http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ Press Releases from Fletcher Allen Health Care en-us Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/stroke_program_earns_gold_plus_award_from_american_heart_ass.html BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen’s Stroke Program has
received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With
The Guidelines” Gold Plus Performance Achievement award for its success in
implementing excellent care for stroke patients according to evidence-based
guidelines.  It is the only “Gold Plus”
program in Vermont and northern New York.
To earn
the award, providers at Fletcher Allen’s multi-disciplinary Stroke Center achieved at least 24 consecutive months at
85% or higher achievement for the stroke performance measures, as well as 75%
or higher for 5 out of 9 optional quality measures.
“This award highlights our
commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing
aggressive, proven stroke care,” said Mark Gorman, MD, UVM Medical Group
neurologist, director of the Fletcher Allen Stroke Program, and UVM associate
professor of Neurology.  “We’re honored
to receive this additional validation that our expert Stroke Center staff provides
best-practice care that saves lives and improves patient outcomes.”
These
measures include aggressive use of medications such as t-PA (a protein
designed to dissolve blood clots), antithrombotics (such as aspirin), anticoagulation (coumadin)
therapy where appropriate, cholesterol-reducing drugs and smoking cessation,
all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke
patients. Stroke is
the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the primary cause of long-term
disability. 

The Stroke Center team was also honored by the “Get with the Guidelines”
program with a Silver Plus award in 2010 and a Bronze award in 2008, and has
been classified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, the
nation’s leading organization for setting health care quality standards. 
Multimedia
Resources
Listen to an
interview with Dr. Gorman on stroke care here.  A blog from Dr. Gorman on stroke prevention
is available here.  More information on Fletcher Allen’s Stroke
Center can be found here.]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/stroke_program_earns_gold_plus_award_from_american_heart_ass.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/uvm_medical_group_selects_research_education_grant_award_win.html Burlington – The University of Vermont Medical Group at Fletcher
Allen recently presented research and education awards to eight of its
physician members to recognize their exceptional teaching and research efforts.  The UVM Medical Group consists of approximately
450 physicians from all fields of medicine devoted to advancing patient care
through clinical and laboratory research and educating the next generation of
providers.   
“These awards seek to recognize and encourage the critically
important work our members do beyond providing excellent patient care,” said
Paul Taheri MD, MBA, president of the UVM Medical Group and senior associate
dean for Clinical Affairs at UVM.  “The
value of having an academic medical center is rooted in the expertise our
physicians develop through research, and how that expertise provides direct
benefits to patients and improves the education of medical students, residents
and fellows.”
Research
and Education Recognition Awards
Recipients of these awards receive
a $1,500 prize and a $6,000 block grant related to the award’s focus.

Radiologist Jeffrey Klein, MD of Williston was named Continuing Medical Educator of the Year for his work as a teacher and administrator. Dr. Klein serves as the associate dean for Continuing Medical Education at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
Alan Rubin, MD of Burlington, a primary care physician, was selected as the Graduate Medical Education Teacher of the Year for his contributions as a teacher, mentor and role model for residents and medical students.
Robert Althoff, MD, PhD of South Hero won the Junior Researcher of the Year award which is presented to a faculty member less than 10 years out from residency or fellowship training. Dr. Althoff, a child psychiatrist, studies genetic elements of childhood disorders.
Surgical Oncologist David Krag, MD of Shelburne was recognized as Senior Researcher of the Year, an award presented to an individual more than 10 years out from residency or fellowship training. Dr. Krag's ground-breaking research into the use of radiotracer-guided surgery in breast cancer has benefited more than a million patients worldwide.                       

Investigator-Initiated
Research Awards
These two awards each come with a
$50,000 grant funded by Fletcher Allen for two years of medical research. They
were created to help align the academic missions of Fletcher Allen and the UVM College
of Medicine and enhance multidisciplinary and multi-departmental projects.
This year’s two winning teams
are:

Vascular Surgeon Daniel J. Bertges, MD and Endocrinologist Muriel Nathan, MD, PhD, both of South Burlington. Their controlled quality improvement project is designed to test the effect of aggressive perioperative insulin management on both perioperative glucose control, and short-term infectious complication in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects undergoing peripheral vascular surgery.
Medical Oncologist Marie Wood, MD of South Burlington and surgery researcher Brian Sprague, PhD of Colchester. Their study will try to establish the relationship between inflammation and increased breast density in a population of women at increased risk for breast cancer, along with the ability to stratify patients based on body mass and menopausal status.
]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/uvm_medical_group_selects_research_education_grant_award_win.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allens_electronic_health_record_meets_federal_requi.html February 1, 2012Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON,
VT – Fletcher Allen
announced that it has met electronic medical record (EMR) system quality,
safety and efficiency requirements developed by the federal government’s
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  These standards, part of the CMS Meaningful
Use program, help hospitals focus on aspects of EHR implementation deemed most
important by CMS, namely those that improve patient safety, quality of care and
health system efficiency.
The institution will receive an
incentive payment of $2.75M from CMS for meeting these Meaningful Use standards. 
Meaningful Use is a multi-year government
incentive program created under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to encourage health care providers
across the country make the switch to electronic health records. Fletcher Allen
was in the first wave of hospitals recognized for successfully meeting the
program’s Stage 1 requirements.
“This recognition signifies a
major milestone in the history of our EMR project and reflects the hard work of
many people throughout Fletcher Allen,” said John Brumsted, Fletcher Allen’s
interim president and chief executive officer. 
“It’s worth noting that the Meaningful Use criteria were published by
the government well after the initial design of our system was underway. It
took a considerable effort to review and calibrate our system to ensure that we
could successfully meet the requirements and qualify for this incentive.”
The $57.2 million project
received Certificate of Need approval from the state in March 2008. The first
part of the installation was completed and operational in the pharmacy in early
May 2009.  The system was operational
throughout all of Fletcher Allen on schedule at the end of 2010.
CMS recognized that by installing
and meaningfully using an EHR system, health care providers would reap benefits
such as improved patient safety and clinical outcomes through reduction in
errors, improved availability of records and data, reminders and alerts,
clinical decision support, and e-prescribing/refill automation. The meaningful
use incentive program helped health care providers to focus on specific uses
that would be of most benefit to patients.

Stages 2 and 3 in the Meaningful Use program become effective in 2015
and 2015 and are scheduled to provide incentive payments for meeting additional
goals as EHR systems become more fully developed and integrated.]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allens_electronic_health_record_meets_federal_requi.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/board_of_trustees_approves_four_new_members__and_welcomes_pr.html VT – The Fletcher Allen Health Care Board of Trustees voted to accept the
nominating committee recommendation for four new members, and welcomed the new
president of the medical staff as an ex-officio member at its annual meeting in
December.
The new
Trustees receiving four-year appointments are:

Lawrence W. DeShaw of
Shelburne spent his career at Chittenden Bank retiring in 2005 as president and
CEO.  During his 34 years at the company,
he held a variety of leadership positions including executive vice president of
operations and administration for Chittenden Corporation, president of
Chittenden Home Mortgage Company and president of the Mountain Trust Company in
Stowe.  A lifelong resident of Vermont,
he has served on several boards and committees including Vermont Public Radio, the
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the Church Street Marketplace Committee and the
Burlington Electric Department where he served as chair. Mr. DeShaw is
currently chairman of the executive committee of Ocean Club Resorts in the
British West Indies and serves as a chairman of Green Mountain Housing Equity
Fund investment committee at Housing Vermont.

Kathleen "Scottie" Ginn of Essex, NY, spent 29 years with IBM in Vermont and New York, retiring
as a Vice President of Engineering. She led large engineering teams working
on IBM's technology development, and was responsible for
organizational management, business development, strategy development and
financial management. She was co-chair of IBM’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual and
Transgender Executive Task Force, which guided the company in the implementation
of inclusive employment and business practices. Ms. Ginn currently serves
on the vestry of St John's Episcopal Church and the boards of the New England
Federal Credit Union and the Adirondack Art Association, among other
organizations.
 

Mark Phillippe, MD of
South Burlington is physician leader
of the Women’s Health Service at Fletcher Allen and professor and chair of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UVM
College of Medicine.  Dr. Phillippe previously
held faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School, the University of Chicago
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 
His clinical interests are in high-risk pregnancies, medical
complications of pregnancy and preterm labor/delivery. Dr. Phillippe has served
on numerous peer review committees for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and
the March of Dimes and has been an active researcher throughout his career. He
earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Northwestern University, and a
Masters in Health Care Management from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Barbara
Rachelson of
Burlington has been executive director of the Lund Family Center since
1997 during which time she led the organization as it further developed
services to meet the complex needs of pregnant and parenting teens and
women, comprehensive adoption services, and community treatment and parent-child
services for families. Prior to assuming her current role she held executive
positions at several other human service organizations in Vermont and Michigan,
including serving as the Executive Director of the Michigan Network of Runaway
and Youth Services, and the Director of Outpatient Services at the Counseling
Service of Addison County.  Ms. Rachelson has been a clinical instructor
at the University of Vermont, Michigan State University and the University of
Michigan schools of Social Work. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and
earned an MSW in Policy and Planning at the University of Michigan.
The Board of Trustees
also welcomed the new president of Fletcher Allen’s medical staff as an
ex-officio member.
Patti
Fisher, MD has been the medical
director of the Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) since 2008.  Prior to assuming that role, she worked in private
practice specializing in women's health including prenatal care and deliveries,
comprehensive health care for families, homeless health care, substance abuse
and mental health treatment, and tropical medicine.  Since 2001, Dr. Fisher has volunteered two
weeks per year at a rural health clinic in Haiti. She is a graduate of Saint
Mary's College and the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, and
completed her residency at Forbes Family Practice in Pittsburgh, PA.]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/board_of_trustees_approves_four_new_members__and_welcomes_pr.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_serve_as_mentoring_hospital_for_cvph_heart.html Mike NobleMarketing and CommunicationsFletcher Allen Health Care802-847-2886
PLATTSBURGH, NY – CVPH Medical
Center and Fletcher Allen
Health Care announced a new working relationship for the provision of heart
surgery today that they say will be beneficial to area residents and opens the
door for future cooperation and collaboration.
Frank Ittleman,
M.D., associate vice president of operations for the University
of Vermont Medical Group at Fletcher
Allen Health Care and Chief of Fletcher Allen’s heart surgery program in Burlington, Vermont,
has been appointed medical director of cardiothoracic surgery at CVPH,
effective January 1, 2012. He will provide oversight for CVPH’s heart surgery
program, including guidance for quality assurance, coordination of patient
referrals when appropriate, and coordination of continuing medical education
requirements for the hospital’s heart surgery program. 
Anne Cahill, M.D., board-certified
cardiothoracic surgeon, will continue to perform heart surgery procedures at
CVPH in her role as medical director of cardiac surgery.  Dr. Ittleman will remain as chief of the cardiothoracic
surgery division at Fletcher Allen in Burlington.  He will not be providing direct patient care in
Plattsburgh.
The New York State
Department of Health requires community hospitals that provide heart surgery
services to have an affiliation or mentoring agreement with a major medical
center. The mentoring relationship with Fletcher Allen supplants an arrangement
with St. Peters Hospital in Albany that was established before surgeons
performed the first open heart procedure at CVPH seven years ago.  Fletcher Allen, in alliance with the
University of  Vermont College of Medicine
is the region’s academic medical center. The overwhelming majority of patients
transferred for heart services from the Plattsburgh
facility go to Fletcher Allen already according to CVPH officials. 
“This affiliation
should positively impact quality, convenience, cost effectiveness and patient
satisfaction,” Stephens Mundy, CVPH president and chief executive officer
said.  “Health care reform is creating an
environment in which cooperation between hospitals rather than competition is
imperative.”
Mundy complimented
the New York State Department of Health for approving the mentoring
relationship with a hospital located outside of the state.  “The Department of Health recognized that
because we already transfer patients to Fletcher Allen approving this contract
is the right thing to do for our community and will lead to a more seamless
provision of care”
In addition to his
role as chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Fletcher Allen, Dr. Ittleman also serves
as a professor of surgery and vice chair of  outreach for the department of surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
For almost forty years he has been highly respected as a cardiothoracic surgeon
by his colleagues and is a recognized champion of quality improvement in
cardiothoracic surgery.
He received a
medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and came
to Vermont in
1972 as a surgical resident at one of Fletcher Allen’s predecessor
organizations, the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont.  He completed a residency in thoracic and cardiovascular
surgery at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals in
Cleveland before returning to Burlington to join the medical center’s clinical
faculty as a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon.
About CVPH
CVPH Medical Center
is a private, not-for-profit hospital established in 1967 with the merger of Champlain Valley
and Physicians Hospitals.  It is the largest health provider and
employer in New York’s North
Country.  CVPH is a partner
with Adirondack Medical Center
and Hudson Headwaters Health Network in the Adirondack Health Institute
(AHI).  AHI is involved with the Adirondack
Region Medical Home, one of eight demonstration projects in the nation funded
by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and the new Medicaid Health
Homes, a new approach in New York
to providing enhanced care to Medicaid enrollees who have chronic
conditions.  CVPH established its Champlain Valley Heart
Center in 2005 and has
earned national acclaim for outcomes and quality. 
About Fletcher Allen

Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our
partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing
and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s
academic medical center. Fletcher Allen, along with Central Vermont
Medical Center,
are members of Fletcher Allen Partners, established to develop a more
coordinated system of care throughout the region. Fletcher Allen’s mission is
to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves by integrating
patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen also
serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to
approximately one million people in Vermont
and northern New York
-- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in
Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen,
find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org
or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_serve_as_mentoring_hospital_for_cvph_heart.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/phlebotomist_2012.html (December 20, 2011)
Contact: Steven
LuttonExecutive Director, Vermont HITEC
802-399-8540Kim O'LearyFletcher Allen Health Care802-847-2886


