FY2012 Strategic Initiatives

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Strategic Planning and Decision-Making

In 2011, building on the many accomplishments from the previous years, Fletcher Allen refreshed its strategic plan. The then-interim and now permanent CEO, John Brumsted, MD, led the process. The process was guided by Dr. Brumsted’s stated commitment to the development of an integrated delivery system that provides high-value health care to the communities we serve while enhancing Fletcher Allen’s academic mission.

Progress on specific strategic initiatives is reviewed by senior leadership each month. In addition, a Strategy Management Committee reviews our progress on our strategic initiatives each quarter and meets annually to develop and prioritize new strategic initiatives for the following fiscal year.

Strategic Initiatives

Fletcher Allen has developed the following strategic initiatives for FY 2012:

Develop an integrated delivery system serving Vermont and Northern New York

Fletcher Allen will continue to work on developing a more integrated system of care in Vermont and northern New York through the opportunities presented by Fletcher Allen Partners. In addition, we are actively exploring other strategies that could lead to greater clinical integration, which include the potential for participating in payment reform pilots with public or private insurers.

Advocate for our Position in Vermont, New York and at the Federal Level

As the state’s sole academic medical center and the provider of numerous safety-net services, like neonatal intensive care, it is important for us to work closely with our community and other stakeholders to continuously educate them on our mission, vision and strategic direction. Those efforts include working with other health care organizations, state agencies and federal policymakers as well as regular outreach to our patients and community members.

Build our Information Technology and Data Management Capabilities

A key to Fletcher Allen’s integrated delivery system is information technology, and we will implement an IT governance structure inclusive of administrative and clinical leadership. In addition, we are developing a four-year IT strategic plan that includes PRISM implementation at Central Vermont Medical Center and assessing the long-term and short-term data management needs of our integrated delivery system.

Move Fletcher Allen from our Position as a Highly Functioning Organization to a High-Reliability Organization

Fletcher Allen is committed to providing high-quality health care by providing care efficiently, restraining costs, keeping patients at the center of everything we do and continually looking for ways to improve. We accomplish this by adopting a leadership philosophy consistent with high reliability, educating the organization about these requirements, and implement necessary elements into the evaluation process to encourage supportive behaviors.

For more information or a copy of Fletcher Allen’s strategic initiatives, contact Diana Scalise, Vice President of Planning and Business Development, at (802) 847-3964.

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Openness and Communication Initiatives

Employee Communication

Employee Engagement Survey

In the fall of 2011, Fletcher Allen employees participated in their first employee engagement survey to measure overall general employee satisfaction and employees’ commitment and contribution to the organization. The change from an “opinion” survey to an “engagement” survey allowed the organization to better understand our employees’ emotional connection with the organization. Our employee general satisfaction score rose significantly from our last survey, placing us in the top quartile of academic medical centers around the country.

In addition, measures of employee engagement, such as pride in the organization, motivation and patient safety, were all significantly higher than other academic medical centers that participate in this particular survey. This is good news for our patients, as there is a strong link between employee engagement and patient satisfaction and quality outcomes.

Results of the 2011 survey were shared with all departments, and action plans were developed and implemented. We continue to work toward enhancing employee engagement. In the spring of 2012, we also launched our first comprehensive physician engagement survey and look forward to working with our physician colleagues on engagement.

"Good Catch Award" Encourages Employee Participation in Proactive Patient Safety Initiative

Fletcher Allen maintains a robust, proactive patient safety program. A few key elements of this program include use of Fletcher Allen’s electronic event reporting system, which offers an easily accessible web-based system for employees and physicians to report patient-safety and quality issues. In an effort to reinforce proactive risk reduction and our positive culture of safety, the Jeffords Institute for Quality's Patient Safety Department introduced the “Good Catch” program several years ago.

This program encourages, recognizes and rewards the identification and reporting of potential or “near miss” events, which allows the organization to investigate potential systems issues and implement system improvements that enhance quality and patient safety. Each month, the Patient Safety department reviews all reports submitted and chooses one to receive the award for that month. Award-winning reports must meet specific “Good Catch” criteria, which include identifying a significant systems or patient safety issue; being a “near miss” or potential event; identifying an issue that affects more than one department; and being reported by a staff member or physician.

