MEETINGS

Board of Trustees Meetings

Board meetings are held every other month and include a period for public comment. The board holds education sessions on the off months. These sessions also include a period for public comment. For board meeting locations, schedules and agendas, visit http://www.FletcherAllen.org. Legal notices of upcoming board meetings also are published in the Burlington Free Press.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteer Opportunities

There are numerous opportunities to volunteer at Fletcher Allen through Fletcher Allen's Volunteer Services Department. There are more than 600 active volunteers at the organization, providing supplemental services that contribute to patient care.  Members of the public can volunteer by providing services and programs for patients, or by providing many other types of behind-the-scenes support. Volunteer opportunities include many roles in: 

• Information/Reception Desk
• Patient Guide Program
• Hospital Elder Life Program 
• Emergency Department
• Liaison to  Families in the Surgical Waiting Room,  in the Emergency Department, Surgical and Medical Intensive Care Unit Waiting Rooms, Ronald McDonald Family Room and the Taylor Hospitality Room. 
• Library / Community Health Resource Center
• Clerical support  
• "Art from the Heart" Program which provides art  activities for children at the Vermont Children's Hospital
• Flower Delivery / Book Cart
• Gift shops / Replays (re-sale shop)
• FAVORS (Fletcher Allen Volunteers Offer Room Service) Program
• Footnoter's Program  

More information about these and other volunteer opportunities, including how to apply to become a volunteer, are available through Fletcher Allen's Web site at http://www.FletcherAllen.org, by clicking on General Public and then on Volunteers.In addition, the Fletcher Allen Junior Volunteer Program is available to high school students in the summer. Applications for the summer program are available March 1st. For more information, call the Volunteer Services Department at (802) 847-3536.

HEALTH EDUCATION

Frymoyer Community Health Resource Center -- The Frymoyer Community Health Resource Center, located in the Main Lobby of the Ambulatory Care Center on Fletcher Allen's Medical Center Campus, is a health library and resource center providing free service for patients and families and members of the public. Services provided include Internet access, books, magazines, periodicals, and experienced staff to assist with computer searches and other resources. It is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The center can be reached by calling (802) 847-8821 or by email: resourcecenter@vtmednet.org

Dana Medical Library -- Located in the new Medical Education Center, the University of Vermont’s Dana Medical Library is a resource for students, faculty, clinical staff and community members.  Patrons keep up-to-date on the latest research with a new journal browsing area and cutting-edge electronic resources.  Professional health science librarians are available to support research endeavors.  The library can be reached at (802) 656-2201, or http://library.uvm.edu/dana

Community Medical School - Community Medical School is a series of free medical lectures by Fletcher Allen/University of Vermont physicians and researchers - held two semesters a year. The series provides information on the latest science and research in the field of medicine, and is told in an easy-to-understand format. It is extremely popular and regularly draws 150 to 200 people per session. Call (802) 847-2886 for more information, or visit www.med.uvm.edu/cms.

The Healthsource Community Education Series - a twice-yearly series of free and low cost health education classes, including classes such as Baby Care Basics, CPR, Living with Epilepsy, Accessing Health Information on the Internet, Senior Swim, T'ai Chi, Heart Healthy Living, Diabetes Fitness Class in partnership with the YMCA, Financial Health, Acupuncture and Tobacco Cessation, and many more. For more information, call the Office of Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278, or visit http://www.fletcherallen.org/general_public/classes_events.html

The Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU) Summer Lecture Series - The Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit offers an annual Summer Lecture Series free to the public. For more information about this series, call Sally Ross Nolan at (802) 847-9488, or visit www.uvm.edu/~cnru

Eleanor B. Daniels Lecture Series - The Eleanor B. Daniels Fund was created in honor of Eleanor Daniels, a beloved artist, mother and teacher. Its mission is to support women's health education, research and development efforts for gynecologic malignancies and other women's health topics. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen Health Care provides free educational programs for the public each fall and spring, sponsored by the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund. For more information, call (802) 847-3919 or visit www.ebdfund.org

Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care Programs -- The Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen, a full-service hospital within a hospital, shares health information with children and families, and sponsors fun activities for kids at public events throughout the year. Monty the Moose, the mascot of Vermont Children's Hospital, also attends many public events to meet and greet children and parents. For more information about Vermont Children's Hospital activities, contact Sue Victory, program manager, Vermont Children's Hospital, at (802) 656-3243 or by email: susan.victory@uvm.edu

Other Programs and Conferences -- Fletcher Allen participates in and sponsors a wide range of educational conferences and health and safety awareness programs throughout the area. In addition, Fletcher Allen sponsors community events, which in the past year included special events held by health-related organizations, such as the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon, the MS Dinner of Champions, the Vermont City Marathon, and many others. For more information, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at (802) 847-2886.