Applications for Free Training Program Due January 9


BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC announced
today that they are recruiting candidates for a phlebotomy training program,
which will lead directly to employment at Fletcher Allen. Fletcher Allen
employees were informed of this training opportunity last week.  A phlebotomist obtains blood specimens using
venipuncture and capillary collection from patients of all ages.  
The training program, made possible with funding secured by
Senator Patrick J. Leahy from the U.S. Department of Labor, is offered at no
cost to unemployed and underemployed Vermonters, and to current Fletcher Allen
staff.
Six individuals will be selected for the eight-week program
through an extensive recruitment process. The free training will prepare
individuals to take the Phlebotomy Certification exam, issued by the National
Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).  Upon graduation from the training, three
trainees will fill full time positions, one trainee will fill a 32 hour a week
position,
and two trainees will fill half time positions. All positions include an
apprenticeship and receive full wages and benefits.  Between 2009 and 2011, twenty participants
successfully completed a similar phlebotomy training program and were offered
positions at Fletcher Allen.
The pay scale for phlebotomists starts at $12.43 per hour
with long-term earning potential of up to $18.64 per hour.  However, individuals who complete this
program will be hired by Fletcher Allen at a minimum of $13.33 per hour.  The positions will also include a
comprehensive benefits package.
NOTE:
The submission deadline for phlebotomist applications is January 9, 2012.  To apply, visit the Vermont HITEC website at www.vthitec.org and complete the online
application.  For more information or
assistance, contact Lisa Spaulding, ITAR Project Leader & Mentor via email
at: lisa.spaulding@vthitec.org,
802-872-0660, or by writing to: Vermont HITEC, P.O. Box 1548, Williston, VT
05495.
About Vermont
HITEC
Vermont HITEC is a 501C (3)
non-profit organization with a mission to educate, train and employ Vermonters
in a variety of fields. Over the past 10 years, Vermont HITEC has partnered
with over 30 Vermont and New Hampshire businesses to employ over 350 Vermonters
in the healthcare, information technology and advanced manufacturing fields.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at
the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College
of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic
medical center. Fletcher Allen, along with Central Vermont Medical Center, are
members of Fletcher Allen Partners, established to develop a more coordinated
system of care throughout the region. Fletcher Allen’s mission is to improve
the health of the people in the communities it serves by integrating patient
care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen also serves
as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one
million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital
for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For
more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org
or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at
www.fletcheralle



n.org/socialmedia.

]]> Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/phlebotomist_2012.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/innovative_procedure_under_study_may_reduce_blood_thinner_us.html BURLINGTON VT; A new device being studied in a clinical trial that is implanted in the heart may reduce the need for blood thinners and reduce severe stroke risk for patients who have atrial fibrillation. The Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure device, as it is known, is being studied by the Cardiology Division at Fletcher Allen Health Care as part of a national clinical trial. This is the only study location north of Boston in New England.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is irregular electrical activity of the upper chambers of the heart, the atria, resulting in ineffective pumping action.  AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting over 5 million people worldwide.
AF can cause blood to pool in a portion of the left atrium known as the left atrial appendage, providing an environment for blood to clot.  These clots can then break lose and migrate through the bloodstream and up to the brain causing an embolic stroke.
An embolic stroke refers to the blockage of an artery by an embolism from another part of the body, such as the heart chamber.  Because the blockage is sudden, initial symptoms are usually severe. Embolic strokes can leave patients with serious lasting effects. Patients with AF have a 6-fold increased risk of severe stroke versus patients who have normal heart rhythm. 
The device looks like a miniature umbrella. It is inserted into the atrial appendage using a catheter that is placed in a procedure that is similar to the use of a catheter to implant a stent in a blocked coronary artery. With the device in place, it is opened much like an umbrella, and the curved surface blocks the entrance to the appendage, trapping existing embolisms in the pooled blood inside. Subsequently, the catheter used to deliver the device is removed from the patient. After a few weeks, tissue grows over the device’s curved surface, preventing blood from pooling.  “The potential of being able to close off the left atrial appendage without major surgery may offer many clinical advantages to our patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of having a stroke,” said Dan Lustgarten, M.D. Ph.D., associate professor, Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Group at Fletcher Allen.  If successful, the adoption of this procedure and technology may reduce the need for blood thinning medications and decrease the number of strokes in this at risk patient population.”Currently, blood thinners are considered to be the best preventive therapy for those patients. To obtain additional information about this study, please contact Joe Miller, M.S., clinical research coordinator at Fletcher Allen, (802) 847-4746.
Watch a video animation of the device being usedClick on this link: http://www.atritech.net/animation.html]]> Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/innovative_procedure_under_study_may_reduce_blood_thinner_us.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/frank_ittleman_md_named_associate_vice_president_of_operatio.html BURLINGTON, VT – Frank Ittleman, M.D., has been appointed associate vice president of Operations for the University of Vermont Medical Group. In this role, he will be working with both the medical group providers and referring providers throughout Fletcher Allen’s service region. The University of Vermont Medical Group includes approximately 500 primary care and specialty physicians who are members of the clinical faculty of the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the medical staff at Fletcher Allen Health Care. They are engaged in patient care, education and research.Within the medical group, Dr. Ittleman will facilitate the resolution of systems and process issues to improve care.  He will also serve as a key link with referring providers to continuously improve the processes through which patients are referred to Fletcher Allen.Dr. Ittleman also serves as chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Fletcher Allen and as a professor of Surgery and vice chair of Outreach for the Department of Surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He received a medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and came to Vermont in 1972 as a surgical resident at one of Fletcher Allen’s predecessor organizations, the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont.  He completed a residency in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals in Cleveland before returning to Burlington to join the clinical faculty as a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon. ]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/frank_ittleman_md_named_associate_vice_president_of_operatio.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/roving_telemedicine_unit_improves_care.html Intensivists, Dr. Gil Allen and Dr. Ryan Clouser, located at Fletcher Allen in Burlington, were able to consult with Dr. Craig from The Health Center in Plainfield while he was at the bedside of a patient in CVMC’s intensive care unit by means of a roving telemedicine unit.  Intensivists are physicians with specialized training in critical-care medicine who care for patients in intensive care units.The roving unit is basically a computer monitor mounted on a cart with a camera on top that can transmit images and sound securely from one hospital to another.  The camera at CVMC is remotely controlled from Fletcher Allen and can pan the area and focus in on the patient or the physician. According to Dr. Phil Brown, CVMC vice president of medical affairs, the roving unit is easily moved and “we expect to use it in the ICU and the Emergency Department to help [Fletcher Allen physicians] evaluate patients [at CVMC].”Dr. Craig was able to present the case of a patient with multiple medical problems, providing background, current test results and the current status of the patient. The intensivists, in turn, asked questions and recommended next steps. The patient enthusiastically participated in the interview with Fletcher Allen intensivists and Dr. Craig. CVMC hospitalists and ICU nursing staff were also present. Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in caring for hospitalized patients, particularly those with complicated illnesses, on a daily basis.Dr. Sarah Swift, medical director of CVMC’s hospitalists, said “I am excited about this new capability. It gives our hospitalists the capability to communicate more directly with Fletcher Allen’s intensivists to consult on our more difficult cases. This will enable us to provide more care locally rather than transfer the patient.”In the fall of 2011, CVMC entered into a formal affiliation agreement with Fletcher Allen to help develop a coordinated health system in Vermont that will build on our joint efforts to deliver high-quality care to Vermonters as efficiently as possible.  This agreement closely aligns the two organizations with state and federal health care reform agendas that promote enhanced integration.Implementing the roving telemedicine unit is part of an ICU improvement initiative, which is one of two quality improvement initiatives chosen by the FAP Quality Council for the upcoming year.]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/roving_telemedicine_unit_improves_care.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_y-t-d_and_third_quarter_financial_re.html December 1, 2011
Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
Fletcher Allen Releases Year-to-Date and Third Quarter Financial Results
BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen reported an operating income of $18.6 million for the first three quarters of the 2011 fiscal year. This includes an operating income of approximately $9.6 million for the third quarter. The third quarter covers the period beginning April 1 and ending June 30. This result reflects our spending significantly less on expenses than budgeted, while the trend of declining patient care revenues year-to-date continued to remain below budget.
Third Quarter Results
Operating income for the third quarter was $2.5 million above budget and $700,000 below the corresponding quarter in FY 2010.  Net operating revenues for the quarter were $229 million, $1.7 million below budgeted revenues.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were $219.4 million, $4.3 million under budget, resulting in an operating income of approximately $9.6 million and an operating margin of 4.1% for the third quarter.  By comparison, the organization produced an income from operations of $10.3 million in the third quarter of FY 2010.
Year-to-date Results
On a year-to-date basis, the $18.6 million net income from operations was above the budgeted $9.5 million for the period, and produced an operating margin of 2.8%. A year ago, the organization generated a three-quarter operating gain of $17.3 million.  For nine months of the fiscal year, net operating revenues were $673.8 million, $6.3 million below budget. Operating expenses were $655.2 million, below budget by $15.4 million.
A key financial indicator, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) stood at approximately $67.4 million for three quarters. This was above the FY 2011 budget forecast of $61.5 million.  EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization’s actual earnings.
At the end of the third quarter, days cash on hand stood at 132 days using a 12-month rolling average, compared to 106 days last year. This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.  
A High-Performance Organization
Fletcher Allen compares well with peer groups outside the state in terms of quality and efficiency.  This year’s University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC) Quality and Accountability Study results placed Fletcher Allen 14th among 101 member academic medical centers across the country in quality of care and patient safety. This is a considerable improvement from the  41st place ranking achieved in 2009.
In addition, Fletcher Allen Health Care has received a full three-year accreditation from The Joint Commission in August. The Joint Commission is a non-profit organization that accredits health care organizations on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The commission’s final report contained no “significant findings,” a term used when a situation or condition is serious enough to warrant immediate correction.
Regionally, Vermont’s Act 49 report issued last year with data from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine showed that Fletcher Allen’s hospital service area had the lowest rate of Emergency Department visits and the lowest rate of potentially-avoidable ED use.   Fletcher Allen’s service area also had the lowest per-member per-month expenses for insured patients in the three-state region.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2003 through the third quarter of FY 2011 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
Click here for FY 2011 Third Quarter Y-T-D Financial Results (Unaudited)
Click here for FY 2011 Third Quarter Financial Results (Unaudited)]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_y-t-d_and_third_quarter_financial_re.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ricky_padgett_named_director_of_corporate_accounting_at_flet.html Mike NobleFletcher Allen Health Care802-847-2886
Burlington, VT- Ricky Padgett, vice president of Finance and Operations and chief operating officer for the past five years at the George West Mental Health Foundation (GWMHF) in Atlanta, has been named director of Corporate Accounting at Fletcher Allen Health Care.Prior to accepting the position at Fletcher Allen, Padgett had also assumed the roles of chief financial officer and director of Finance at GWMHF. During his tenure there, Padgett implemented various accounting systems to improve financial reporting, streamlined their audit processes, and focused the organization on increased financial stability.Padgett holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Florida State University and Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from Troy State University in Alabama. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ricky_padgett_named_director_of_corporate_accounting_at_flet.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/amy_vaughan_named_to_director_revenue_finance_and_reimbursem.html Burlington, VT- Amy Vaughan has been named director of Revenue Finance and Reimbursement at Fletcher Allen Health Care where she previously held the roles of manager of Revenue Finance and Reimbursement and senior reimbursement analyst. Prior to joining Fletcher Allen in 2001, Vaughan worked in sub-acute care reimbursement positions in Denver, Chicago, and Connecticut.
In her current position, Vaughan is responsible for directing reimbursement projects and strategy, overseeing revenue cycle reporting capabilities, and directing accounts receivable net revenue process and strategy. Vaughan holds a Master of Business Administration from Regis University in Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College in Maine. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/amy_vaughan_named_to_director_revenue_finance_and_reimbursem.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_donates_138000_and_supplies_for_irene_recover.html Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
Employees also volunteer for relief efforts across the state
Burlington – Employees at Fletcher Allen Health Care have donated $69,000 for Tropical Storm Irene recovery efforts, an amount which has been matched by the organization.  The $138,000 total is being distributed through the United Way’s Vermont Disaster Relief Fund and the Vermont Red Cross for use throughout the state.
"My thanks to the employees of Fletcher Allen Health Care for their generous gift and to the organization for matching these contributions,” said David Coates, chair of the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group. “All of these funds will go directly to Vermonters who were victims of Irene to not only help rebuild their homes, but just as importantly to help them begin the process of rebuilding their  lives."In addition to financial assistance, these are some of the contributions Fletcher Allen and its employees made to recovery efforts:
•    Delivered 10,000 masks, 820 bath blankets, 200 bath towels, and 24  cases of hand sanitizer to the Vermont Red Cross in Rutland.•    Staffed a wound care clinic in cooperation with the Waterbury Ambulance Service, and donated tetanus vaccine to the clinic. •    Provided hundreds of sandwiches and other food to volunteers in Waterbury. •    Volunteered to answer calls made to the Vermont Emergency Response 2-1-1 hotline.•    Continue to provide care to patients displaced by the flooding of the Vermont State Hospital.Employees also donated 800 hours of time-off to colleagues directly affected by the storm – a value of more than $20,000 – and $825 has been contributed to the LeRoyer Fund which offers financial assistance to employees with emergency needs.
Fletcher Allen Contributions to Irene Recovery    
One example of volunteer activity involves five employees from Acute Therapy who spent a day clearing tons of silt and rocks from the yard of Jill Jesso-White of Hancock.  Becky McQueen, Johanne Fradette, Judy Brodowski, Andrea McBride and Heather Collins used shovels, wheelbarrows and a tractor to clear debris that was one to two feet thick.
“I like to help and I knew so many people were worse off than I was.  It was great to see how appreciative they were of our efforts,” said Physical Therapist Assistant Becky McQueen.“When I stepped out onto my front porch in the flood’s aftermath and saw what lay before me, it took my breath away,” said Jesso-White. “Even though we were not as seriously affected as some, I didn’t have any idea where to start to cleanup. To have these Fletcher Allen volunteers arrive and lend a hand was just wonderful. Their spirit as they dug-in was infectious. It was then I knew that we would recover.”“These efforts are a natural extension of what we do every day at Fletcher Allen - work together to help the people and communities we serve,” said John R. Brumsted, M.D., interim president and CEO.  “I’m proud of the generous response of our employees and want to thank everyone who has given of themselves to support victims of this devastating storm.” About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. Photo InformationFletcher Allen Health Care staff cleared tons of dirt and rocks from the yard of a Hancock resident as part of flood recovery efforts made by the organization. L to R:  Judy Brodowski, Heather Collins, Becky McQueen, Johanne Fradette, Andrea McBride
Tractor Photo: Johanne Fradette of Fletcher Allen Health Care drives a tractor while clearing tons of dirt and rock from the yard of a Hancock resident as part of flood recovery efforts made by the organization]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_donates_138000_and_supplies_for_irene_recover.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/mike_noble_marketing_and_communications_802-847-2886todd_moo.html Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
Burlington, VT – Todd Moore, vice president of Revenue Cycle for the past four years, has been named senior vice president of Managed Care and Revenue Strategy at Fletcher Allen Health Care, a new position within the organization.    Moore has also been named president, Vermont Managed Care, a physician hospital organization (PHO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fletcher Allen. These organizations are management service organizations in which the partners are physicians and hospitals. PHO organizations contract with insurance companies for physician and hospital services.     During his time as the vice president of Revenue Cycle, Moore helped to negotiate contracts with key insurance companies and helped to lead strategic planning that has enabled Fletcher Allen to navigate the emerging dynamic managed care environment.    As senior vice president of Managed Care and Revenue Strategy, Moore will play an even greater role in shaping Fletcher Allen’s response to health care reform. In his new role as president of Vermont Managed Care, Moore will also provide strategic direction for that company.    “Todd’s experience fits perfectly with the requirements for this new senior-level position,” said John Brumsted, interim president and CEO, Fletcher Allen Health Care. “Like every other health care provider, we need to focus on being part of the discussion and fully understanding the new reimbursement methodologies as they develop, both at the state and federal level.”    Prior to his role with Fletcher Allen, Moore served for fourteen years as an executive consultant to health care providers and insurers as a principal at the Mercer Consulting Group, a co-founder and partner of his own firm, and as a consulting executive for Cerner Corporation, a health information technology company. In addition, Moore previously served four years as a technology consultant to the financial services industry with Accenture.     Moore holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Chicago and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois. About Vermont Managed CareVermont Managed Care (VMC) was founded in 1991 as a Physician Hospital Organization.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Fletcher Allen, it currently coordinates the delivery of health care services for a population served by a network of more than over 2,700 primary and specialty care providers and 10 hospitals in Vermont and New Hampshire. The VMC Network conducts its own care management, enabling the physician-run network to make day-to-day health care decisions for its patients, rather than a distant third party claims manager. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/mike_noble_marketing_and_communications_802-847-2886todd_moo.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_placed_high_in_national_quality_accountabilit.html Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT – This year’s UHC Quality and Accountability Study results placed Fletcher Allen 14th among 101 member academic medical centers across the country in quality of care and patient safety. Over the past three years, Fletcher Allen has moved from 41st in 2009 to 33rd in 2010, to 14th in this year’s study.
“This is a significant trend that we should celebrate,” said John Brumsted, Fletcher Allen’s interim president and chief executive officer. “This achievement was made possible by all our staff working together to put our patients first. While everyone has a role in making this happen, a special thanks to our clinicians, our nurses, our Environmental Services staff, our Health Information Management (medical records) staff, and our Jeffords Institute for Quality staff.   These results demonstrate that Fletcher Allen continues to perform extremely well among our peer academic medical centers.”UHC, formerly known as the University HealthSystem Consortium, is an alliance of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic medical centers.  The results of the study, which UHC has conducted annually since 2005, were released in late September.
The study is designed to help academic medical centers identify structures and processes associated with high performance in quality and safety across a broad spectrum of patient care activity. The Institute of Medicine’s 6 domains of care – mortality, effectiveness, safety, equity, patient centeredness, and efficiency – were used as a guide in structuring the study.
About UHC
UHC is an alliance of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic medical centers, which are focused on delivering world-class patient care. Based in Chicago, Ill, UHC fosters collaboration with and among its 114 academic medical center and 255 affiliated hospital members through its renowned programs and services in the areas of comparative data and analytics, performance improvement, supply chain management, strategic research,and public policy. UHC helps its members achieve excellence in quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Formed in 1984, UHC’s membership includes more than 90% of the nonprofit academic medical centers in the United States. For more information, visit www.uhc.edu.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_placed_high_in_national_quality_accountabilit.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_awards_for_sustainable_food_lea.html The "Sustainable Food Procurement Award" recognizes accomplishments in promoting health through food purchasing decisions.  $1.5 million of the total annual food budget of $3.5 million is spent on products made in Vermont.  In 2010 Fletcher Allen also achieved the following:   