The person who identified and reported the chosen issue is recognized with the “Good Catch” award for the month by members of the Fletcher leadership team. For more information, call the James M. Jeffords Institute for Quality and Operational Effectiveness at (802) 847-0554.

Other Openness Initiatives

"Call Someone Now" Service for Patients and Families

In May 2009, Fletcher Allen began offering inpatients and families the "Call Someone Now" Service, a direct line to call for urgent help during a hospital stay. This service is an important component in Fletcher Allen’s ongoing efforts to enhance the support and communication offered to our patients and their families. Patients and family can dial "One-NOW" (1669) from the bedside phone when they see a noticeable change in the patient’s medical condition and they want to have a member of the health care team address their urgent concern. The call is answered and a dedicated One-NOW response team is sent to the bedside.

"Speak Up" Campaign

Since 2007, Fletcher Allen has participated in a nationwide campaign called "Speak Up," which encourages patients to participate in their health care and helps improve the safety of their care. The campaign urges patients to take an active role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants in their care. Fletcher Allen continues to promote "Speak Up" in its patient guide and in posters across the organization. For more information, call the James M. Jeffords Institute for Quality and Operational Effectiveness at (802) 847-2468.

Public Reporting of Quality Data

In February 2006, as part of its commitment to service excellence, Fletcher Allen launched a Quality of Care section on its public website that provides detailed information about how we perform on quality-of-care measures. The website includes measures that are publicly available in Fletcher Allen’s Act 53 Quality Report, as well as additional quality measures for birthing, cardiology, general surgery, heart surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, pneumonia care, pediatrics at the Vermont Children's Hospital and nursing. Each section includes data on clinical information, length of stay, patient satisfaction, and numbers of cases seen (volume). For more information, call the James M. Jeffords Institute for Quality and Operational Effectiveness at (802) 847-2468.

Public Reporting of Financial Data

Fletcher Allen began making its quarterly financial information public with the release of the first-quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003. The audited financial statements for the years ending September 30, 2010 and 2011, as well as the quarterly results for FY 2003 through the last quarter of FY 2011, are published on the Fletcher Allen website.

Regional Planning Efforts

Fletcher Allen, in partnership with the Champlain Initiative, the Regional Planning Commission and the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC), is participating in an interdisciplinary planning effort designed to build connections among planning efforts at organizations in different fields throughout the region. For more information about this effort, contact Diana Scalise, Vice President of Planning and Business Development at (802) 847-3964.

The Mental Health Program Quality Committee

This committee, originally established as a subcommittee of the Mental Health Task Force, meets monthly and is open to the public. It includes representatives of a broad range of mental health advocacy groups, representatives of the Vermont Department of Mental Health, members of the public, health care providers, consumers and family members. For more information, contact David Chafetz, Director of Psychiatry and Neurology, at (802) 847-6292.

Fletcher Allen Neighborhood Task Force

In 1999, as part of a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement between the City of Burlington and Fletcher Allen, Fletcher Allen established a task force to address parking and traffic related to the construction of Fletcher Allen's Ambulatory Care Center. The task force continues today and has remained active, although its name was changed in 2009 from the Ward 1 Parking and Traffic Task Force to reflect the broadening of issues it reviews. It consists of representatives from the Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly and Fletcher Allen. The work of the task force guides Fletcher Allen's strategic planning and decision-making concerning parking and traffic, as well as planning, zoning, permitting and issues of general concern to our neighbors on the Medical Center Campus. For more information, contact the Office of Government Relations at (802) 847-5103.

Vermont Children's Hospital Community Advisory Council

The Vermont Children's Hospital Community Advisory Council is a group of representatives from non-profits, businesses, the education sector, social services, children's services, state agencies and the Vermont Legislature, along with parents in the community and physicians, nurses and staff from Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen. The group began meeting in January 2004 and meets on a quarterly basis. Council members are asked to serve as consultants in the strategic planning of new initiatives for the Vermont Children's Hospital; to provide input from the community so that Vermont Children's Hospital meets the needs of those it serves; to review the progress of ongoing clinical, educational, research and financial developments designed to improve care of children in the community; and to be ambassadors on an ongoing basis for the work of Vermont Children's Hospital by helping to define our goals and objectives for each fiscal/academic year. For more information, contact Sue Victory at (802) 656-3243.

