The University of Vermont Medical Center

Francisco Herrera: Gratitude "My life was not easy. It’s different now, and I thank God for that. I grew up in the Dominican Republic countryside. My mother was just 16 when I was born and raised me and my brothers and sisters by herself. We had animals, a garden, but often there was not enough to eat. We would go out into the forest to find whatever we could. A mango, sometimes that was all we had. I didn’t go to school, it was too far away. I helped with the animals, with the garden. If my mother needed something done, we did it. My brothers and sister and I didn’t complain. In 1973, my mother moved us all to the city. I was 12 years old by then. I sold newspapers on the street, or bread, or sweets, whatever we could to make money. But it was dangerous there. There had just been an election, and young people were being killed. There were gangs on the street. When a boy tried to beat me up, my oldest brother protected me. My mother moved us all back to the country after that. I became a firefighter in 1982. I nearly died three times. Once, there was a fire on a ship. I went on board to fight the flames with two others, which is always how we did it, to keep each other safe. As soon as we went below, the ship exploded. I looked around and was suddenly alone. The two men with me jumped into the water and left me behind. I could feel the fire burning me. Thank God, another firefighter came and got me out. Later I became a fire investigator for the government, but there was a lot of corruption. My mother had always taught me to be honest, to tell the truth. But that was hard to do without getting in trouble. So I decided to leave. I came to the U.S. in 2008, moved to Vermont a few months later, and got a job at UVM Medical Center. I couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was. Everybody was saying ‘hi’ to me. And after everything I’d been through in my life, I was so grateful. I try to do the same for everyone I meet here." Francisco Herrera works in environmental services at the University of Vermont Medical Center. He’s been with us for 16 years.

On National Rural Health Day, I want to recognize the employees of The University of Vermont Health Network – and all those who work in rural health care everywhere. You are the faces of rural health, caring for your family, friends and neighbors. No matter your job title, you are part of a vital system of care that people need and trust. You are an essential part of your community, and of every community we serve. It’s important to keep the conversation going about the systemic challenges rural health care providers face, and the health disparities we continue to see among patients in rural areas. But it’s equally important that we honor the extraordinary skill, passion and commitment of the people of our health system – and of hospitals and health systems across the country. People in rural areas deserve the best possible care, and you are making that happen. You are making a difference, every day. Thank you. #NationalRuralHealthDay #RuralHealth

Christian Pulcini, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at UVM Medical Center and UVM Children’s Hospital, doesn’t just take care of kids when they’re sick. He also writes books for them. Dr. Pulcini’s debut book, “The Family Squeeze,” was released in September. It tells the story of a family who gets through the ups and downs of life over by coming together for “family squeezes” (aka hugs). The message is that providing children with reassurance and affection – in good times and bad – can help build resilience. Dr. Pulcini’s drew inspiration from his family, who love a big squeeze, and his experience as a physician. “I have witnessed and treated many children and families firsthand who are in crisis, and I felt that sharing the story of ‘The Family Squeeze’ could benefit them,” he says.

Join UVMHN Chief External Relations Officer Jason Williams tomorrow on a panel hosted by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) that looks the current state of health care here in Vermont, and what can be done to build a right-sized solution for the state. Register at: https://lnkd.in/eDwGFEc6

We are moving forward with reductions to administrative and clinical services to comply with Vermont state budget orders and enforcement actions issued by the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), the health care regulator in Vermont. These actions will have both an immediate and long-term impact on patients served in the region and, based on current information, will ultimately result in a workforce reduction estimated to be as many as 200 people who currently serve the health care system, including both employed staff and temporary/travel staff. Changes will take place both immediately and over the next several months. Patients will be informed when the timelines and care transitions for impacted services are clear. Below are the decisions we’re announcing today: - Reduce the number of patients who stay overnight at University of Vermont Medical Center from approximately 450 to 400 and limit regional incoming non-emergency patient transfers. - Eliminate Surgical Renal Transplants at University of Vermont Medical Center and collaborate with Dartmouth Health on care alternatives. University of Vermont Medical Center performed approximately a dozen kidney transplants this year. -End University of Vermont Health Network staffing and operation of kidney dialysis clinics outside of our primary service areas in Vermont, impacting approximately 220 patients across three clinics. - Consolidate Some Family Medicine and Rehabilitation clinics that are part of Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), which should not impact access to CVMC-run primary care services for existing patients. - Close the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at CVMC, which has had an average daily census of approximately eight patients, due to capacity challenges. - More than $18 million in administrative expense cuts, with reductions in expenses, open positions and employees. For more information, please read the full press release on this subject: https://lnkd.in/ef5hG3YQ