42 percent of food and beverage purchases were sustainable.
A variety of products, including yogurt, vegetables, apples, cider and turkey, were purchased directly from farms, ranches, and cooperatives.
35 percent of meat and poultry came from animals not treated with antibiotics.
70 percent of dairy purchases were produced without rBGH growth hormone.

The "Sustainable Food Public Policy and Advocacy Award" acknowledges support for creating a healthy food system. Highlighted activities include:

Supporting Vermont's "Farm to Plate" initiative.
Educating other health care providers, schools and the public through Center for Nutrition and Healthy Food Systems.
Signing the HCWH petition supporting the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act.  

"We're honored to receive these awards from Health Care Without Harm, which along with other great partners in Vermont and beyond has helped us create a model food service program that supports our missions to provide the highest quality of care and to be responsible stewards of the environment," said John Brumsted, M.D. interim president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen Health Care.
"Transforming our program has been an exciting and rewarding journey, and this recognition will serve to encourage our efforts to assist other institutions that want to follow the same path," he added.
Gary Cohen, president and founder of Health Care Without Harm said "Fletcher Allen is a deserving winner of a double award from our Healthy Food in Healthcare program because of its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and improving the health of patients, staff and the community. It is a highly successful example of how health care facilities can lead the way to more sustainable practices throughout our society."
The first annual Sustainable Food Awards will be presented at the FoodMed conference October 18-19 in Seattle, WA.
About Health Care Without Harm
HCWH is an international coalition of more than 430 organizations in 52 countries, working to transform the health care industry worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. For more information on HCWH, see www.noharm.org. More than 200 hospitals have signed the HCWH "Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge" which commits signers to work toward developing sustainable food systems in their facilities.  To learn more about HCWH's work on food and other issues related to health carewww.healthyfoodinhealthcare.org
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center - providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York - and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_awards_for_sustainable_food_lea.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/central_vermont_medical_center_and_fletcher_allen.html October 17, 2011Mike NobleFletcher Allen Health Care802-847-2886Susan KruthersCentral Vermont Medical Center802-371-4197
BURLINGTON VT – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) and Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today at a press conference that their Boards have each given final approval to a corporate affiliation between the two organizations that took effect October 1. The affiliation was first approved by both Boards in December 2010 when an affiliation agreement was signed, and is being implemented through a new organization –Fletcher Allen Partners – the new parent corporation of both CVMC and Fletcher Allen."This is a significant step in developing a coordinated health care system in Vermont that will deliver higher quality care for Vermonters and do it more efficiently," said Judy Tarr Tartaglia, president and chief executive officer of CVMC.  "This affiliation builds on existing clinical partnerships and also closely aligns with the state and federal health care reform agendas that promote enhanced integration."Like Judy, I believe that increased collaboration among hospitals and other providers in our state will benefit our patients," said John Brumsted, M.D., interim president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen.  "The affiliation also will foster the academic mission. With an integrated health care system, we have an opportunity to train the next generation of physicians, nurses and other providers in a clinical environment of the future – one that emphasizes coordination and integration – and to provide expanded opportunities for clinical research."
"This is an example of the kind of collaboration that we want to encourage in Vermont," said Governor Peter Shumlin. "We need health care providers to break down some of the walls between individual institutions and start working as a system. It is only by increasing coordination that we will achieve the highest quality, most efficient health care delivery for all Vermonters."
The affiliation was finalized following a nine-month period of due diligence that began last December after both organizations gave their initial approvals.  The due diligence process included state and federal regulatory reviews.

Common Parent Organization

Fletcher Allen Partners has governing powers over both Fletcher Allen and CVMC.  Fletcher Allen Partners has a board of trustees drawn from the membership of both organizations' current boards and medical staffs.  Interim Fletcher Allen President and CEO Dr. Brumsted will serve as CEO of the system parent; CVMC President and CEO Judy Tarr Tartaglia will serve as senior vice president.
There are 17 board members, 11 from Fletcher Allen and 6 from CVMC.  They include from CVMC: Robin Nicholson, Board Chair; Tom Robbins, Vice Chair; Marta Marble, Trustee; Tom Curchin, M.D., Chair of CVMC Medical Group; Andy Minkin, M.D., Gastroenterologist;  Brad Watson, M.D. CVMC Medical Staff President (Ex Officio). Note: Dr. Watson's term expires in November, when he will be succeeded by Joe Pekala M.D., who becomes the medical staff president.
Partners board members from Fletcher Allen include: Roger Stone, Chair, Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees; John Brumsted, M.D., Interim President and CEO, Fletcher Allen; Steve Marsh, Chair, Board Audit Committee; John Powell, Chair, Board Finance Committee; Jan Carney, M.D., Chair, Board Planning Committee; Sarah Carpenter, Chair, Board Ethics & Quality Committee; Donald Gilbert, Chair, Board Compensation Committee; Richard Morin, M.D., Dean, UVM College of Medicine and member of the Board of Trustees; Trustees Betsy Davis and Gretchen Morse; and Stephen Leffler, M.D., Fletcher Allen Medical Staff President (Ex officio), who is also a Board member.
Existing Hospitals to Retain Identities, Separate Medical Staffs
Under the affiliation, Fletcher Allen and CVMC will retain their current identities.   Each party remains a separate free-standing hospital with its own board, management, workforce, licensure, medical staff (including credentialing and governance), and endowment. The medical staffs of each hospital will remain separate with separate credentialing and governance.
System Activities
This affiliation builds on existing clinical partnerships between CVMC and Fletcher Allen.  For example, Fletcher Allen already provides specialized physician services for the Central Vermont community on the CVMC campus including general surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, gynecologic oncology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and family medicine services at Berlin Family Health.
The parent organization, over time, will carry out centralized activities for the benefit of patients of both CVMC and Fletcher Allen, such as:

Regional strategic planning
Joint quality and clinical initiative
Joint purchasing and supply chain management
Tax-exempt bond borrowing
Development of a common electronic health record platform

The parent organization also has approval rights over significant matters of each organization such as budgets, strategic plans, and major financial decisions.
The system will carry out centralized activities for the benefit of patients of both CVMC and Fletcher Allen.  Joint work councils will be established in the following areas: clinical care & quality, supply chain & facilities planning, information technology, finances, and human resources.  Judy Tarr Tartaglia will oversee the work of these councils.
Here are some examples of collaborative work that has already begun:

Physician leaders at Fletcher Allen and CVMC are collaborating to determine how both intensive care units can best work together to ensure that patients are treated locally whenever possible, or transferred to Fletcher Allen for more specialized care, when appropriate
In coordination with the Blueprint for Health, Fletcher Allen and CVMC are collaborating to reduce hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations of patients with congestive heart failure.  Plans include the development of a standardized approach to ensure consistent care and regular communication with health care providers.  A variety of support systems are being implemented to ensure that patients understand their treatment and participate in monitoring their health status at home.
Fletcher Allen and CVMC have jointly identified opportunities to align and combine service and supply contracts for the two organizations with the goal of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming year.
Leaders at Fletcher Allen and CVMC are working on a plan to bring CVMC onto the Fletcher Allen information systems platform so that CVMC physicians and employees will have access to the same electronic health record software that Fletcher Allen implemented across its inpatient and outpatient areas in 2009-2010.

About CVMC
Central Vermont Medical Center consists of a not-for-profit acute care hospital offering a full spectrum of in-patient and out-patient services and 24-hour emergency care, National Life Cancer Treatment Center, Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing, and 17 medical group practices.  Our mission is to work collaboratively to meet the needs and improve the health of the residents of central Vermont.  Visit www.cvmc.org for additional information.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.