Elder Care Council

The Elder Care Council is beginning its ninth year of service to Elder Care Services at Fletcher Allen. Today’s council includes the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living; directors of community providers including the Area Agency on Aging, Home Health, nursing home, PACE, and Community Health Improvement. The council also has representation from researchers at the University of Vermont, upper level management of the UVM Medical Group, and two community advocates. The council works with Elder Care Services to help prioritize elder care issues in the community and state and develop strategies to address them.

Collaboration with Other Hospitals, Health Systems and Agencies

Fletcher Allen is actively engaged with hospitals, health systems and agencies in Vermont, as well as in areas of New York and New Hampshire, to ensure that its strategic plan responds to the needs of people in outlying communities as appropriately as possible. It is also engaged in collaborative efforts to improve health care services and technology throughout the state. Examples of these efforts include:

Establishment of outreach clinics throughout Vermont and northern New York to ensure access to specialty services in local communities as appropriate and as requested. Fletcher Allen's health care professionals are currently involved in more than 100 outreach programs, clinics or services. Examples of such services include clinics in cardiology, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, rheumatology, otolaryngology, dermatology, endocrinology, perinatal outreach, tele-trauma and radiology services. In addition, Fletcher Allen specialists work with local community hospitals and physicians to help them provide programs that benefit the people of their community.

Laboratory Outreach Services. Fletcher Allen’s laboratory has had an extensive outreach program for more than 25 years and currently serves as the reference laboratory for all of the hospitals in Vermont. In addition, Fletcher Allen is a founding member and serves as the reference laboratory for the Northeast Clinical Laboratory Alliance (NECLA) – a group of hospitals in Vermont. NECLA was formed in 1996. Fletcher Allen’s laboratory provides advanced testing to many other hospitals in the region.

Ensuring appropriate access to critical care transport services through Fletcher Allen Coordinated Transport (FACT), a wholly owned subsidiary that owns and operates ambulances in Vermont and northern New York. FACT is based in Burlington, and also has an ambulance stationed at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY, and Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT, to ensure appropriate access to this service for people in those regions.

Participating in the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care. VPQHC is a private, nonprofit corporation focused on statewide health care quality initiatives. Fletcher Allen's Vice President for Quality serves on its board of directors, and numerous Fletcher Allen physicians and nurses actively participate in VPQHC projects.

Creation of Fletcher Allen Partners. Fletcher Allen Health Care and Central Vermont Medical Center are now partner hospitals under Fletcher Allen Partners. Through this partnership both hospitals are working on initiatives that will support the formation of an integrated delivery system that will improve quality of care and reduce costs.

Coordination of Care. Fletcher Allen, in partnership with the University of Vermont, works routinely with other hospitals in providing Telemedicine services to support care from Fletcher Allen specialists to other hospitals. In addition, Fletcher Allen has worked with neighboring hospitals to facilitate the transfer of images to Fletcher Allen specialists, which enhances the ability to care for patients locally whenever possible. Fletcher Allen also participates in the statewide STEMI program, which facilitates timely transports of certain types of heart-attack patients to Fletcher Allen for services they can get only at our academic medical center.

Participating in the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.(VAHHS), a statewide network of health systems that promotes collaboration among health care organizations, and the Vermont Medical Society (VMS, to influence political, economic, social and regulatory issues facing health care providers in the state, with the goal of improving the delivery of health care to Vermonters.

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Activities Available for Public Participation

Meetings

Board of Trustees Meetings

Board meetings include a public session in which the public is given an opportunity to comment on matters relating to Fletcher Allen's operations. All business that involves neither confidential nor proprietary information is conducted in the public sessions of these meetings. With the exception of January, July, September and November, the Board meets monthly.