Radio and Television Programs -- Fletcher Allen sponsors health education and information programs on local television and radio stations on a regular basis. These programs include:

-- Healthsource - a bi-weekly consumer health information radio program that airs every other Sunday at 6:15 a.m. or 8:20 a.m. on WJOY 1230 AM and at 9:15 p.m. on WJOY, WOKO 98.9 FM or WKOL 105 FM.

-- Vermont Vital Signs - a program produced in collaboration with Vermont Public Television. This show brings together a panel of experts to discuss a particular health issue - such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer and other issues. It airs the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television, and is repeated throughout the month. For more information, visit http://www.FletcherAllen.org/General_Public/vitalsigns/vitalsigns.html

-- Across the Fence - a WCAX Channel 3 television program that airs weekdays from 12:10 to 12:30. Fletcher Allen provides programming and does a "Health Report" which airs on Across the Fence approximately six to ten times a year.

-- First with Kids - a weekly program featuring Vermont Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatrics Lewis First, M.D., that airs on WCAX Channel 3 and on WOKO 98.9 FM, and is published in weekly newspapers throughout Chittenden County. The show airs on Channel 3 at 5:45 a.m. Mondays, and 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays. It airs on WOKO at 7:50 a.m. Tuesdays, 11:50 a.m. Thursdays, and 11:50 a.m. Sundays.

-- Public Service Announcements – Fletcher Allen produces four public service announcements a year on health-related topics. These are aired on local television stations.

For more information about these programs, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at (802) 847-2886, or visit Fletcher Allen's Web site: www.FletcherAllen.org. 

FREE AND LOW-COST HEALTH AND WELLNESS CARE

Fletcher Allen offers free and low-cost health screenings and prevention and wellness programs to the public on a regular basis. These include:

Screenings and Community Health Care*

--Free monthly blood pressure screenings

--Cholesterol screenings, $18-$21, held periodically

--Free foot care for seniors and people with disabilities through the "Footnoters" program

--Women's health screenings

*NOTE: Some of these screenings are held annually; others are offered periodically.

Memory Screenings -- The Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit offers free memory screenings to the community on "Memory Mondays" which occur on the 1st  and 3rd Mondays of each month. The unit also provides memory screening over the phone. For more information, call Sally Ross Nolan at (802) 847-9488, or visit www.uvm.edu/~cnru

HeartAware Online Cardiac Risk Assessment – In 2007, Fletcher Allen began offering a free, online cardiac risk assessment called HeartAware. The program is designed to identify people who are at risk for heart disease, so they can receive treatment for those risk factors before they lead to a serious health problem. Patients who are found to have two or more risk factors are eligible for a free screening at Fletcher Allen's outpatient cardiology office on Tilley Drive in South Burlington. Patients are then referred to their primary care physician for coordination of follow-up care. The risk assessment is available at www.FletcherAllen.org

Breastfeeding and “Meet the Midwife” Classes – The Claire M. Lintilhac Nurse Midwifery Service at Fletcher Allen offers breastfeeding classes and monthly “Meet the Midwife” sessions that are open to the public. The breastfeeding classes are held at the Nurse Midwifery Service’s Williston office, 353 Blair Park Road in Williston. The “Meet the Midwife” sessions alternate between the Williston site and the Midwifery Service’s Burlington location, at the Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Center at Fletcher Allen. For more information call (802) 847-2237 or (802) 847-1245.

Get Moving Champlain Valley – Fletcher Allen and its partners, the Champlain Initiative, the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the Vermont Department of Health, collaborate to bring free or low-cost physical activity opportunities to the community. Activities feature a wide variety of opportunities including discounted health club memberships, free Parks and Recreation activities, walking maps, activity logs, and other information and tools (pedometers) to increase physical activity and enhance personal health.  The activities calendar is published quarterly and is available at no charge.  It can be accessed on the Fletcher Allen or United Way Web sites or by e-mailing Wellness at wellness@vtmednet.org. See also http://www.unitedwaycc.org/gmcalendar.htm or http://www.fletcherallen.org/Health_Improvement/Health_Improvement_Contribution/Documents/1Q08_Calendar.pdf

Health Assistance Program -- Fletcher Allen’s Health Assistance Program helps patients get access to medical care, medications and insurance programs for free or reduced cost. It also provides education about prevention and assistance with other community services such as transportation. To reach the Health Assistance Program, call (802) 847-6984.