Affiliation Creates Parent Organization "Fletcher Allen Partners"

]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/central_vermont_medical_center_and_fletcher_allen.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/thomas_lahiri_md_receives_national_humanitarian_award.html BURLINGTON, VT - Thomas Lahiri, M.D., medical director of Pediatric Pulmonology at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen and Associate Professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, has been selected to receive the D. Robert McCaffree Humanitarian Award from the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the CHEST Foundation.
The award comes with a $15,000 grant which will be used by the Burlington-based Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation for a documentary project called “Living Extreme with Cystic Fibrosis.”  The Foundation will produce short and long-form videos that capture the stories of people who live successfully with cystic fibrosis and push the limits of what was once thought to be possible.
“The primary target of the videos will be patients, families and care providers, but they can also be used to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for people with other respiratory diseases and the general public,” said Dr. Lahiri. The award will be presented in October at the ACCP annual meeting.]]> Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/thomas_lahiri_md_receives_national_humanitarian_award.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/cigna_names_transplant_program_center_of_excellence.html Move Eliminates Need for Individuals to Travel Out of State for Car
 Burlington VT – Cigna has added Fletcher Allen Health Care to its centers of excellence transplant network for kidney, pancreas, and simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplants, making it possible for individuals in Vermont to receive this critical care closer to home.
To be included in the Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network®, Fletcher Allen's Transplant Program had to demonstrate superior outcomes and meet stringent cost management requirements.
"This recognition acknowledges the excellent outcomes and patient-centered care our dedicated transplant team provides," said Antonio Di Carlo, M.D., Division Chief of Transplantation. "We are excited to be able to offer our highly specialized services to individuals through the Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network."
About Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network
Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network contracts with approximately 550 transplant programs at more than 130 independent transplant centers that are nationally recognized for their clinical outcomes. To learn more about Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network, please visit www.cignalifesource.com or call 1-877-733-1709.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/cigna_names_transplant_program_center_of_excellence.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/stephen_leffler_md_named_chief_medical_officer.html Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON, VT – Stephen Leffler M.D. has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Fletcher Allen Health Care.  He is currently medical director of the Emergency Department and president of the medical staff.
Dr. Leffler succeeds John Brumsted M.D., Fletcher Allen’s interim president and chief executive officer. As CMO, Dr. Leffler will be the senior clinical executive responsible for medical staff affairs, the Jeffords Institute for Quality, technology management and ethics. He will also participate in strategic planning and lead continued development of a regional integrated system of care, drawing upon his experience working with other hospitals and physicians in the area.
During his nearly two decades at Fletcher Allen Dr. Leffler has served on numerous clinical committees and has been a key collaborator on significant organizational initiatives including Fletcher Allen’s regional STEMI project -a program to ensure heart attack victims receive life-saving care as rapidly as possible.
Dr. Leffler received his medical degree from the University of Vermont and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of New Mexico in 1993.]]> Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/stephen_leffler_md_named_chief_medical_officer.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_in_us_news__world_report_listings.html Twelve Physicians Considered Within the Top 1% Nationally in Their Field
Six Specialties and Electronic Medical Record Highly Ranked
[photo1L]BURLINGTON VT – Twenty-three physicians and six specialty areas at Fletcher Allen Health Care have been recognized by U.S. News and World Report magazine as being the best in Vermont and northern New York for 2011. Half of the 23 physicians were ranked within the top 1% in their specialties nationally. The academic medical center was also honored for being one of the leading hospitals in the nation in the adoption of electronic medical records.
Those making the publication’s “Top Doctors” list span 15 specialty areas and were selected based on a peer nominating process. (see complete list below).
Six adult specialty areas were ranked as “High Performing.” They are: Ear, Nose & Throat, Gastroenterology, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics.  To earn this distinction, performance must be competitive with the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals. 
U.S. News and World Report (USN&WR) surveyed nearly 10,000 specialists and sifted through data for almost 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties, from cancer to urology. Death rates, patient safety, and hospital reputation were a few of the factors considered.
Electronic Health Record System Among Best in the Nation
In national rankings by USN&WR, Fletcher Allen landed in the top 3.5% of hospitals that, in the view of the magazine, places it “in the vanguard of centers leading medicine into the era of electronic medical records” earning it a place on the “Most Connected” list.  This year, only 118 hospitals nationwide made this list, and Fletcher Allen was the only hospital in Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York to do so.
USN&WR defines a hospital as Most Connected if it has met twin standards: achieving a very high level of electronic medical record (EMR) adoption according to Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society standards, and earning either a national Best Hospital ranking or a high-performing designation in one or more medical specialties.
“Recognition from this widely-regarded publication is the latest acknowledgement of Fletcher Allen’s excellence in providing safe, high quality patient care,” said Sandra Dalton, R.N. senior vice president for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “We’re very proud to be able to bring nationally ranked physicians, advanced specialty care and leading edge technology to the people of Vermont and northern New York.”
All of Fletcher Allen’s patient services are now linked together through its electronic medical record system, which was initialized in June 2009 within the inpatient areas, pharmacy and the Emergency Department.  By the December 2010, all of its clinic sites and patient services were part of the system.
From the patients’ perspective, the most visible use of technology is when they are visiting their physicians. Doctors have electronic access to their patients’ medical records – including radiology images, laboratory reports, clinic notes, medications, discharge notes and summaries of previous visits to any physician in the Fletcher Allen system.
U.S. News and World Report 2011 “Top Doctors” in the Region
Note: Click on name to see credentials and other information.
Brundage, William J.
Cooper, Sheldon M.
Couch, Marion  *
Fram, Daniel
Grunberg, Steven M. *
Hebert, James *
Heimann, Ruth *
Homans, Alan C. *
Hood, Virginia L.
Hudziak, James J. *
Hyman, Neil H. *
Krag, David N. *
Lazarovich, Mark
McFadden, David W. *
Nathan, Muriel H.
Parsons, Polly *
Penar, Paul L. *
Raszka, William Jr. *
Shapiro, Robert E.
Silverman, Damon A.
Sofferman, Robert A.
Solomon, Richard J.
Verschraegen, Claire F. *
* Indicates that a physician is in the top 1% in the nation in his/her specialty according to Castle Connolly, a medical rating organization.
About Fletcher Allen Health Care
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. 
Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia]]> Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_in_us_news__world_report_listings.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_three-year_accreditation_from_the_jo.html Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
Organization Wins High Praise From Surveyors  
BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care has received a full three-year accreditation from The Joint Commission following a week-long visit by the commission’s site surveyors in August. Although the accreditation covers three years from August 2011 to August 2014, The Joint Commission reserves the right to revisit an accredited organization at any time.
The Joint Commission is a non-profit organization that accredits health care organizations on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  CMS is the branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and monitors the Medicaid programs offered by each state.
Accreditation means that Fletcher Allen meets the numerous quality standards of The Joint Commission and continues to be eligible to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments for services provided to patients.
The commission’s final report on the survey, received last week, contained no significant findings, a term used when the surveyors classify a situation or condition serious enough to warrant immediate correction. Instead, surveyors made some suggestions for improvements in how we document care, and suggested improvements regarding the environment of care. The institution is addressing these areas.
In an email to all staff, John Brumsted, M.D., Fletcher Allen’s interim president and chief executive officer, wrote, “I am pleased to share with you that the report is by far the best our academic medical center has ever received. The surveyors were highly complimentary of our organization and confirmed no significant findings that relate to direct patient care. This is truly remarkable for a delivery system of our size and complexity and speaks to the skill, expertise and caring of the entire Fletcher Allen team.  The surveyors praised our caring and compassionate staff, and described us as a high-
quality organization with best-in-class practices.  This is very validating feedback, and we take great pride in these results.”
In the past, the surveyors focused on institutional policies and systems. Steady improvement in those areas has resulted in a change of focus to discussions about how the organization can maintain the current high level of performance achieved by having good systems and policies in place.
The surveyors cited the Radiation Oncology facility as “a model unit”; they highlighted the work of the inpatient Psychiatry teams, the Pediatric care practices in the Comfort Zone, a unit that helps children make the transition into a surgical procedure; they were impressed by the high-quality imaging equipment; they identified Nutrition Services and Emergency Management areas as “best-in-class”; and they cited the excellent practices of the Patient Placement Center where conversations between staff and referring providers wanting to transfer patients to Fletcher Allen are recorded and used for training and quality improvement.
Survey results are available on The Joint Commission website at: http://www.qualitycheck.org/consumer/searchresults.aspx?nm=Fletcher+Allen+Health+Care&ddstatelist=&st_nm=-1&st=
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. 
Fletcher Allen now has affiliations with three northern New York hospitals – Inter-Lakes Health (Ticonderoga, NY), Alice Hyde Medical Center (Malone, NY) and Canton-Potsdam Hospital (Potsdam, NY). With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_three-year_accreditation_from_the_jo.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/a_90000_gift_from_the_mary_haas_ovarian_cancer_early_detecti.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886 BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen announced today that it has received a $90,000 gift from the Vermont-based Mary Haas Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Foundation. The money will be used to equip primary care providers with the information they need to make ovarian cancer screening a routine part of their patient care practice in an effort to detect this disease in its early stages.
“We are deeply honored that the Mary Haas Foundation has chosen to make this gift to Fletcher Allen,” said John Brumsted, M.D., interim chief executive officer. “This gift will enable us to improve our efforts in early detection of ovarian cancer in the primary care setting. Our hope is that the practices we implement because of this gift will become a national model and have a positive impact on women’s health beyond Fletcher Allen.”
 “While others lead in seeking a cure for cancer, the Mary Haas Foundation is focused on saving lives now through early detection,” said Meredith Burak, foundation president and daughter of the late Mary Haas. “Through this partnership with Fletcher Allen we will be able to reach a significant number of women in Vermont through their health care providers in an efficient manner.”
Because early detection is infrequent, ovarian cancer is nicknamed the “silent killer.” In its early stages, symptoms can go unnoticed or are thought to be associated with various other disorders. As a result, more than 75 percent of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage (Stage III or IV), leaving a fifteen to thirty percent chance of survival.  However, if caught early enough (Stage I or II) women have a ninety percent chance of surviving this form of cancer for at least five years or more.  If diagnosed early the overall survival rate is 93%; however, only 19% of ovarian cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage.
The disease may signal its presence with vague symptoms, even in early-stage ovarian cancer. These symptoms include recent, frequent bloating; pain in the belly or pelvis; difficulty eating or feeling full quickly; or urinary problems, such as an urgent need to urinate or urinating more often than usual.
Other symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may have include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, and changes in their menstrual cycles. But these symptoms are also common in women who don't have ovarian cancer.  
If these symptoms are new and unusual, and persist daily for more than two weeks, a woman should see her doctor and ask about ovarian cancer.
About The Mary Haas Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Foundation
The Mary Haas Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Foundation was established in honor of longtime Vermont resident and 30-year Merrill Lynch veteran Mary Haas who lost her battle with ovarian cancer on July 12, 2009, only fifteen months after being diagnosed.
Composed of volunteers, the Mary Haas Foundation is using all funds raised to fulfill the simple, unmet and dire need of timely diagnosis of ovarian cancer by: designing a partnership with Fletcher Allen Health Care, Vermont’s academic medical center, located in Burlington, VT; establishing The Mary Haas Ovarian Cancer Research Fellow at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City; and organizing awareness programs in Vermont, New York and soon in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit our website at www.maryhaasfoundation.org.]]> Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/a_90000_gift_from_the_mary_haas_ovarian_cancer_early_detecti.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/william_chip_holmes_named_to_top_post_at_moses-ludington_hos.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
TICONDEROGA NY – Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT and Moses-Ludington Hospital announce the appointment of William “Chip” Holmes as president and chief executive officer, Moses-Ludington Hospital, effective Monday, October 31. He will also join the vice president team within Fletcher Allen Health Care.
Holmes comes to Moses-Ludington from Quorum Health Resources. Based in Brentwood, Tenn., Quorum is a hospital management company focused on not-for-profit hospital management services.  Holmes was a regional vice president responsible for executive and operational oversight of 14 not-for-profit hospitals and health systems in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
“I am looking forward to leading Moses-Ludington through the dynamic environment all hospitals face in this era of health care reform,” Holmes said.  “Even with the challenges ahead, the organization will have many opportunities to shape health care in the region particularly as we explore potential initiatives with the Hudson Headwaters Health Network. Further, the additional expertise that is available to Moses-Ludington through the affiliation with Fletcher Allen will be of great benefit as we go forward. I can’t wait to begin and to meet people in the community.”
“Chip is a seasoned hospital executive and I am very pleased that he accepted the position with us,” said Sandra Bolton, Chairperson, Inter-Lakes Health Board of Directors. “As a native of Fairfax, Vermont and having served as CEO of Littleton Regional Hospital in New Hampshire, he is no stranger to our region.  He brings the experience of serving in small and large facilities and their respective health systems in both rural and urban settings.”
Holmes will replace Charles Miceli, C.P.M., vice president of Supply Chain and Pharmacy Services at Fletcher Allen, who served as Moses-Ludington’s interim chief executive officer while the search for a permanent CEO was conducted.  Miceli has served in that position since April 2011.
Prior to his responsibilities as a Quorum Regional Vice President, Holmes most recently served as chief executive officer at Littleton Regional Hospital from 2001-2006. He has also served as chief operating officer at Abilene Regional Medical Center, Abilene, TX, and has more than 20 years experience in hospital administration.
Holmes received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology at Union College, Schenectady, NY, followed by a Master of Health Administration degree at Tulane University, New Orleans. He is board-certified in health care management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).                                   
Holmes is married to Margie Laferriere from St. Johnsbury, VT and is the proud father of two teenage daughters, Carson and Isabelle Holmes.
About Moses-Ludington
Moses-Ludington Corporation is a family of health services located in Ticonderoga, NY between Lake George and Lake Champlain in the Adirondack Mountains.  Inter-lakes Health services patients from Essex, Warren and Washington Counties. The not-for-profit family members include Moses-Ludington Hospital, a 15-bed Critical Access Hospital, Heritage Commons Residential Health Care, a 84-bed nursing home, Moses-Ludington Adult Care, a 23-bed adult home, the Inter-Lakes Dental Clinic, and Lord Howe Estates, a 43-unit HUD Section 8 202 multi-family housing complex for low income elderly. 
Our mission is to be a caring, community responsive health care partner that promotes wellness, individual dignity, and quality and value.
It is our vision to facilitate a coordinated continuum of quality, cost-effective health services which include acute and emergency services, assessment and referral, primary care, long- term care, restorative services, education and community outreach. To learn more, please join us at www.interlakeshealth.com.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. 
Fletcher Allen now has affiliations with three northern New York hospitals – Inter-Lakes Health (Ticonderoga, NY), Alice Hyde Medical Center (Malone, NY) and Canton-Potsdam Hospital (Potsdam, NY). With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/william_chip_holmes_named_to_top_post_at_moses-ludington_hos.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermonters_face_dangers_at_home_during_storm_recovery__.html Poison Center Offers Tips on Safely Using Generatorsand Handling Food  
Burlington – The Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC) is encouraging Vermonters without electricity or those whose homes have been flooded to learn how to use portable generators and handle food safely as recovery from tropical storm Irene continues. 
“Incorrect use of generators or mishandling of food can lead to poisoning and even death,” said Gayle Finkelstein, Poison Prevention Educator at Fletcher Allen Health Care.  “It’s important for everyone to know how to avoid harm while living in these difficult circumstances.”
Here are key guidelines to safe use of a generator:

Never use a generator near windows, doors or other vents leading into the home, or in any enclosed space such as garages, basements or under a deck.
Place the generator at least 15 feet away from your home and all nearby homes or buildings.  Placing it 20-25 feet away is ideal.
Point the exhaust away from your home and all nearby homes or buildings.
Store a 25-foot or longer extension cord with your generator so it can be connected to appliances.  
Never hook-up a generator directly to household wiring.
Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.