Volunteering

Volunteer Opportunities

There are numerous opportunities to volunteer at Fletcher Allen through our Volunteer Services Department. More than 830 active volunteers provide supplemental services that support staff and contribute to patient care. Volunteers work in many different areas including:

Information/Reception Desk

Patient Guide Program

Hospital Elder Life Program

Emergency Department

Liaison to families in the Surgical Waiting Room, 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

Fletcher Allen Gift Shop and Replays (resale shop)

FAVORS (Fletcher Allen Volunteers Offer Room Service) Program

Footnoters Program

No One Dies Alone Program

Hematology/Oncology waiting room assistants

More information about these and other volunteer opportunities, including how to apply to become a volunteer, is available through Fletcher Allen's website. For more information, call the Volunteer Services Department at (802) 847-3536.

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

First with Kids - a weekly program featuring Vermont Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatrics Lewis First, M.D., that airs on WPTZ Channel 5 and on WOKO 98.9 FM, and is published in weekly newspapers throughout Chittenden County and Plattsburgh, NY. The show airs on Channel 5 during their 5 p.m. Monday broadcasts, and between 5:15-5:35 a.m. and 6:15-6:35 a.m. Tuesdays. It airs on WOKO at 7:50 a.m. Tuesdays, 11:50 a.m. Thursdays, and 11:50 a.m. Sundays. For more information about these programs, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at (802) 847-2886, or visit Fletcher Allen's Web site.

Screenings and Community Health Care*

Free monthly blood pressure screenings

Cholesterol screenings, $18-$21, held three times a year

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

Women's health screenings

Fletcher Allen Auxiliary

The Fletcher Allen Auxiliary is a group of more than 200 community members who support the mission of Fletcher Allen through financial contributions and by 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 Shop, Replays Resale Shop, a baby car seat program and special events that 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 “Doors to Healing” raffle that benefits various Departments at Fletcher Allen. The Auxiliary provides ongoing support to a variety of programs and services, including the FAVORS Room Service Program for inpatients and the Taylor Family Hospitality Room. The Auxiliary welcomes new members. For more information, call Volunteer Services 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 in Burlington, is a health library and resource center providing free service for patients and families and members of the public. The Center serves approximately 10,000 people annually. 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 at resourcecenter@vtmednet.org

New Wellness E-Newsletter

In the spring of 2012, Fletcher Allen produced the first issue of HealthSource, Fletcher Allen’s new wellness e-newsletter. The newsletter, distributed three times a year to Fletcher Allen patients, offers expert advice on everything from exercise and nutrition to relaxation and memory, as well as helpful online resources for healthy living. For more information, call the Office of Marketing and Communications at 802-847-2886 or visit HealthSource online.

Dana Medical Library

Located in the Medical Education Center that links Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, the 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 leading electronic resources. Professional health science librarians are available to support research. The library can be reached at (802) 656-2201 or visit Dana Medical Library online.

Community Medical School

Community Medical School is a series of free medical lectures by Fletcher Allen/University of Vermont physicians and researchers held over the course of two semesters each year. The series provides information on the latest science and research in the field of medicine, and is presented in an easy-to-understand format. It is extremely popular, regularly drawing 100 to 200 people per session. Call (802) 847-2886 for more information, or visit Community Medical School.

The Healthsource Community Education Series

This is a series of free and low-cost health education classes, including classes such as Baby Care Basics, CPR, Yoga, Organic Gardening, Senior Strength, cooking instruction and many more. The series is held three times a year. For more information, call the Office of Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278, or visit Healthsource online.

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 provide women's health education, research and development efforts for gynecologic malignancies and other women's health topics and was founded through The Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen. The EBD Fund hosts free educational programs for the public each fall and spring. For more information, call (802) 434-3979, email sdaniels2@cs.com or visit the Eleanor B. Danierls Fund.

Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen 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 the Vermont Children's Hospital, also attends many public events to meet and greet children and parents. For more information about the Vermont Children's Hospital activities, contact Sue Victory, senior administrative coordinator, Vermont Children's Hospital, at (802) 656-3243 or by email at 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 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. and 8:20 a.m. on WJOY 1230 AM and at 9:15 p.m. on WJOY, WOKO 98.9 FM and WKOL 105 FM.

First with Kids - a weekly program featuring Vermont Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatrics Lewis First, M.D., that airs on WPTZ Channel 5 and on WOKO 98.9 FM, and is published in weekly newspapers throughout Chittenden County and Plattsburgh, NY. The show airs on Channel 5 during their 5 p.m. Monday broadcasts, and between 5:15-5:35 a.m. and 6:15-6:35 a.m. Tuesdays. It airs on WOKO at 7:50 a.m. Tuesdays, 11:50 a.m. Thursdays, and 11:50 a.m. Sundays. For more information about these programs, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at (802) 847-2886, or visit Fletcher Allen's website.

