Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The peer-reviewed article “Partnering to Improve Pediatric Asthma Quality” was published in the April volume of the journal Academic Pediatrics. The article was authored by three pediatricians including Dr. Michael Cabana, professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, Dr. Keith Robinson of the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Josh Plavin, the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. Childhood asthma is often managed in an office setting, but when they are in a crisis, kids head to an emergency room.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections is conducting an internal review, to include administrative and medical reviews, following the death of an incarcerated individual at Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St. Johnsbury on Sunday. Dustin Dunkling, 29, of St Albans, was found unresponsive by Vermont DOC staff at approximately 9:30 PM on April 3, 2022. Correctional and medical staff first responders began life-saving efforts and immediately called for outside medical assistance. Fire and EMS crews arrived and attempted to revive Dunkling, who was pronounced deceased at the facility. The official cause of death will be determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner but, at this time, the cause is suspected to be suicide.

Vermont Business Magazine Main Street Alliance of Vermont announced today the launch of their new survey to assess the needs of Vermont small businesses. As part of a national initiative introduced by President Biden and Vice President Harris, Main Street Alliance of Vermont (MSAVT) and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) are thrilled to partner with Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) as they begin to engage in the  Small Business Administration’s Community Navigator Pilot Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) launched the Sun Match Pilot Program, to connect more low- and moderate-income customers with solar power. The Sun Match Pilot will offer up to 500 eligible customers the opportunity to sign up for a new solar rate, designed to encourage energy use at times when solar is plentiful. GMP is using an existing solar array, which allows for participants to have access to that generation to realize savings.

Vermont Business Magazine Living Well Group, Inc, a non-profit organization with residential care homes in Burlington and Montpelier, is proud to announce their new executive director, Beth Hammond.

Hammond brings a wealth of experience in non-profit management and program development to the organization’s strong management team. Hammond’s experience includes positions at Cathedral Square/SASH, Boston Senior Home Care, the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman in New Hampshire, and most recently executive director of Heineberg Community Senior Center. Under Hammond’s leadership, the Center reinvented itself to become a vibrant destination and resource for hundreds of older adults throughout greater Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center’s Chittenden Clinic program is very pleased to announce that it has received a Certificate of Recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) process as a recognized Patient-Centered Specialty Care Practice (PCSP). NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. It is noteworthy that in 2015 we were the very first program in the country to undergo the review and be acknowledged.

by John McClaughry The Vermont legislature is moving swiftly into its final six weeks. A major issue, as always, is parceling out revenues to cover the $8.1 billion Fiscal Year 2023 general plus transportation fund budgets. That process is eased this year by the tsunami of federal dollars rolling into the state, allowing the solons to fund programs and causes that in ordinary times, with normal state revenues, would not make the cut. A major feature of next year’s spending bill is the Climate Action Plan’s imperative to put an astounding 170,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 - 164,000 more than the state has now. To race down this pathway, the state will spend $10 million to install charging stations and pay people $12 million to buy EVs.

Vermont Business Magazine In an effort to distribute health and lifestyle information in an accessible and interesting way, Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) has launched a quarterly magazine called Healthy+. The publication is free and available wherever the Vermont News Guide is distributed. The magazine topics are based on those identified by the community health needs assessment, a triannual process that includes a wide-ranging health and wellness survey and regional focus groups. It was conducted last year.

Vermont Business Magazine As a retired nurse practitioner, current state representative for Windham-3, and member of the health committee, Leslie Goldman has a unique perspective on health care. Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson is pleased to welcome her on the show at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The show is produced by Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV).

Vermont Business Magazine During the 2021 holiday season, Community Bank N.A. challenged the public to help low-income Vermont families heat their homes in conjunction with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) WARMTH program. The bank generously pledged to give $17,500 to WARMTH if the communities in which CVOEO operate could raise $30,000 via online contributions between November 16 and December 31. Thanks to Community Bank’s partnership, online donations to CVOEO for WARMTH exceeded $34,000 between November 16 and December 31, which is an increase over last year’s online donations during the same timeframe. Impressively, statewide donations to the WARMTH program equaled $746,269 for the entire year.

Vermont Business Magazine With the addition of Dr. Coombs to our team, Affectionately Cats in Williston is now proud to offer acupuncture for our feline friends. There are several benefits to acupuncture for cats. It is used for the treatment of chronic and acute painful syndromes as well as osteoarthritis, tendinitis, spinal injury, disk disease and more. It directly releases muscle tension and stimulates endorphin release throughout the process providing relaxation to patient while increasing blood flow and regeneration of tissue in damaged areas.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 43 cases of COVID-19 for Sunday (141 Saturday, 168 Friday, 158 Thursday, 171 Wednesday, 200 Tuesday, and 87 last Monday.) The VDH reported two additional deaths Sunday for 619 statewide. Both fatalities were in the 80+ age range. VDH has also reported that March (15) had the fewest COVID-related deaths since last July (2).