The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu but without a fever. If you feel sick or dizzy or have a headache while operating a generator, get to fresh air right away and call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. 
“In terms of food safety, spoilage from lack of refrigeration is not the only concern.  Exposure to flood water can cause serious problems as well,” said Finkelstein.
The NNEPC recommends that non-waterproof containers that come into contact with flood water should be discarded.   Examples include cardboard boxes, screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops and home canned food. Waterproof containers that show signs of swelling, leaking, denting, crushing, rusting or have holes cannot be effectively cleaned and need to be thrown out. 
Waterproof cans and pouches can be cleaned as follows:

Remove labels if possible
Brush off dirt
Wash the container with soap and water
Rinse thoroughly in safe drinking water

These items should then be sanitized by either boiling them for two minutes or soaking them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid bleach.  Containers should be air-dried and relabeled if labels were removed. 
Food kept in a closed refrigerator will stay cold for up to four hours.  If a power outage lasts longer, use a cooler with ice or ice packs. If the freezer is full and kept closed the food should stay cold for up to 48 hours; 24 hours for a half-full freezer.  Beyond that time period, consider using dry ice.  Food that still contains ice crystals or remains below 40°F may be safely refrozen. 
Refrigerated meat, poultry, fish, leftovers and eggs need to be kept below 40°F, and if frozen below 0 °F.  If any of these foods stay above 40° F for more than 2 hours, they will need to be thrown away.
If you get sick after eating potentially spoiled or contaminated food, call the NNEPC at 1-800-222-1222.]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermonters_face_dangers_at_home_during_storm_recovery__.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/from_our_blog_schools_in_for_summer__how_our_new_residents_m.html Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/from_our_blog_schools_in_for_summer__how_our_new_residents_m.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_earns_blue_distinction_center.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
Berlin, VT –Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is proud to announce that Fletcher Allen Health Care, recently earned two Blue Distinction Center recognitions—one for knee and hip replacement, and another for spine surgery. Fletcher Allen is the only northern Vermont hospital and one of two state facilities to earn this designation.
Blue Distinction is a title awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality health care. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based, objective selection criteria established with input from expert physicians and medical organizations. Its goal is to help consumers find quality specialty care on a consistent basis, while enabling and encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of care nationwide.
“Fletcher Allen Health Care continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence in knee and hip replacement care, as well as spine surgery care, with these Blue Distinction Center recognitions,” says BCBSVT’s CEO Don George.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is more than proud to partner with such an excellent medical center,” George adds.
Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement have demonstrated a commitment to quality care and comprehensive inpatient knee and hip replacement services, including total knee replacement, total hip replacement and hip resurfacing. Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery provide comprehensive inpatient spine surgery services, including discectomy, fusion and decompression procedures.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association determines Blue Center Distinctions through a number of demanding criteria, including: the hospital must be fully accredited; physicians and surgeons must be Board Certified, and; the hospital must perform a high volume of appropriate procedures, such as knee and hip replacement and spine surgery.
“I’m pleased that Fletcher Allen has been recognized by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Distinction Centers program. Their evidence-based selection criteria provides the public with independent assurance that Fletcher Allen delivers exceptionally high-quality care in spine surgery and in knee and hip replacements. This designation recognizes the expertise of our orthopedic and neurosurgical providers and underscores the commitment to excellence they demonstrate every day,” said John Brumsted, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Fletcher Allen Health Care.
Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland was also recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Two other hospitals in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont network also previously earned Blue Distinction Center recognition; Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers and Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, as well as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. Both facilities are located in Lebanon, N.H.
For more information on the Blue Distinction Centers, visit http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/bluedistinction/.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state’s only Vermont-based health insurer and is the largest private health plan in Vermont. The non-profit company employs more than 340 people and provides health care benefits for more than 150,000 Vermonters. The company offers benefits and services to virtually all Vermont populations through its array of products and through its partner companies, The Vermont Health Plan (TVHP) and Comprehensive Benefits Administrators. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the Internet at www.bcbsvt.com Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.]]> Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_earns_blue_distinction_center.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_ceo_melinda_estes_md_will_leave_to_lead_major.html John Brumsted, M.D., Named Interim CEO
June 24, 2011
Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Melinda Estes, M.D., will be leaving the organization in mid-August to become the president and chief executive officer at St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Missouri. She will be replacing G. Richard Hastings, who is retiring after 35 years with St. Luke’s.  Saint Luke's is a faith-based, not-for-profit health system with 11 hospitals and related health services in the Kansas City area and surrounding region.

Related Infomation
Letter: Melinda Estes, M.D., President & CEO
Letter: Roger Stone, Chair, Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees
Bio: John R. Brumsted, M.D., Interim Chief Executive Officer

Fletcher Allen also announced today that John Brumsted, M.D., chief medical officer, has been named interim chief executive officer, and will serve in that capacity while the board of trustees pursues a national search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Estes. 
In a message to the Fletcher Allen community, Dr. Estes said, “What success I have enjoyed at Fletcher Allen has been the result of the efforts of many.  This has been a true team sport.  Together, we have elevated this organization to a position of respect around the country, regardless of how you measure our success.  The quality of care we provide, the technology used to provide it, the commitment of the physicians and staff, the proximity and partnership with the University of Vermont, and the stewardship of resources make us the envy of most academic medical centers.”
In commenting on Dr. Estes’ leadership, Roger Stone, chair of the Board of Trustees said, “We have been very fortunate to have Dr. Estes at the helm for almost eight years. Thanks to her leadership, Fletcher Allen is on very solid ground and well-positioned for the future. I join my fellow board members and staff at Fletcher Allen in thanking her for all she has done for Fletcher Allen and wishing her all the best in her new role.”
Dr. Brumsted, 58, a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has practiced medicine at Fletcher Allen since 1985 and has held numerous administrative positions during his tenure, including serving as interim chief executive officer in the late 1990s and serving as chief quality officer for many years.
Accomplishments During Dr. Estes’ Tenure
Dr. Estes, 58, joined Fletcher Allen in October 2003, succeeding then interim President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Colodny.
From the beginning, her philosophy has been simple.  “At the end of the day,” she has said, “if we put the patient first, everything else will follow.”
An early task was to rebuild public trust, and establish a culture of integrity, accountability, respect and customer service, which has transformed the organization. During her eight-year tenure, the organization accomplished a great deal, including:

Creation of a strong leadership team and the development of “bench strength” throughout the organization.

Establishment of an Institute for Quality and Operational Effectiveness early in her tenure. The institute, dedicated in honor of Senator James M. Jeffords in 2006, supports the organization’s efforts to improve quality, patient safety and operational efficiency.  In 2008, Fletcher Allen received the “Rising Star Award” from the University Healthsystem Consortium, which recognized the organization’s continued improvement in quality of care.

A focus on delivering high-quality, low-cost health care.  Fletcher Allen has achieved strong performance against national benchmarks on quality and cost. The latest Association of American Medical Colleges data shows the organization as ranking 90th lowest out of 96 academic medical centers surveyed on patient care expense per discharge, while performing above medians for an array of quality measures such as readmissions, heart attack and pneumonia care. In addition, Vermont’s Act 49 report showed Fletcher Allen’s service area had the lowest rate of Emergency Department visits and the lowest rate of potentially avoidable ED use.  In 2010, Dr. Estes participated in the U.S. Health and Human Services’ national health care summit on health quality and costs to share Fletcher Allen’s successes in this area.

Expansion of efforts to prevent health care associated-infections, making it a strategic focus for the organization.  While Fletcher Allen’s baseline rate for infections was already below the national average for academic medical centers, the organization succeeded in bringing it even lower and reducing the rate for some infections by close to 50 percent.

In partnership with the University of Vermont, establishment of a state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory that allows medical students, medical residents, physicians and nurses, nursing and physical therapy students, as well as community EMTs and Vermont National Guard members, to practice patient care skills in discipline-specific teams. Simulation technology has been shown to positively impact patient safety, health care quality and patient care outcomes.

Implementation of an electronic health record in 2009/2010 to improve quality of care and patient safety; successful implementation established the hospital among the nation’s top four percent of hospitals that have a fully-integrated electronic health record system. 

Improved patient satisfaction:  in a national survey measuring the patient experience, the percentage of Fletcher Allen’s patients rating their overall experience a 9 or 10 out of 10 increased from 50% in 2007 to 72% in 2010.  In comparison, 66% of participating hospitals reported 9’s and 10’s during the most recent reporting period. 

In cardiac care: Fletcher Allen is leading the nation in the rapid treatment of patients who have suffered severe heart attack – not only exceeding the standard of care, but setting the standard for what other hospitals across the country are striving to achieve. We are one of only nine centers in the country funded by the National Institutes of Health to study heart failure and help transfer the findings into the patient care setting.

In stroke care: Our Multidisciplinary Stroke Center was awarded the Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in 2010 for providing high-quality, evidence based care.

Establishment of the patient-centered Medical Home Project, which has national recognition as a model for chronic disease management and prevention.  Part of the state’s Blueprint for Health program, the project fosters a team approach to improving health outcomes by helping patients with chronic illness better manage their conditions. 

In Children’s Health:  Increased philanthropic funds to support the Vermont Children’s Hospital and improve care for sick children throughout the region.

Development of a coordinated health system. She has led the effort to affiliate with Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin, VT.  Also in 2010, Fletcher Allen announced an affiliation with Inter-Lakes Health in Ticonderoga, New York, marking the third northern New York hospital with whom Fletcher Allen is affiliated.  Alice Hyde Medical Center (Malone, NY) and Canton-Potsdam Hospital (Potsdam, NY) are the others. 

New Facilities: Oversaw the building and opening of a new birthing center, central plant, underground parking garage and outpatient cardiology facility in 2004; a new ambulatory care center, emergency department, medical education center and inpatient mental health facility in 2005; an outpatient orthopedic specialty center in 2007; and a new radiation oncology facility in 2010.

Renegotiation of our affiliation agreement with the University of Vermont, and has worked closely with leadership at the University to foster greater strategic alignment of the two institutions in support of Vermont’s academic medical center.

Establishment of the Fletcher Allen Foundation in January 2007. The Foundation continues Fletcher Allen's long history, tradition and pride in garnering philanthropic support.  Overseen by a board comprising community leaders, opinion makers, business leaders as well as local philanthropists, the Foundation guides the organization's fund-raising efforts in support of Fletcher Allen’s mission.

Environmental sustainability: Fletcher Allen is recognized as one of the “greenest” hospitals in the country by Practice Greenhealth, winning its “Leadership Circle Award” for three straight years in 2009, 2010 and 2011. 

U.S. Green Building Council recognition: the new radiation oncology facility achieved Gold certification from Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED).

Support of locally-produced food: the Harvest Café offers healthy, locally-grown food at affordable prices for patients, employees and the public, establishing it as a national model in local foods sustainability.

Prior to joining Fletcher Allen, Dr. Estes served as chief executive officer and chair of the Board of Governors of Cleveland Clinic Florida from 2001 to 2003, and as the executive director of business development at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, and chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Florida, from 2000 to 2001.
Earlier appointments include serving as executive vice president and chief of staff for the MetroHealth System in Cleveland from 1997-2000, and as the associate chief of staff of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1990-1997.
Dr. Estes has been active in the community, serving on many local boards including the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Flynn Theatre, Vermont Public Radio and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, a board she currently chairs.  She has twice been the keynote speaker at the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” luncheon, and she was honored by the local MS Society with its Hope Award in 2008.  In 2006, just three years after she took the helm, Fletcher Allen was named “Business of the Year” by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
In 2009, Dr. Estes was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Physician Executives” in the nation by Modern Healthcare. She also serves on several national boards and committees, including the boards of the University Healthsystem Consortium and the Council on Teaching Hospitals, and is a member of the Governing Council of the American Hospital Association’s Section for Metropolitan Hospitals.
Dr. Estes earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She received a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, in 1978, and completed a neurology residency there in 1982. She also was a neuropathology fellow at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1982-1984 and completed special training in pediatric neuropathology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1984. She is board certified in both neurology and neuropathology. Dr. Estes earned an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management in 1995.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
###]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_ceo_melinda_estes_md_will_leave_to_lead_major.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_doc_for_a_day_event.html Winners will perform virtual surgery in high-tech simulation lab
(BURLINGTON) Members of the public will have a rare opportunity to explore an advanced clinical simulation laboratory as part of a new Fletcher Allen program called “Doc for a Day.”   Starting today, anyone over 18 can enter for a chance to be selected for the program by “liking” Fletcher Allen on Facebook. 
Five winners will be chosen at random to participate in a fascinating, hands-on experience on August 12th led by Fletcher Allen surgeon and UVM College of Medicine professor Michael Ricci, MD. Winners will perform virtual surgeries and participate in simulated emergency room trauma events using technologically advanced, life-like mannequins whose complex circuitry allows them to react as if they were human.
As part of the “Doc for a Day” program, Fletcher Allen’s Facebook page will feature weekly quizzes and prize drawings throughout late June and July.  The initial prize is a balloon ride for two at this year’s Hot Air Balloon Festival, donated by Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa. 
The Clinical Simulation Lab- a collaboration between Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences - is an interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art “virtual hospital” that allows medical and nursing students, physical therapy students, medical residents, physicians and nurses, community EMTs and Vermont National Guard members to practice clinical procedures in a safe learning environment. In the Lab, trainees can “practice” on mannequins with the aim of enhancing patient safety and clinical outcomes. (See details below).
Please visit Fletcher Allen’s Facebook page for contest details and more information.      
About the Clinical Simulation Lab
Key features of the 9,000-square-foot facility include:

Six inpatient hospital rooms, each equipped with video cameras for recording and communication.

A multi-purpose room that can function as a simulated Operating Room, Emergency Room or Intensive Care Unit.

A professional skills/task training lab with body-part models for learning how to perform such procedures as drawing blood, lumbar puncture, and insertion of central and IV lines.

A virtual reality lab for practicing surgical skills.