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. Some of these screenings are held annually; others are offered periodically. These include:

Screenings and Community Health Care. Contact Barbara Liberty, RN, at (802) 847-6544 or barbara.liberty@vtmednet.org.

Free monthly blood pressure screenings. Contact Dawn Weening at Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278 or dawn.weening@vtmednet.org. Offered the 3rd Tuesday of every month 10-12 pm.

Cholesterol screenings (at a cost of $18-$21) three times a year. Offered by Community Health Improvement through the Healthsource Community series. Call (802) 847-2278.

Free foot care for seniors and people with disabilities through the "Footnoters" program. Contact Dawn Weening, RN, Community Health Improvement, at (802) 847-2278.

Women's health screenings are referred through the Health Assistance Program. Call (802) 847-6984 or healthassistanceprogram@vtmednet.org.

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 the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit.

Breastfeeding and "Birthing From Within" Classes

The Claire M. Lintilhac Nurse Midwifery Service at Fletcher Allen offers breastfeeding classes 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 "Birthing From Within" childbirth class series is held four times a year. The sessions alternate between the Williston site and the Midwifery Service's Burlington location at the Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Center on Fletcher Allen’s Medical Center Campus in Burlington. For more information, call (802) 847-2237 or (802) 847-1245.

Health Assistance Program

Fletcher Allen's Health Assistance Program helps patients get free or reduced-cost access to medical care, medications and insurance programs. 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 and health promotion services for large and small businesses throughout Vermont. The program is designed to help businesses plan effective, targeted programs for employees and dependents that result in measurable improvements in financial and health outcomes. For more information about biometric screening and health promotion programs, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2827.

Tobacco Cessation

Fletcher Allen's Community Health Improvement Wellness Program offers ongoing groups and workshops in tobacco cessation for individuals and worksites. For more information about tobacco cessation classes, call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2827 or email wellness@fahc.org.

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.

Support Groups

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

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

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Community Involvement

Community Activities

Community Surveys

Fletcher Allen Health Care routinely conducts community health assessments to understand current health trends, needs and assets. Fletcher Allen has been conducting periodic community health assessments for more than 15 years. Community assessments help us to identify areas of focus and are an integral resource for our community benefit plan. Results of the 2011-2012 assessment will be available to the public in the fall of 2012. For information about this process, call Community Health Improvement, (802) 847-2278.

Community Leader Interviews

As part of Fletcher Allen’s most recent community health assessment, community leaders were interviewed in 2011. Leaders were asked to share their vision of a healthy community, as well as their opinions on unmet health needs, pressing health issues and improvements that could be done to improve the quality of life for residents. Information gathered from this work informed Fletcher Allen’s community needs survey.

Community Partnerships and Grant Giving

Fletcher Allen has forged partnerships with numerous organizations, including nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and public agencies to improve the health of the community. Fletcher Allen funds a variety of community organizations and programs that further our community benefit work. One of these partnerships is with the Howard Center’s Street Outreach Program, which places social workers in the downtown Burlington area to assist those with mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, and unmet social service needs. The program has been tremendously successful and has now been replicated in Portland, Maine.

Fletcher Allen has a long history of conducting needs assessments to gauge the health care and related needs of the communities, including the creation of a chartered Community Benefit Committee in October 2012, which includes community members. The Committee is the successor to the previous Community Benefit Advisory Group, which was comprised exclusively of Fletcher Allen staff. The Community Benefit Committee includes six members from across the organization, six members from the community-based Vermont Health Foundation, and is chaired by Fletcher Allen’s Chief Medical Officers. Fletcher Allen is in the midst of a community health needs assessment. It completed information gathering – empirical data augmented by key leader interviews, focus groups and an electronic/paper-based survey – in April 2012.

For more information about Fletcher Allen’s partnerships, go to Community Resources or call Community Health Improvement at (802) 847-2278.

Community Rounds

Community Rounds is a program designed to give Vermont community leaders an inside look at our academic medical 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 - as well as 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.

