Current News

Vermont Business MagazineA new study by Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Chief of Surgery DrRichard Barth offers surgeons specific guidelines for post-surgery prescriptions for pain-relieving opioids. The study, published in theJournal of the American College of Surgeons, recommends that patients who have major abdominal surgery should be able to control their pain at home by taking the same number of opioids they took the day before they were discharged.

Vermont Business MagazineThe number of people with health insurance has increased significantly in recent years, with more than 20 million Americans gaining health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Vermont has some of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, and now, during the Open Enrollment period for Vermont Health Connect, is the time to build on this progress.

“Vermont hospitals believe that health care coverage is an essential part of achieving our vision of a healthy, vibrant Vermont,” said Jeff Tieman, Vermont Association for Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) president and CEO. “Coverage improves access to care, improves health outcomes, incentivizes appropriate use of health care resources, and reduces financial strain on individuals and families.”

Vermont Business MagazineChamplain College Online, designated as aNational Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security,has announced a new chair of cybersecurity programs. Kathleen Hyde, MCIS, MBA, will help equip Champlain’s adult students with the business and technical skills to solve some of the nation’s most complex information security challenges.

Vermont Business Magazine Randolph Chimney Saver’s gave an extra boost to Gifford’s GivingTuesdayEmployee Food Drive this year, matching a dollar for every pound of food collected on the Randolph campus. Gifford staff presented 1,198 pounds of food and Chimney Savers Co-Owner Paul Bianco presented a matching check to the Randolph Food Shelf’s Jo Busha onTuesday, November 28.

This is the second year that Gifford has participated in Giving Tuesday, a national day of giving on theTuesdayafter Thanksgiving, and employees exceeded last year’s 1,020 pound food donation. Gifford staff at community clinics in Bethel, Berlin, Sharon, and White River Junction donated their collections to the food shelves in their towns.

Vermont Business Magazine Iora Health and UnitedHealthcare have established a new network relationship, givingNew HampshireandVermontresidents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans access to physicians at Iora Health's Dartmouth Health Connect primary care practice inHanover, NH. "Iora was founded on the belief that relationships heal, and we have built our teams and approach to care around this foundation," saidDuncan Reece, Senior Vice President and General Manager,Iora Health. "We're thrilled to extend our reach and impact by serving UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members inNew HampshireandVermontat Dartmouth Health Connect."

Vermont Business Magazine Bar Harbor Bankshares concluded their annual “Food for Good” community food drive on November 17, 2017.This year the event took place in Maine at 14 Bar Harbor Bank & Trust branches as well as in New Hampshire and Vermont at 35 branches of Lake Sunapee Bank, a division of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. More than 6,400 food items and over $5,900 were collected and delivered to local food pantries prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. “On behalf of the Bank, I would like to thank everyone who gave a gift of healthy food to our neighbors in need by donating to the food drive,” said Margie Gray at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “These gifts helped fill Thanksgiving food baskets and stock the shelves of local food pantries for the winter months ahead.”

by John McClaughry On December 18 Governor Phil Scott will convene an Education Summit, to address “the crisis of affordability and how it impacts the opportunities we are able to provide our children.” In his letter announcing the Summit to “education leaders” – apparently referring to the public school establishment – the governor wants long-term cost containment in the public school system.

So did Governor Dean, who urged a statewide teachers’ salary contract and threatened to micromanage high spending school districts (but didn’t). So did Gov. Douglas, who in his final state of the state message in 2010 proposed that the State mandate acceptable teacher-to-pupil ratios (the legislature declined).

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) visited Peoples Academy in Morrisville Monday morning to have an open conversation with students about their aspirations and goals after graduating high school. “It’s important that we understand how students see their options as they prepare to graduate high school,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee.

“Do they have adequate information to determine the best college for them and how they can finance a higher education? If they are not going to college, do they know how to get training to secure the best jobs that are out there?” Sanders said.

Sanders was joined by Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle, local business owners, and other state and regional education and workforce development leaders.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement today in response to the announcements of Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure: "I welcome Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure to the mayor's race. Burlingtonians deserve healthy democratic debate and real choice at the ballot box..."

Vermont Business MagazineVermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) will not seek a rate increase for January 2018, marking the fourth consecutive year that VEC has kept rates flat. Earlier in the year, VEC anticipated that a rate increase would be necessary, but VEC staff worked hard to identify savings in power supply and transmission as well as in other areas.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC), a state leader in housing policy, research and advocacy, today issued the following statement on the tax bill recently passed by the USHouse of Representatives and under consideration in the Senate:At a time when Vermont already has ashortage of 10,866 affordable homesfor extremely low income renters and the5thhighest affordability gap for rentersin the country, the pending tax proposals would eliminate tax credits and financing tools that have helped create thousands of affordable apartments in our state and made homeownership more affordable for thousands of Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs and Generator BTV have announced a multi-year sustainable partnership. The relationship, labeled by Davis & Hodgdon as a “Signature Partnership”, begins with the firm’s sponsorship of an administrative/marketing intern and support for Generator’s upcoming Jump/Start program. Davis & Hodgdon introduced the “Signature Partnership” concept in 2014 to leverage the firm’s financial resources and the skills and expertise of their staff. Through this alliance, the firm will support Generator through all aspects of giving: sponsorship, pro-bono work, volunteer opportunities and beyond.