since 1990. As Porter’s President for three years, Kniffin led the organization through the process of becoming an affiliate of the UVM Health Network in April of 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) has received a 2019 Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness Gold Level Award from The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Vermont Department of Health. This award creates a standard of excellence for worksite wellness initiatives, and recognizes Vermont employers’ efforts to enhance productivity, bolster a healthy environment and improve employee wellbeing. 

by John McClaughry On February 10 VTDigger political columnist Jon Margolis declared that “the carbon tax is dead.” The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have pretty clearly said “not this year, and Governor Scott has repeatedly promised a veto. Margolis wondered why the carbon tax opponents were so unwilling to declare victory, and move on.

Vermont Business Magazine Benchmark (www.benchmarkseniorliving.com), a human connection company and leading provider of senior living services in the Northeast, today announced that its Arbors at Shelburne memory care community in Shelburne, Vermont, has raised $2,880 for the Alzheimer’s Association. The funds raised will go towards Alzheimer’s care, support and research. 

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) today announced its implementation of the HomeMeds Medication Safety Program, a nationally-recognized, evidence-based medication management model that is expected to generate a range of benefits for older Vermonters and the healthcare provider network in Bennington and Rutland counties.

“We’re excited to launch HomeMeds in our service area and anticipate the impacts to be significant for older Vermonters who are prescribed multiple medications, as well as local hospitals that often see repeat patient visits as a result of adverse medication interactions and other medication challenges,” said Dana McMahon, Rutland Aging Services Director with SVCOA. “With many older Vermonters living with multiple, chronic conditions, the risks for medication mismanagement, and subsequent, unintended health consequences, are substantial.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Health is making it easier for Vermonters who live in Franklin and Grand Isle counties to make sure their well water is safe to drink. While municipal water is tested on a regular basis, homeowners who drink water from wells need to test their own taps to find out if the water contains any contaminants.

As part of a new pilot project, homeowners in northwestern Vermont can now drop off water samples closer to home – at the St. Albans Local Health Office – which will then be taken to the Health Department Laboratory in Colchester for testing. Because many of these water samples must arrive at the lab within 30 hours, this free drop-off service will help customers avoid the cost of shipping the samples overnight or having to bring them to the lab themselves.

Municipal and recreational water samples can also be dropped off at the health office.