Employer Health Management – Through its Employer Health Management program, Fletcher Allen offers wellness services for large and small businesses throughout Vermont. The program is designed to help businesses plan effective, targeted programs for employees and dependents which result in measurable financial and health outcomes. For more information, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

Tobacco Cessation - Fletcher Allen's Community Health Improvement offers ongoing classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling in tobacco cessation. For more information about tobacco cessation classes, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

Falls and Fires Program - This program educates elderly and disabled residents about the risk of falls and fires in their homes, and helps prevent these events. It provides home modifications for people who are financially eligible. For more information, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

Diabetes Fitness Program - This program, provided in partnership with the YMCA, gives adults with diabetes the chance to exercise three times a week at no charge, as well as providing one-on-one counseling and education about diabetes self-management. For more information, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278. 

Lifeline - Lifeline is a personal response system that ensures older adults living at home get quick assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Members of the public can subscribe to Lifeline through Fletcher Allen. Fletcher Allen volunteers install and maintain the Lifeline systems in residents' homes.  For more information, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-1211.

Support Groups - Fletcher Allen facilitates a large number of support groups for patients and families. For more information, call the Frymoyer Community Health Resource Center at (802) 847-8821.

For more information about these or other programs, contact Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Community Surveys

Every four years, Fletcher Allen conducts a Community Needs Assessment in collaboration with the United Way of Chittenden County, the Champlain Initiative, and other community partners. Members of the public are surveyed about health and social service needs, and have the opportunity to participate in a public meeting about the assessment. Information gathered from the assessment is incorporated into Fletcher Allen's strategic plan. For information about this process, call the Office of Community Health Improvement, (802) 847-2278.

Community Partnerships

Fletcher Allen has forged partnerships with numerous organizations, including non-profits, businesses, educational institutions and public agencies to improve the health of the community. One of these partnerships is the Champlain Initiative - a community-wide partnership in the Champlain Valley largely supported by Fletcher Allen, which has become a national model for other organizations wanting to improve their communities. For more information about Fletcher Allen’s partnerships, go to

http://www.fahc.org/Health_Improvement/partnerships.html 

or call the Office of Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

Community Leader Interviews

In the fall of 2007, as part of its strategic plan, Fletcher Allen conducted comprehensive interviews with 22 members of local community organizations. Participants assessed Fletcher Allen's performance in meeting community needs and collaborating with community partners -- and its ability to provide for future needs. Participants also were interviewed about their relationship with Fletcher Allen and how it could be improved. Information gathered from this work will inform Fletcher Allen's strategic plan and its efforts to understand community health care needs and work in partnership with local organizations to address them.

Community Rounds

Community Rounds is a program designed to give Vermont community leaders an inside look at the academic health center. Community leaders from throughout the state are invited to participate in an intensive two-day program that includes rotations in different clinical areas - including primary care, emergency care, specialty care and surgical care - and a grounding in medical and nursing education and research. For more information about Community Rounds, contact the Office of Government Relations at (802) 847-5103.

Ambassador Program

Through Fletcher Allen’s Ambassador Program, a group of community leaders are selected to serve as “ambassadors” for the organization. These leaders attend quarterly meetings to learn about the organization and receive updates on new programs and initiatives. These ambassadors then go back into the community and share their knowledge with others. For more information about this program, contact the Office of Government Relations at (802) 847-5103.

MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Fletcher Allen, in partnership with the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is one of 125 academic health centers in the country, with a joint mission of providing patient care, education, research and service to the community. A wide range of programs related to medical and nursing education and research are open to the public on a regular basis. These include the following:

Clinical Trials - Members of the public have the opportunity to participate in a wide-range of clinical trials at Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont College of Medicine which seek to discover new cures and therapies. Studies on heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, knee surgery, asthma, depression, memory loss and reproductive medicine are just a few examples of the offerings. For more information, call the Office of Clinical Trials Research at (802) 656-8990, or visit https://www.med.uvm.edu/octr/

Studies at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU) - The Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit conducts research in memory & menopause, Alzheimer's disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), depression, ADHD and other topics. For more information about these studies, contact Sally Ross Nolan at (802) 847-9488, or visit www.uvm.edu/~cnru

General Clinical Research Center – The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont is one of approximately 78 centers nationwide, funded by the National Institutes of Health with the goal of providing scientists with the necessary resources to conduct high quality clinical research. The GCRC, located on the 7th floor of the Baird Building on Fletcher Allen’s Medical Center Campus, conducts both inpatient and outpatient clinical trials. Members of the public who are interested in volunteering for a clinical trial can contact the GCRC for a list of studies currently recruiting subjects. For more information, call the center at (802) 847-3733, or visit http://www.uvm.edu/~gcrc

MedQuest Health Care Careers Exploration Program - The Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center (CVAHEC), in partnership with Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, offers a health careers exploration summer camp for high school students every year. The program, called MedQuest, allows students to explore health careers through a variety of lab, discussion and shadowing experiences. For more information, call CVAHEC at (802) 527-1474, or visit www.cvahec.org/medquest.htm