Standardized patients - community members who have been specially trained to accurately portray specific roles or conditions - are used in conjunction with simulation technologies

Funding for the project came from a gift of Thomas Sullivan, M.D., who was a UVM medical alumnus and Fletcher Allen radiology resident, and from a $1.75 million grant secured by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. ]]> Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_doc_for_a_day_event.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/moses_ludington_to_train_albany_college_of_pharmacy_and_heal.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
TICONDEROGA, NY – Moses Ludington Hospital, part of Inter-Lakes Health, announced today that it has signed an affiliation agreement with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) that will place pharmacy students at Moses Ludington Hospital as part of ACPHS’s experiential program and provide those students with supervised practical experience and training.  The experiential program is a core component of ACPHS’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Kate Shmulsky, Pharm. D., director of Pharmacy Services at Moses Ludington, will provide oversight.
“As part of their studies, students participate in a series of pharmacy practice experiences, or rotations, that allow them to apply what they have learned,” Shmulsky said. “We’re very pleased that the college chose us to be an affiliate for their program.”
“The experiential education component of our Doctor of Pharmacy program moves students out of the classroom and provides them with opportunities to apply the knowledge they have gained in hands-on pharmacy experiences,” said Laurie Briceland, Pharm. D., assistant dean for Pharmacy Admissions and Experiential Education at ACPHS. “Inter-Lakes Health offers a variety of settings for our students.”
Plans call for 2 students each summer to participate in three-week rotations at the hospital each year, where they will gain experience in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.  The students will initially come from ACPHS’s Albany campus, but will also come from their Colchester, VT, campus in the future.
ACPHS Practice sites include community pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, research laboratories, managed care facilities, academia, government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. Select opportunities for international rotations are also available.
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to the advancement of health. The College possesses all of the qualities for an outstanding education, including diverse academic programs, modern facilities, and distinguished faculty. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers three bachelor’s programs and five graduate programs in the health sciences. The College’s main campus is located in Albany, New York; its satellite campus is in Colchester, Vermont. For more information, please visit www.acphs.edu.
About Inter-Lakes, Health
Inter-Lakes Health, formally known as Moses-Ludington Corporation, is a family of health services located in Ticonderoga, NY between Lake George and Lake Champlain in the Adirondack Mountains.  Inter-Lakes Health services patients from Essex, Warren and Washington County. The not-for-profit family members include Moses-Ludington Hospital, a 15- bed Critical Access Hospital, Heritage Commons Residential Health Care, an 84-bed nursing home, Moses-Ludington Adult Care, a 23-bed adult home, the Inter-Lakes Dental Clinic, and Lord Howe Estates, a 43-unit HUD Section 8 202 multi-family housing complex for low income elderly. To learn more, please visit www.interlakeshealth.com.]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/moses_ludington_to_train_albany_college_of_pharmacy_and_heal.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenreleasesfy2011y-t-dandsecondquarterfinancialres.html Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886

Fletcher Allen Releases FY 2011 Year-to-Date and Second Quarter Financial Results

BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported an operating income of approximately $9.1 million for the first two quarters of the 2011 fiscal year. This includes an operating income of approximately $8.2 million for the second quarter. The second quarter covers the period beginning January 1 and ending March 31.
Second Quarter ResultsOperating income for the second quarter was $4.5 million above budget and $1.4 million above the corresponding quarter in FY 2010.  Net operating revenues for the quarter were $228.2 million, approximately $2 million above budgeted revenues.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were approximately $220 million, $2.5 million under budget, resulting in an operating income of approximately $8.2 million and an operating margin of 3.6% for the second quarter.  By comparison, the organization produced an income from operations of $6.8 million in the second quarter of FY 2010.
Year-to-date ResultsOn a year-to-date basis, the $9.1 million net income from operations was above the budgeted $2.5 million for the period, and produced an operating margin of slightly more than 2%. A year ago, the organization generated a two-quarter operating gain of $6.9 million.  For the first half of the fiscal year, net operating revenues were $444.8 million, $4.6 million below budget. Operating expenses were $435.8 million, below budget by $11.1 million.

A key financial indicator, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) stood at approximately $41.3 million for the first two quarters.  This was above the FY 2011 budget forecast of $36.8 million.  EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization’s actual earnings.
At the end of the second quarter, days cash on hand stood at 114 days using a 12-month rolling average compared with 107 days last year. This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.  
The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  Audited financial statements, as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2008 through the second quarter of FY 2011 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org .

A High-Performance OrganizationFletcher Allen compares well with peer groups outside the state in terms of quality and efficiency. In one group of 107 academic medical centers and 233 of their affiliated hospitals, known as the University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC), Fletcher Allen performs above the UHC median on an array of quality measures such as readmissions, heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia care, as well as cost measures such as cost per inpatient discharge and observed to expected costs of care.

Regionally, Vermont’s Act 49 report issued last year with data from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine showed that Fletcher Allen’s hospital service area had the lowest rate of Emergency Department visits and the lowest rate of potentially-avoidable ED use.   Fletcher Allen’s service area also had the lowest per-member per-month expenses for insured patients in the three-state region.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.

The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2003 through the third quarter of FY 2010 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org  or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
 

Click here for FY 2011 Y-T-D and Second Quarter Financial Results]]> Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenreleasesfy2011y-t-dandsecondquarterfinancialres.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_training_program_to_help_rural_providers__meet_rising_de.html Fletcher Allen Experts Guide Clinicians in Vermont
and New York
BURLINGTON,
VT   –
Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today it has established the Rural
Palliative Care Network, a training program for providers at community
hospitals seeking the specialized skills they need to deliver comprehensive
palliative care to their patients. Creation of the Network
was made possible through the generosity of Vermont philanthropists Bob and Holly Miller.
The program expands
the role Fletcher Allen’s interdisciplinary palliative care team members have
played since 2007 as on-call consultants to providers in Vermont
and northern New York.
Resources
available through the Network include:

A 24/7 hotline answered by Fletcher
Allen physicians and palliative care specialists
Telemedicine consultations for
patients with life-threatening conditions who are being transferred to
Fletcher Allen’s Medical Intensive Care Unit.

A mentorship program in which
community providers can spend a day or more with Fletcher Allen’s palliative
care specialists.
Weekly
televised case conferences
Visits
by members of the palliative care team to participating hospitals.

“Increasing the number of clinicians who can provide
excellent palliative care is a critical step in improving the quality of health
care in our region,” said Allan Ramsay, M.D. director of Fletcher Allen’s
Palliative Care Service.  “The Network
program will allow us to fully support our colleagues facing the special
challenges of delivering this type of care.”
“This
program is an important resource for our patients because it allows us to
provide them with better care and be more thorough in addressing their level of
comfort,” said William Porter, M.D. of Partners in Palliative and Home Care, a
practice based at Porter Hospital in Middlebury.  “Fletcher Allen’s
specialists have always been readily available and supportive, and I find
having access to their expertise to be invaluable,” he continued.
Dr. Marie-Caroline Piche, Palliative Care
Program Director at Alice Hyde Medical
Center in Malone, New York
has turned to the palliative care team for guidance since 2007.  “Having the support of a larger program is so
beneficial. I have learned a great deal about pain management and communicating
with families through my contact with Fletcher Allen’s team, and I feel like I
can do what I do for my patients because I know they are there,” Piche
said. 
Palliative care, sometimes referred to as comfort care, focuses
on pain control, symptom management, advanced care planning and improving the
quality of life for patients undergoing curative treatments and for those receiving
end of life care.  The number of
palliative care teams at hospitals in the U.S. more than doubled in the past
decade to meet rising patient demand.
“No matter where you live, you deserve relief, information,
and choices about your medical care.  That’s why it’s important that Fletcher Allen's Rural Palliative
Care Network extends the expertise of a large academic medical center to
doctors, nurses, and hospitals in small towns and rural communities," said
Diane E. Meier, M.D. Director of the
Center to Advance Palliative Care at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New
York, NY and a national leader on the issue.
“I’ve been
watching the palliative care program grow at Fletcher Allen,” said Holly
Miller. “The idea of the Rural Palliative Care Network really appealed to Bob
and me.  Nothing could make us happier
than knowing that our team at Fletcher Allen is sharing resources with
physicians in Vermont and northern New York that will help their patients live
as well as they can, as long as they can.”
“We are very grateful to the Millers for making this effort
possible.  The impact of their generosity
will be felt by people throughout our region for many years to come,” said
Ramsay.
For More
Information on Palliative Care
Visit
 www.FletcherAllen.org/palliative for details on Fletcher Allen’s Palliative Care Service.  You can also access video and audio
interviews with Dr. Ramsay that provide an overview of palliative care and its
role in modern healthcare and a blog article that
answers common questions about palliative care. ]]> Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_training_program_to_help_rural_providers__meet_rising_de.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allenuvm_radiologist_co-founder_receives_grant.html Fletcher Allen/UVM Radiologist, co-Founder, Receives Grant Imaging the World Receives US$100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Groundbreaking Research in Global Health and DevelopmentBURLINGTON, VT/SEATTLE, WA – Imaging the World announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Co-Founders of Imaging the World, Kristen DeStigter, M.D. Vice Chair of Radiology at the University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Health Care and Associate Professor, Radiology, UVM College of Medicine, and Brian Garra, M.D. Associate Director, Division of Imaging and Applied Mathematics/OSEL, US Food and Drug Administration and Chief of Imaging Systems & Research in Radiology at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled “Low-Cost Sustainable Solution for Rural Ultrasound.”
Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds scientists and researchers worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges.  Dr. DeStigter and Dr. Garra’s project is one of over 85 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 6 grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 
“GCE winners are expanding the pipeline of ideas for serious global health and development challenges where creative thinking is most urgently needed.  These grants are meant to spur on new discoveries that could ultimately save millions of lives,” said Chris Wilson, director of Global Health Discovery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 
To receive funding, Drs. DeStigter and Garra and other Grand Challenges Explorations Round 6 winners demonstrated in a two-page online application a bold idea in one of five critical global heath and development topic areas: polio eradication, HIV, sanitation and family health technologies, and mobile health.  Applications for the current open round, Grand Challenges Explorations Round 7, will be accepted through May 19, 2011. 
Dr. DeStigter and Dr. Garra, along with the ITW team, are developing a low-cost scalable solution based in technology, education and community outreach to bring ultrasound diagnoses to pregnant women in areas of high maternal/neonatal mortality. By giving advance warning of critical maternal conditions, this model will improve maternal/fetal morbidity and mortality on a grand scale.
About Grand Challenges Explorations
Grand Challenges Explorations is a US$100 million initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Launched in 2008, Grand Challenge Explorations grants have already been awarded to nearly 500 researchers from over 40 countries.  The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline and from any organization.  The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page online applications and no preliminary data required.  Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to US$1 million.
About Imaging the World
Imaging the World (ITW) is changing global medicine through a revolutionary new concept integrating technology, volunteers and education to bring medical expertise and high quality health care to remote and under-served areas worldwide. Using a newly designed training process, local health providers learn to capture high-quality ultrasound scans that are transmitted via the web to medical volunteers around the world. Within hours potentially lifesaving diagnoses are returned, offering never before available options for treatment. ITW’s integrated educational platform is essential in combating maternal health, trauma triage and many of the critical issues facing all remote areas of the world. ITW’s low cost, sustainable and scalable imaging model is possible anywhere cell phone signals are available.
Please visit us at www.imagingtheworld.org.]]> Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allenuvm_radiologist_co-founder_receives_grant.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ny_times_norman_ward_md_comments_on_vermonts_prescrip.html Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ny_times_norman_ward_md_comments_on_vermonts_prescrip.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ap_wire_fletcher_allenuvm_radiologists_use_ct_scans_of_egypt.html Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/ap_wire_fletcher_allenuvm_radiologists_use_ct_scans_of_egypt.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_york_state_department_of_health_approves_executive_servi.html                        Mike Noble                       Marketing and Communications                       Fletcher Allen Health Care                       802-847-2886                         Sandra R. Bolton                       Board Chair                       Inter-Lakes Health                       518-503-5213
TICONDEROGA, NY - An agreement between Fletcher Allen Executive Services, LLC, and Moses Ludington Hospital, located in Ticonderoga, NY, will allow Moses Ludington to take advantage of Fletcher Allen management services to help oversee its operations. Fletcher Allen Executive Services is a subsidiary of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT. The agreement was approved last week by New York's Health Department. Under New York regulations, the provision of executive management services in a hospital by a third party requires Health Department approval.
Under the agreement, Fletcher Allen will arrange for Charles Miceli, C.P.M., vice president of Supply Chain and Pharmacy Services at Fletcher Allen to serve as the Moses Ludington Hospital interim chief executive officer, while a search for a permanent CEO takes place.  
This agreement augments Moses Ludington's access to Fletcher Allen's clinical expertise under the affiliation agreement that was established this past July to enable both organizations to work more closely together in a coordinated system of care to meet the health care needs of the Ticonderoga community.  
"I am very pleased that the health department has approved this agreement," said Sandra Bolton, chairperson Moses Ludington Hospital Board of Directors. "The hospital will benefit from Mr. Miceli's presence and from the depth of operational expertise he can draw upon that is usually found only at an academic medical center. Being able to share Fletcher Allen's management skills will help us to become a more cost-effective health care provider, which is vital in the new health care reform environment.
"With Kevin Haughney's resignation this past summer, the Board of Trustees asked Lisa Busby, our chief information officer, to serve as interim CEO for the short term and she has done a great job," Bolton continued. "With this new agreement approved by the state, Lisa can focus full-time on our information technology needs, and we will have an interim CEO with board operational skills and experience to provide daily direction and oversight for the hospital."
Fletcher Allen also has affiliation agreements with Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY and Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, NY.     ]]> Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_york_state_department_of_health_approves_executive_servi.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/sixth_annual_big_change_roundup_nets_204000.html Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON, VT – The Big Change Roundup for Kids raised $204,215.97 for Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen, which was a new record, significantly up from $135,000 in 2010. In March, thousands of people from the Champlain Valley area and Fletcher Allen came together to show their support, donating in excess of two tons of change. This was the sixth year for the event, hosted by WOKO radio and Fletcher Allen Health Care.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/sixth_annual_big_change_roundup_nets_204000.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_by_american_heart_association_and_.html            To receive the award, Fletcher Allen’s Stroke Program had to achieve at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines Stroke Performance Achievement indicators, and achieve at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines Stroke Quality Measures during that same time period.  Fletcher Allen met and exceeded these benchmarks in almost every category.
           These measures, designed to improve our quality of care, include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA (a protein designed to dissolve blood clots), antithrombotics (such as aspirin), anticoagulation (coumadin) therapy where appropriate, medications to prevent blood clots, cholesterol- reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
          “With a stroke, acting rapidly is crucial to limit brain damage, and this award validates that our staff is committed to providing best-practice care to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols,” said Mark Gorman, M.D., UVM Medical Group neurologist and director of the Fletcher Allen Stroke Program, and UVM associate professor of Neurology.  “Careful attention to details and appropriate use of medications are critical steps in saving the lives and improving the outcomes of stroke patients.”
          The Stroke Program was also recognized for excellence by The Joint Commission in 2009 as well as with the Get With The Guidelines bronze award in 2008.
          According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.  On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.         For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines. ]]> Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_by_american_heart_association_and_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenreleasesfirstquarterfinancialresultsforfy2011an.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported a net operating income of approximately $831,000 for the first quarter of the 2011 Fiscal year.  The first quarter covers the period beginning October 1st and ending December 31, 2010.  The organization also finished its 2010 fiscal year approximately $2.6 million below budget. The fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.
First Quarter ResultsThe net operating income for the first quarter was approximately $2.1 million above the budgeted $1.3 million loss, and $735,000 above the first quarter of FY 2010.
Total operating revenues for the first quarter were $216.6 million, approximately $6.5 million below budget.  The organization’s operating expenses for the quarter were $215.8 million, $8.6 million below budget, resulting in the net operating gain of $831,000 and a slightly positive operating margin for the first quarter.  The organization also had a slightly positive operating margin in the first quarter of FY 2010.