Annual Community Meeting

The community meeting held in January 2012, brought together community stakeholders, including opinion leaders, legislators, donors, health care partners, community rounds alumni and others to engage with Fletcher Allen regarding the organization’s strategic agenda for the coming year. Fletcher Allen President and CEO John Brumsted was joined by CVMC President and CEO Judy Tartaglia as the speakers for the event. In addition to highlighting Fletcher Allen’s FY12 strategic agenda and the development of an integrated delivery system, the meeting was an opportunity to highlight Fletcher Allen’s heritage and recognize the outstanding people who work here.

Medical Education and Research

Fletcher Allen, in partnership with the University of Vermont, is one of 137 academic medical 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 biomedical research are open to the public on a regular basis. These include:

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, which seek to discover new cures and therapies. Studies on heart disease, diabetes, cancer, 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 the Office of Clinical Trials.

Studies at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU) The Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit conducts research in cognition and behavior after menopause, memory loss, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD and other areas. For more information about these studies, visit the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit.

MedQuest Health Care Careers Exploration Program The Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center (CVAHEC) offers two week-long residential health careers exploration programs for high school students on the University of Vermont campus every summer. Staffed by University of Vermont medical students, the MedQuest program allows students to explore health careers by shadowing providers at Fletcher Allen and other area medical centers and offices, as well as through lab visits and discussions. For more information, visit Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center or call (802) 527-1474.

Medical Education Project Families from Vermont Family Network (formerly Parent to Parent of Vermont and Vermont Parent Information Center) who have children with special health needs serve as faculty for University of Vermont medical students, teaching them about family-centered care during a home visit. Vermont Family Network Family Support faculty co-facilitate morning seminars on family-centered care with a focus on values and culture. Vermont Family Network promotes better health, education and well-being for all children and families, with a focus on children and young adults with special needs.

The following Medical Education Project programs are offered through the Vermont Family Network:

Professionalism, Communication, Reflection (PCR) - First Year Medical Students meet in groups of eight with a faculty member and a parent for an introduction to family-centered care. Parents share their family’s experience of having a child with special needs, and their perceptions of healthcare.

Parent Panel Class presentations - Parents can participate on panels of three family members presenting their experiences to undergraduate and graduate classes at UVM in Education and Health Sciences (nursing, PT, communications) courses. Each parent speaks for 20 minutes, taking questions at the end.

For more information about this program, visit Vermont Family Network or call 1-800-800-4005 or (802) 876-5313.

Students of Medicine Involved in Local Education - Doctors Ought to Care 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 the human body. Working in groups of four to six, the students visit their assigned classroom approximately four times per semester for 1 ½ hours each session. For more information about this program, call the University of Vermont College of Medicine Student Affairs Office at (802) 656-2150.

Standardized Patient Program - Members of the community are paid and trained to act as a patient with a specific health history and evaluate medical students' examination and communication skills. For more information about this program, contact Cate Nicholas, director of Clinical Skills Education at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, at cate.nicholas@uvm.edu.

Schweitzer Fellows Program - Each year, several College of Medicine students are awarded prestigious Schweitzer fellowships. Their activities include sponsoring a health-related lecture or event and developing and implementing programs designed to improve health care for underserved populations in the community. For more information about this program, visit the New Hampshire-Vermont Schwitzer Fellows Program or call the office at (603) 643-1479.

AHEC Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development - Established in December 2001 by a grant from the Vermont Agency of Human Services, the formerly-named Office of Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development officially joined the University of Vermont Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program on July 1, 2010. The office conducts workforce surveys and offers a number of programs to recruit and retain nurses in Vermont. For more information, visit ChooseNursingVt.org or contact AHEC Nursing Workforce Research, Planning and Development at (802) 656-0023.

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 128 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 106, in Burlington.

The offices can be contacted at the following mailing addresses:

Fletcher Allen
Office of Marketing and Communications
UHC Campus, 1 South Prospect Street
Burlington VT 05401
Phone: (802) 847-2886
Fax: (802) 847-5540

Community Health Improvement
128 Lakeside Avenue
Suite 106
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 847-2278
Fax: (802) 847-6545

Information about public events also is regularly posted on the Fletcher Allen home page or in the Community Health Improvement section of the site.