Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson, a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show, will feature Specialist in Infectious Disease and International Health and Chief Quality Officer at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, Michael Calderwood, MD, as a guest on its Wednesday, March 10 show. They will discuss what the past year has taught them about pandemics and when they predict this pandemic will end. In addition, they will address other pressing topics in the field of infectious disease.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) and Community College of Vermont – Brattleboro (CCV) recently held a virtual graduation ceremony for the students enrolled in the college’s accelerated College to Career medical assisting program. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, students’ family and friends were unable to attend the in-person event, but watched via a live Zoom feed alongside several members of CCV and BMH administration.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, including in Vermont, have joined the Rally for Recovery Commitment to protect employees, encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and educate staff and local communities on ways to mitigate the spread of the virus. The pledge was launched by the federal government and business leaders to encourage companies to take action to defeat the coronavirus.

by John McClaughry A majority of the Vermont legislature believes that “a climate emergency threatens our communities, State, and region and poses a significant threat to human health and safety, infrastructure, biodiversity, our common environment, and our economy.” (Act 156, 2020). Today’s climate warriors believe that because of our ignorance, selfishness and greed, human-caused “climate change” has put Earth in desperate straits, and only a desperate remedy holds any hope of fending off the “horrid future” facing our grandchildren.

by Jeff Tieman, VAHHS President and CEO With March now well underway, so too is the march toward a vaccinated Vermont. More than one fifth of Vermonters have received at least one vaccine dose. Nationally, the pace of distribution and administration quickens by the day. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine offers not only another source but one that can reach more populations, since it is not as challenging to store. This week, teachers and those with high-risk conditions will begin to be vaccinated in our state.

Participants can enter to receive one of ten $50 gift cards.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington is initiating a comprehensive health assessment of the communities that it serves. Conducted every 3 years, the Community Health Needs Assessment process allows SVMC to understand the current health needs of its region, assess the services available to residents, and identify where and how improvements can be made.

“The past year has illustrated the importance of accessible health services and the need to reduce health inequities,” said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVMC’s chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services. “A wide range of voices from our region are needed to help guide SVMC in continuing to provide exceptional care and comfort for our community.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vaccination opened Monday to Vermonters ages 55+ with certain high-risk health conditions. About 8,300 appointments were made Monday through the Health Department’s registration system. also, today, Vermont health officials have confirmed detection of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 – the viral mutation first detected in the UK in the fall of 2020. This is the first lab-confirmed evidence of the variant in the state. There are enough appointments available for everyone who is eligible. Overall the VDH today reported 113 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 208 deaths.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont health officials have confirmed detection of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 – the viral mutation first detected in the UK in the fall of 2020. This is the first lab-confirmed evidence of the variant in the state. The officials have been expecting a confirmation of a variant for a few weeks and expectations were high that one would be confirmed over the weekend. The variant was detected in a specimen taken from a resident of Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting six new cases of Covid-19 among incarcerated individuals and two new staff cases in the outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. The cases were detected in testing conducted March 4.As of Monday, a total of 14 staff and 116 incarcerated individuals statewide are positive for the virus.

Vermont Business Magazine Choice Hotels International, Inc.'s (NYSE: CHH) Ascend Hotel Collection recently added four properties to its global portfolio of resort, boutique and historic hotels: The Bluff Hotel, The Cranberry, The Landon and Smart Suites on Shelburne Road in South Burlington. The newest additions, located in Miami Beach, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Vermont, embody how the Ascend Hotel Collection delivers on upscale experiences in travelers' favorite destinations and provides guests with even more options for their outdoor springtime activities.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Steven Mack, 46, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before Judge William K. Sessions III of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont to one count of attempting to obstruct a federal investigation into the relationship between Mack’s former employer, Practice Fusion, Inc, and Purdue Pharma LP, the seller of extended release opioid products, including OxyContin.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation announced today that Rodney Companion, doing business as Rodney’s Rubbish, was fined $27,934 for transporting solid waste on Vermont highways without a permit. Any party intending to haul solid waste, food scraps, hazardous waste, regulated medical waste, or residual waste to or from any location in Vermont for compensation must obtain a hauling permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Waste Management and Prevention Division. Permits ensure that haulers safely transport and deliver waste to an appropriate final destination and follow Vermont’s recycling requirements. There are more than 450 transporters permitted to haul waste in Vermont.