FY 2010 ResultsOperating earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the period totaled $16.7 million compared to the $15.6 million budgeted figure and $16 million for the first quarter of FY 2010. EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization’s actual earnings.Results on the Web SiteThe institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as the quarterly results for FY 2003 through the first quarter of FY 2011 will be available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. 
Days cash on hand was measured at 118 days for the quarter compared to 107 days last year.  This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.
A High-Performance OrganizationFletcher Allen compares well with peer groups outside the state in terms of quality and efficiency. In one group of 107 academic medical centers and 233 of their affiliated hospitals, known as the University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC), Fletcher Allen performs above the UHC median on an array of quality measures such as readmissions, heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia care, as well as cost measures such as cost per inpatient discharge and observed to expected costs of care. Regionally, Vermont’s Act 49 report issued last year with data from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine showed that Fletcher Allen’s hospital service area had the lowest rate of Emergency Department visits and the lowest rate of potentially-avoidable ED use.  Fletcher Allen’s service area also had the lowest per-member per-month expenses for insured patients in the three-state region.About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
 
Click here for FY First Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2010 Fourth Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2010 Year-End Financial Results
 ]]> Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenreleasesfirstquarterfinancialresultsforfy2011an.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/gretchenmorseappointedtofletcherallenboardoftrustees.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT – Gretchen Morse, executive director of the United Way of Chittenden County, has been appointed to a four-year term on the board of Trustees of Fletcher Allen Health Care.
Prior to joining the United Way in 1991, she was a state legislator and enjoyed a distinguished career in state government, serving as Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services and a as member of the Hospital Data Council.
Morse is also an emeritus member of the Wake Robin Board of Directors and serves on the board of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
A graduate of the University of Vermont, Morse received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the university in 2009 for her years of public and community service to improve the lives of all Vermonters.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/gretchenmorseappointedtofletcherallenboardoftrustees.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_makes_changes_to_visiting_policy_as_flu_seaso.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886 BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen Health Care has made changes to visiting policies for the Birthing Center and Mother/Baby Unit in an effort to protect patients, visitors and staff from exposure to influenza.  Historically, 65% of all influenza infections occur in February and March.The Birthing Center, located on the seventh floor of the McClure Building, and the Mother/Baby Unit, located on the fifth floor of the Shepardson Building have made the following changes:
•    Only two support people for mothers are allowed.•    Support people must remain the same throughout the hospital stay.     There will be no alternates allowed.•    Support people must have no signs of illness.•    No children 12 years old and younger may visit.•    Children age 13 and older may visit as long as they have no signs     of illness.  They will count as one support person.•    No tours until further notice.
Prospective mothers wishing to see labor, delivery and recovery facilities can visit the Birthing Center website and take a virtual tour.  These visiting precautions are in the best interest of our patients as the flu season peaks and reflect the priority Fletcher Allen places on patient safety and infection control.]]> Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_makes_changes_to_visiting_policy_as_flu_seaso.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/radiation_oncology_facility_earns_national_green_building_ce.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
First hospital project in the state to garner LEED “Gold” Designation
BURLINGTON, VT – A recently opened radiation oncology facility at Fletcher Allen Health Care has earned gold certification in the nationally recognized Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. LEED is a program overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council, a private non-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction and operations.
This is the first hospital project in Vermont to be certified at the gold level, and only the second in New England to achieve this status.** To earn the certification, the project met or exceeded demanding requirements for energy efficiency, sustainable site work and use of locally sourced materials among other factors.
“This award is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to being the greenest health care organization in the country, said Melinda Estes, M.D., president and CEO of Fletcher Allen. “It’s very gratifying to receive this recognition, and to know that our patients and community will benefit from the sustainable features of this facility.”
One of the most visible aspects of the sustainable design is a green roof with accessible public space, a vegetable garden and plantings to reduce heat build-up and storm water run-off. Herbs and vegetables from the roof garden are served to patients, visitors and staff.
Other green elements incorporated into the project include:
• Natural lighting to reduce energy use and provide a sense of connection to the outdoors
• Efficient lighting and innovative heating and cooling systems designed to reduce energy consumption
• Low flow plumbing fixtures
• Use of low chemical-emitting construction materials to improve indoor air quality
• Use of recycled materials
• Use of local materials (33% of materials came from within 500 miles of the site)
• Use of sustainable wood building materials (67% were harvested from FSC certified forests)
• Waste Stream Reduction (more than 887 tons of on-site construction waste was diverted from landfills)
• Educational signage about the roof
“We worked diligently with our partners Cannon Design and Pizzagalli Construction to make this the most environmentally responsible facility possible,” said Dave Keelty, director of Facilities Planning and Development at Fletcher Allen. “Earning gold certification is a major achievement and I want to thank everyone involved for the tremendous effort that went into making this happen,” he said.
“I’m very pleased that our team rose to the challenge of providing Fletcher Allen with an exceptional LEED gold project they can be proud of for many years to come, said Matt Cooke, project manager for Pizzagalli Construction of South Burlington.
“Our goal was to design an environment that helps alleviate some of the stress that patients go through,” said Andre M. Aoun, AIA, principal at Cannon Design. “The combination of natural light, views, gardens and use of natural materials foster a healing atmosphere throughout the new center. It has been very gratifying to see the end product and to experience the positive impact the environment has on the patients and staff," he added.
The 23,000 sq. ft. facility, called The Garden Pavilion, was dedicated in August and will serve approximately 800 cancer patients annually. It is located on the east side of the Ambulatory Care Center on the Medical Center Campus.
##
** There are four levels of LEED certification: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/radiation_oncology_facility_earns_national_green_building_ce.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_takes_steps_to_prevent_bed_bugs.html C O N T A C T:  Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
Fletcher Allen Takes Steps to Prevent Bed Bug Problem
(Burlington, VT)  — Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today it is asking patients and visitors for assistance in preventing the potential appearance of bed bugs in its facilities. 
"No bed bugs have been found in our inpatient units to date, but we know their presence is growing in Vermont and across the nation," said Dawn LeBaron, vice president for Hospital Services.  "We believe it is prudent at this point to enhance our existing preventive measures to minimize the chances of a problem developing."
Since February of last year, housekeeping employees have worked with a pest control company to monitor for bed bugs and have been trained in methods of prevention and detection. 
"The efforts of our staff have been effective but we want to do everything we can to stay ahead of this problem, and involving patients and visitors is necessary to achieve that goal," LeBaron said.
Bed Bug Prevention Policy:

Patients and visitors should only bring necessary items into the hospital.  Clothes, blankets, luggage, bags and other possessions that are not essential during a patient's stay should be left at home.
Items brought to the hospital should be placed in plastic or paper bags.
Inpatients will be asked if they are currently in contact with bed bugs or have been exposed to them in the recent past.
If the answer to either of those questions is yes, belongings and clothing will be decontaminated with a short duration heat treatment and returned.
If visitors are currently in contact with bed bugs, we ask that they not come to the hospital if possible.

"It is important that people are forthcoming with hospital staff in discussing their exposure to bed bugs. Without this cooperation, our efforts to control these insects will be weakened," said LeBaron.
Additionally, the following practices are being implemented by environmental services employees:

Routine inspections of common bed bug habitats such as mattress seams, drawers, closets, and the backs of wall hangings. 
All linens will be checked for signs of bed bugs when changing beds.
Bed bug traps will be placed in vacant patient rooms as well as rooms where people have previously complained of bites, if and when that occurs.

These measures were developed in consultation with pest control experts and other health care organizations that have experience combating bed bugs.###
Key Facts About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs do not pose a public health threat, but they can cause skin irritations and other minor problems.
The presence of bed bugs is not related to the cleanliness of a person's surroundings.
Anyone can "pick-up" bed bugs and unknowingly carry them on clothing or other items.
Their small size (adults are about the size of a tomato seed) makes them difficult to detect.

About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org .]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_takes_steps_to_prevent_bed_bugs.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_seek_federal_meaningful_use_status_for_its.html January 13, 2011
Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886

BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care Allen joined with more than 100 other hospitals across the nation today in a nationwide electronic health record (EHR) Incentive Program Registration Event to officially register with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The registration signaled Fletcher Allen’s intent to achieve the government’s “meaningful use” EHR designation for Stage 1 by December 2011.  Registration for the program opened this week.
Achieving this designation will make Fletcher Allen eligible for incentive funds available through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, which are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  If successful, the organization would be eligible to receive up to approximately $4 million in incentive funds in the first year of a 4-stage incentive program.  Incentive payments to Fletcher Allen in subsequent stages of the program are expected to be lower than that received in the first stage, and are dependent upon meeting each stage’s criteria.
The initial stage of the program, which takes place during 2011 and 2012, defines meaningful use for hospitals with associated medical practices as those that satisfy 39 EHR objectives established by HHS allowing them to:

electronically capture health information in a coded format

use that information to track key clinical conditions

communicate that information for care coordination purposes

implement clinical decision support tools

initiate reporting of clinical quality measures and public health information 

“The primary reason to install an EHR system is to improve the safety and quality of patient care,” said John Brumsted, chief medical officer, Fletcher Allen Health Care.

 “EHRs dramatically reduce the chance for medication errors, for example, and the quality of patient care is improved by insuring that evidence-based medical practices are used consistently to treat patients.
“The federal government has recognized the clear benefits of EHRs, and through this incentive program, is encouraging the nation’s hospitals to install them as soon as possible,” Brumsted continued.  “EHR implementation is also a top priority of the State of Vermont and we’re working with the state’s Division of Health Care Reform as well as the Vermont Institution Technology Leaders organization. Currently, Fletcher Allen is ahead of the curve as we are among approximately 3% of the hospitals nationwide to have a fully-implemented EHR.  I feel that we can meet all of these objectives by December 2011.”
The installation of Fletcher Allen’s EHR system throughout all of its inpatient and outpatient sites was completed on schedule in December, three years after the $57-million project was approved by the state.

More information on our Electronic Health Record (PRISM)
From Our Blog: Electronic Health Records, Security and You
From Our Blog:  Improving Your Care with Electronic Health Records: A Physician Perspective

 
About Fletcher Allen

Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.

 

 
]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_seek_federal_meaningful_use_status_for_its.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/the_poison_center_wants_you_to_have_a_holly_jolly_and_safe_h.html F O R   R E L E A S E:   Immediate (December 16, 2010)
C O N T A C T:           Gayle Finkelstein                                Poison Prevention Educator                                Fletcher Allen Health Care/                                Northern New England Poison Center                                802-847-2393
 
The Poison Center Wants You to Have a Holly, Jolly and SAFE Holiday
During the holidays, most people plan to call distant family and friends but do not plan to call their poison center.  However, poisonings can happen because of changes in routine and increased distractions caused by the festivities.  Children may have access to more substances such as Christmas plants, decorations and visitors’ medications. There is no place like home for the holidays. . .
If you are traveling for the holidays or having people in your home, be sure to keep suitcases and purses out of the reach of children and pets. They often contain medicine and other toxic substances:

Mouthwashes, liquid hand sanitizers, perfumes and colognes may contain alcohol. Even small amounts can affect a child.
Personal care products, like toothpaste and soaps, can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Eating even small amounts of tobacco products can be harmful causing nausea, vomiting and potentially seizures.
Watches, cameras, hearing aids, games and calculators can contain button batteries (flat, coin-like batteries). If eaten, button batteries usually pass through the body in the stool, but sometimes they get stuck in the throat or stomach, which can cause serious burns inside.
Some foil and colored gift-wrap contains lead. Do not let pets and children chew on these products.
Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Darker chocolate is more harmful than milk chocolate. The chocolate can cause excited behavior, muscle tremors, fast heart beat and even seizures.

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree. . .The Christmas tree is the center of the holiday celebration in many homes.  Keep your tree beautiful and your family safe during the holidays.
Hang decorations out of the reach of young children and pets.  Some ornaments and tinsel are choking hazards.   Older ornaments may contain lead.  Angel hair consists of spun glass, which can irritate the mouth or eye.  Some bubble lights contain methylene chloride.  If a light is opened or nibbled on it may cause skin or mouth irritation. 
Follow snow spray directions to avoid breathing in the fumes or getting in ones’ eyes.
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. . .Common holiday plants include mistletoe, holly poinsettia, Christmas cactus, holly and Jerusalem cherry.  Most can cause symptoms if swallowed by small children or pets.