Medical Education Project - Families from Parent to Parent of Vermont who have children with special health needs serve as faculty for University of Vermont medical students, teaching them about family-centered care and meeting with them at a home visit. Parent to Parent of Vermont offers programs to nurture, support and advocate on behalf of families whose children have chronic or life-threatening illness or disability, or have been born prematurely. For more information about this program, call Parent to Parent at 1-800-800-4005 or (802) 764-5290, or visit their Web site at: www.partoparvt.org

Students of Medicine Involved in Local Education - Doctors Ought to Care (SMILE-DOC) - SMILE DOCS is a program run by first- and second-year medical students who visit local elementary schools and teach 3rd through 5th grade students about the anatomy and physiology of different organ systems of the human body. Working in groups of four to six, the students visit  their assigned classroom approximately four times per semester for an hour and a half each session. For more information about this program, call the University of Vermont College of Medicine Student Affairs Office at (802) 656-2150.

F.I.R.S.T. (Families Involved in Resident and Student Teaching) Program - Families from Parent to Parent of Vermont who have children with special health needs serve as faculty for residents, pediatricians in training, at Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont. These families teach medical students and pediatric residents a new perspective on the challenges, strengths, and needs of families. The students and residents are taught to work as a collaborative partner and advocate for that family while gaining an understanding of the many community health issues that face these children. For more information about this program, call Parent to Parent at 1-800-800-4005 or (802) 764-5290, or visit their Web site at: www.partoparvt.org

Standardized Patient Program - Members of the community are paid and trained to evaluate medical students' examination and communication skills and "act" as a patient with a specific health history. For more information about this program, call Cate Nicholas at the University of Vermont College of Medicine Medical Education Office at (802) 656-8373.

Schweitzer Fellows Program - Each year, several College of Medicine students are awarded prestigious Schweitzer fellowships. Their activities include sponsoring a health-related lecture and developing and implementing programs designed to improve health care for underserved populations in the community. For more information about this program, call the NH/VT Schweitzer Fellows office at (603) 643-1479 or visit the program Web site at http://www.schweitzerfellowship.org/features/us/nhvt/ 

Office of Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development -- The Office of Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development was established in December 2001 by a grant from the Vermont Agency of Human Services. The office has many programs to recruit and retain nurses in Vermont. For more information, visit  http://www.choosenursingvermont.org. The office can be reached at: Office of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning and Development, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, 216 Rowell Building, Burlington, VT 05405, (802) 656-0023.  

FUNDRAISING

Fletcher Allen Development and Fundraising

Fletcher Allen Health Care recently announced the creation of the Fletcher Allen Health Care Foundation - a new partnership with the community designed to enhance philanthropic support for the organization. The Foundation Board, chaired by Edwin I. Colodny, is made up of members of the community tasked with guiding the organization's philanthropic efforts in support of Fletcher Allen's mission and vision for the future. The public can participate in fundraising activities as a participant, a volunteer or by making a contribution. To learn more about how you can get involved and how the funds we raise are used, please contact the Development Office at (802) 847-2887.

Fletcher Allen Auxiliary

The Fletcher Allen Health Care Auxiliary is a group of more than 200 community members who support the mission of Fletcher Allen through financial contributions and providing services for patients, their families and staff.  The Auxiliary administers a variety of programs and entities that support Fletcher Allen, including the Fletcher Allen Gift Shops, Replays Resale Shop, baby car seat rentals and many special events which provide more than $200,000 a year to fund health care initiatives and services across the organization. One of the Auxiliary’s special events is the Annual Bushels of Baskets and Afternoon Tea held annually in October.

The Auxiliary also provides ongoing support to a variety of programs and services, including the FAVORS Room Service Program for inpatients; magazines and books for library services; stuffed animals for children in the Emergency Department; and special pillows and bags for our breast care and cardiac patients.

The Auxiliary welcomes new members. For more information, call Volunteer Services at (802) 847-3536. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC ACTIVITIES

For more information about public activities at Fletcher Allen, contact Fletcher Allen's Office of Marketing and Communications, located on the fourth floor of the UHC Campus, or Community Health Improvement, located at Courthouse Plaza in downtown Burlington.

The offices can be contacted at the following mailing addresses:

Fletcher Allen Health Care
Office of Marketing and Communications
111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT  05401
Phone: (802) 847-2886
Fax: (802) 847-5540

Community Health Improvement
Courthouse Plaza
199 Main Street, Suite 150
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 847-2278
Fax: (802) 847-6545

Information about public events also is regularly posted on the Fletcher Allen Web site, www.FletcherAllen.org under "News” and “Your Health” on the Home Page or on the Community Health Improvement Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/Health_Improvement/index.html