VPQHC awarded HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program Grant
Vermont Business Magazine National data indicate that half of women and 1 in 3 men experience contact sexual violence in their lifetimes. The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) has been awarded the HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program Grant to lead a multi-year effort, launching the newly established Vermont Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Care Collaborative & Innovation Network.
Developed in close partnership with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (Vermont Network), this initiative builds on years of hard work and dedication by Vermont Network to support forensic nurses who provide specialized trauma-informed medical care to victims of violence in Vermont.
This initiative will add much-needed resources to enhance the capacity and sustainability of forensic nursing programs, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The Vermont Network has been a leader in advancing care for sexual assault survivors for decades, and this new initiative will bolster their efforts by providing essential resources and support to SANEs across Vermont.
"We are excited to build on the incredible foundation established by the Vermont Network and to further empower forensic nurses and rural hospitals with the tools, training, and resources they need to provide exceptional care," said Hillary Wolfley, Executive Director of VPQHC. "This grant allows us to bring much-needed resources directly to the frontline providers who are making a difference in the lives of survivors every day."
The Vermont SANE Care Collaborative & Innovation Network will work with five rural hospitals to strengthen their forensic nursing programs through quality improvement training, clinical competency development, and continuous innovation.
These efforts will not only support the immediate needs of forensic nurses but also establish long-term sustainability to continue to support high-quality care well beyond the grant period.
Consortium members overseeing the project include VPQHC, Vermont Network, the Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems (VAHHS) and Bi-State Primary Care Association.
Together, these partners will drive collaboration, resource sharing, and strategic planning to ensure that specialized, trauma-informed medical care and services in rural hospitals are continuously improved and expanded.
This initiative aligns with the Northern Border Regional Commission’s goals of expanding healthcare services and improving health outcomes in rural communities.
About VPQHC: The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) was established by statute in 1988 as a non-regulatory, peer-review committee. VPQHC’s mission is to “study the healthcare system to make it work better.”
VPQHC leads initiatives to improve healthcare quality for all Vermonters.
About the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence: The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has been Vermont’s leading voice on domestic and sexual violence since 1986. The Vermont Network provides training and support for professionals across the state and leads Vermont’s Forensic Nursing program to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care for sexual assault survivors.
About the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems:
VAHHS is a member-owned organization representing a network of Vermont’s not-for-profit hospitals. VAHHS is devoted to improving the health status of communities throughout Vermont and to serving its members in their efforts to develop and sustain high-quality health services for Vermonters.
About Bi-State Primary Care Association:
Bi-State is the Primary Care Association serving New Hampshire and Vermont. Bi-State provides training and technical assistance to Federally Qualified Health Centers and look-alikes to improve programmatic, clinical, operational, and financial performance.
Source: Montpelier, VT – September 12, 2024 – VPQHC
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