Today, we are announcing some hard decisions about the care we can provide in Vermont. Here at University of Vermont Health Network, we find ourselves in a difficult situation. Due to legal orders by the budget regulator of our Vermont hospitals – the Green Mountain Care Board – we are being forced to reduce our budgets. We’re deeply sorry to share the challenging decisions we have had to make that will impact the care we are able to provide in Vermont. Decisions to reduce or close health care services of any kind has a big impact on our patients, our staff and our communities. This is a painful day for all of us, because our patients – each of you – are our friends, our families and our neighbors and you have chosen us for your care. To the extent possible, we have focused on ways to minimize the impact of these decisions. We will continue to roll out information on where we will be forced to reduce care. For more information, please read the full press release on this subject: https://lnkd.in/ef5hG3YQ

Happy Halloween from our incredible teams! The creativity was on full display yesterday, and we’re thrilled to share some of the amazing costumes. So many fun themes this year—thank you to everyone who shared their photos!

“If the state works with health care providers to ensure every Vermonter gets the right care, when they need it, in the right setting, we can save untold millions of dollars. This is the quickest path to affordability, aside from growing our population of working Vermonters and tax base. Instead, recent [Green Mountain Care Board] budget decisions penalized University of Vermont Medical Center for providing more lifesaving care to our patients last year than allowed, even though the net financial result of that care caused us to lose money. As Vermonters, we face an important decision: will the path forward be defined by the rapid erosion of our safety net health care system, or will we demand actions that foster the stability necessary to build a stronger, more sustainable system of care?” Jason Williams, UVM Health Network’s chief external relations officer, on what’s at stake for the future of health care in Vermont and the pressing need for meaningful partnerships to deliver sustainable solutions.

Michael Dufort: Right to the Drums "There’s so much you can do with just a couple of sticks in your hands. On a very primal level, I like the different sound things make when you hit them and when you hit them with different amounts of force. I just think the way it varies is so cool. And I like how having various drums or percussion going fills out the sound of a band. I was a very big listener of music as a young child. I have older siblings who were always playing rock music, playing the radio, playing records, and I skipped over that little-kid music phase. I got right into, for example, Billy Joel when I was about 4 or 5. And I used to look at the band and know I wanted to do it. Drums were always something I picked out in songs. Everything I heard went right to the drums. And there are a few songs that really stick with me and inspire me as a percussionist. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2 is one of the first songs I remember hearing as a kid and noticing the drum intro. The late Neil Peart from Rush is one of my drumming idols. I finally saw them live for the first time in college with a bunch of friends and often think of “Spirit of Radio.” I heard “Barrel of a Gun” by Guster for the first time in college and thought it was cool that their drummer exclusively played hand drums rather than a conventional drum set. And “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin is simultaneously one of the hardest drum beats to master – and most fun to play. After college, life got busy, and music slipped away for a while. I moved back to Malone in 2012 to help care for my Dad after he became ill. I went down to my cousin’s house to catch up with him and some friends and he said, “Hey, let’s jam.” It just came right back, and I’ve been in probably five or six bands since I’ve been back. Right now, I play in a band called Bluebird a few times a month. Music brought my family together. My wife and I have six kids between us, and everyone plays an instrument. It was our love of music that bonded us. And it will always be there for me and the people I love." Michael Dufort, RPh, FACA, is the director of pharmacy at Alice Hyde Medical Center. He’s been with us since 2013.

As part of Governor Scott’s Capital for a Day in Chittenden County, our leaders had an opportunity to join state leaders and our community partners for a discussion about the challenges we face in meeting our community’s health care needs, as well as highlight positive progress through collaboration, in Chittenden County. The event was hosted at UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice and featured UVMMC President Steve Leffler, MD, UVM - HHH President, Christine Werneke, MS and Jessica Moschella, SVP High Value Care for UVMHN.