Mistletoe: Swallowing berries and leaves can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rash can result if touched. Larger amounts may cause more serious effects.
Holly: Swallowing the berries and leaves can cause an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Drowsiness and dehydration (dryness resulting from loss of water) can occur if large amounts are swallowed.
Jerusalem cherry: Swallowing berries and possibly the leaves can upset the stomach, and cause vomiting, diarrhea, or headache. Larger amounts can cause drowsiness or increased activity.
Poinsettia: The leaves and flowers can cause mild upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea when swallowed.  Touching the plants may cause a rash.
Christmas cactus: This plant is not poisonous.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland. . .With cold, winter weather comes ice.  To prevent slipping, people often use salt on driveways and sidewalks.  These salts can be dangerous to animals and children if more than a few pellets.  They should be monitored when playing in salted areas and the salt container should be kept out of the reach of their reach.  Consider using sand sold for sandboxes instead.
Car products like antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid can be very dangerous if swallowed, even resulting in death.  You need to call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 right away if you think a person or animal has tasted or swallowed one of these products.
Have a safe and fun holiday season.  Call with poison center with questions or if you think a poisoning occurred.  The Northern New England Poison Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-222-1222.  It is a free, confidential call.  TTY and language interpretation services are available. ]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/the_poison_center_wants_you_to_have_a_holly_jolly_and_safe_h.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_among_first_to_earn_national_accreditation_fo.html C O N T A C T:            Michael Carrese                                 Marketing and Communications                                 802-847-0368                                 Michael.Carrese@vtmednet.org
Fletcher Allen Among First to Earn National Accreditation for Breast MRIAdvanced Technology Improves Chances of Early Detection of Cancer
(Burlington, VT) — Fletcher Allen Health Care has been awarded one of the first accreditations for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the nation, a technology that can detect cancers not revealed by mammograms and ultrasound tests. The American Cancer Society recommends that women at high risk for developing breast cancer get an MRI test every year in addition to a mammogram.  Breast MRI is also used to detect the extent of disease in patients with a new cancer diagnosis.  The gold seal accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR) certifies that providers are delivering the highest levels of image quality and patient safety. The ACR had previously designated Fletcher Allen as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.Fletcher Allen uses a 3 Tesla scanner with a more powerful magnetic field than those generated by commonly used 1.5 Tesla scanners. The stronger magnet can produce a better quality image in a shorter period of time. (Note: MRI does not use ionizing radiation so there is no radiation risk for patients).“We are very proud to be among the first facilities to be accredited and among those few facilities in the country accredited for a higher field strength magnet,” said Dr. Sally Herschorn, Director of the Breast Imaging Division at Fletcher Allen. “This confirmation of the quality of our program is very important to patients because of the real difference breast MRI makes in early detection, which is critical to successful treatment,” she continued.A key factor in the ACR decision was the proven skill of Fletcher Allen’s physicians in reading MRI images correctly.  “This exam is very difficult to intepret, so it is essential to have experienced staff and quality-assurance follow-up procedures as we do in our Breast Imaging Center,” explained Herschorn. “With this certification we can assure women in our region that the diagnoses we make from these images are as accurate as possible.” The accreditation is awarded after a peer-review evaluation by physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.  Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are all factors in the review.                                                ###NOTE: this accreditation comes on the heels of a new study showing that only 50% of American women over forty get an annual mammogram. It has been one year since controversial recommendations from a federal panel that women age 40 do not need to start getting an annual exam – a reversal of long-standing practice. The American Cancer Society and many physicians objected to these recommendations resulting in confusion among women about what to do. Here is a link to a blog Dr. Herschorn has written to help women sort out the conflicting advice. http://fletcherallenblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/mammography-keep-abreast-and-get-the-facts/#more-612
About the American College of RadiologyThe ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
 
 ]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_among_first_to_earn_national_accreditation_fo.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/central_vermont_medical_center_and_fletcher_allen_health_car.html F O R  R E L E A S E:  Immediate (December 14, 2010)
C O N T A C T:            Mike Noble                               Fletcher Allen Health Care                               802-847-2886
                               Susan Kruthers                               Central Vermont Medical Center                               802-371-4197
Central Vermont Medical Center and Fletcher Allen Health Care Boards Vote to Pursue Affiliation
BURLINGTON VT – The trustees of Central Vermont Medical Center and Fletcher Allen Health Care have voted to proceed with an affiliation agreement -- subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals -- as a way to provide better care to patients, improve health and reduce costs for Vermonters.
The Fletcher Allen board of trustees unanimously voted today, joining the CVMC board, which unanimously voted in favor of affiliation on December 7.
“This is a significant step in developing a coordinated health care system in Vermont that will improve care and reduce costs for Vermonters,” said Judy Tarr, president and chief executive officer of CVMC.  “This affiliation builds on existing clinical partnerships and also closely aligns with the state and federal health care reform agendas that promote enhanced integration.”
“Like Judy, I believe that increased collaboration among hospitals and other providers in our state will benefit our patients,” said Melinda L. Estes, MD, president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen.  “Through this affiliation, we will be able to work together on regional strategic planning and better coordinating the care we deliver in order to make the best use of our collective resources.”
Common Parent Organization
When complete, the affiliation will create a new parent organization – “Fletcher Allen Partners” –with governing powers over both Fletcher Allen and CVMC.  Fletcher Allen Partners will have a board of trustees drawn from the membership of both organizations’ current boards and medical staffs.  Fletcher Allen President and CEO Dr. Melinda Estes will serve as CEO of the system parent; CVMC President and CEO Judy Tarr will serve as Senior Vice President. System ActivitiesThe parent organization, over time, would carry out centralized activities for the benefit of patients of both CVMC and Fletcher Allen, such as:

Regional strategic planning
Joint quality and clinical initiatives
Joint purchasing and supply chain management
Tax-exempt bond borrowing
Development of a common electronic health record platform

The parent organization would also have approval rights over significant matters of each organization such as budgets, strategic plans, and major financial decisions. 
Existing Hospitals
Under the proposed affiliation, Fletcher Allen and CVMC will retain their current identities.   Each party will remain a separate free-standing hospital with its own board, management, workforce, licensure, medical staff (including credentialing and governance), and endowment.
Next Steps
Central Vermont and Fletcher Allen will now engage in a due diligence process and seek regulatory approvals.  This process is expected to take several months.
About CVMC
Central Vermont Medical Center consists of a not-for-profit acute care hospital offering a full spectrum of in-patient and out-patient services and 24-hour emergency care, National Life Cancer Treatment Center, Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing, and 17 medical group practices.  Our mission is to work collaboratively to meet the needs and improve the health of the residents of central Vermont.  Visit www.cvmc.org for additional information.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.FletcherAllen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.FletcherAllen.org/socialmedia.]]> Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/central_vermont_medical_center_and_fletcher_allen_health_car.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_sell_outpatient_dialysis_units.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen announced today it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell its outpatient renal dialysis centers to Fresenius Medical Care North America, a national provider of dialysis services with a clinical site in St. Johnsbury, VT. The outpatient centers are located in South Burlington, St. Albans, Berlin, Rutland and Newport and serve approximately 290 patients. The sale is subject to the State of Vermont's Certificate of Need (CON) review process. The price will be finalized when a binding purchase and sale agreement is complete, and it will be made public in the CON application.
Key details of the Letter of Intent include:

Patients will continue to receive dialysis services at the same locations.
Fresenius will adhere to the same clinical practice guidelines and national standards that Fletcher Allen does, just as they do at their other outpatient renal dialysis centers, including those with an academic affiliation.
Our physicians will continue to provide medical directorship for all of the outpatient renal dialysis locations. They will also continue to care for patients at every site.
Our direct patient care staff will be hired by Fresenius provided they meet its standard hiring criteria. Current staffing levels will be maintained.

Under the agreement, the services and locations mentioned above will be maintained for at least 10 years.
This intended sale does not affect Fletcher Allen's patient renal dialysis unit on the Medical Center Campus in Burlington; Fletcher Allen will continue to own and operate it. In addition, the services that are currently available to pediatric patients, and patients with special needs, will be available between the inpatient renal dialysis unit and the outpatient units. Fletcher Allen physicians will continue to determine the most appropriate location for care based on the treatment plan they develop.
"We've always been diligent about reviewing services across the organization in order to be more efficient, but the forces at work in today's health care environment require us to look at changes we've not considered before," said Sandra Dalton, senior vice president, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. "This is an opportunity that will ensure patients continue to receive high-quality renal dialysis services throughout Vermont."
Fletcher Allen conducted a detailed analysis of Fresenius' quality data - the data they are required to give to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) -- for outpatient dialysis care they provide at other academic medical centers. The organization also checked references at other academic medical centers that work with Fresenius.
"Based on this information, we have confidence in the quality of care that Fresenius will provide to Vermonters," said Dalton.
Fresenius Medical Care's New England Regional Vice President Kathy Dickey said, "Our company's roots are here in New England, and so we are especially gratified by the opportunity to provide more Vermonters with excellent kidney dialysis care."
Fletcher Allen, like other hospitals and health care systems across the country, has been under increasing pressure to control costs as a result of health care reform at the same time that funding received from government payers is declining. The outpatient units have been losing money for a number of years. Last year, Fletcher Allen posted a $2 million loss associated with their operation.
Fletcher Allen's decision to sell was made after the organization determined it was not possible to develop a break-even plan for outpatient renal dialysis operations.
As part of the review process, Fletcher Allen also learned that the organization is currently one of the only academic medical centers in the country to continue running its own renal dialysis program. There are national companies, such as Fresenius, that provide renal dialysis services more efficiently due to their economies of scale.]]> Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_to_sell_outpatient_dialysis_units.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_alleln_welcomes_marion_couch_md_phd_new_division_ch.html Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_alleln_welcomes_marion_couch_md_phd_new_division_ch.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_names_vice_president_for_development.html
Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886

BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today that Natalie Fleischman was named vice president, Development, effective October 1. She had been serving as interim vice president for Development since November, 2009.
She joined Fletcher Allen in December 2008 as director of Development. Prior to that Fleishman served as vice president for Philanthropy at World Learning in Brattleboro.In her role, Fleischman will work closely with Fletcher Allen’s chief executive officer, and the Fletcher Allen Foundation Board, a body that coordinates philanthropic efforts in support of Fletcher Allen’s mission to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.Fleischman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simmons College, Boston. She earned a Master of Arts degree at Columbia University, New York City. Fleishman and her family reside in South Burlington, VT.About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_names_vice_president_for_development.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermont_childrens_hospital_leader_wins_national_media_award.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has named Lewis R. First, MD, FAAP, chief of Pediatrics of the Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen, and chair of Pediatrics at the UVM College of Medicine, winner of the 2010 Holroyd-Sherry award for his efforts to further the use of the media in advancing children’s health.
The award citation praised his popular "First with Kids" newspaper column and radio and TV segments and noted that Dr. First, who is editor in chief of the AAP’s journal Pediatrics had "spearheaded the acceptance and publication of media research and commentaries" in his role as editor. "I am so honored to receive this award as a reflection of what we as pediatricians strive to do in using the media positively to improve the care we provide to children and families," he said.
"Dr. First carries on the tradition of Drs. H. James Holroyd and S. Norm Sherry as ardent spokespersons, researchers, and advocates of media literacy. His unique abilities as an educator, editor and media personality have made him an ideal advocate for promoting health through effective use of media.  He is a recognized AAP leader for understanding how media can affect child health and development," said Robert Block, MD, FAAP, President-Elect of the AAP.  
For the past 14 years, "First with Kids" has been a fixture in local Vermont papers, and on radio and television stations. The columns and segments provide parents with information and advice on a wide range of medical, developmental and social issues in an upbeat, accessible and often humorous way. Starting on October 25, "First with Kids" segments will be featured in news programs on WPTZ-Channel 5 as follows:

Monday afternoons on their "First at Five" broadcasts airing at 5 pm
Tuesdays during the 5 am and 6 am newscasts on "Today at Five."

"First with Kids" is also broadcast weekly on WOKO 98.9 FM. Video segments are available at www.fletcherallen.org/firstwithkids as well as at www.wptz.com.About the American Academy of PediatricsThe American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.]]> Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermont_childrens_hospital_leader_wins_national_media_award.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/2010_year-to-date_and_third_quarter_finan.html October 20, 2010
Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886

BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported an operating income of $17.3 million for the first three quarters of the 2010 fiscal year. This includes an operating income of approximately $10.3 million for the third quarter. The third quarter covers the period beginning April 1 and ending June 30.
Third Quarter Results
Operating income for the third quarter was $4.1 million above budget and $1.2 million below the corresponding quarter in FY 2009.  Net operating revenues for the quarter were $222.8 million, $1.6 million above budgeted revenues.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were $212.5 million, $2.6 million under budget, resulting in an operating income of approximately $10.3 million and an operating margin of 4.6% for the third quarter.  By comparison, the organization produced an income from operations of $11.5 million in the third quarter of FY 2009.
Year-to-date Results
On a year-to-date basis, the $17.3 million net income from operations was above the budgeted $15.8 million for the period, and produced an operating margin of 2.7%. A year ago, the organization generated a three-quarter operating gain of $24.9 million.  For nine months of the fiscal year, net operating revenues were $651.2 million, $9.9 million below budget. Operating expenses were $633.9 million, below budget by $11.4 million.
A key financial indicator, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) stood at approximately $65.3 million for three quarters.  This was above the FY 2010 budget forecast of $63.7 million.  EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization’s actual earnings.
At the end of the third quarter, days cash on hand stood at 106 days using a 12-month rolling average, similar to 106 days last year. This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.  
A High-Performance Organization
Fletcher Allen compares well with peer groups outside the state in terms of quality and efficiency. In one group of 107 academic medical centers and 233 of their affiliated hospitals, known as the University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC), Fletcher Allen performs above the UHC median on an array of quality measures such as readmissions, heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia care, as well as cost measures such as cost per inpatient discharge and observed to expected costs of care.
A December 2009 Medicare Commission report showed Fletcher Allen’s service area was ranked as among the lowest Medicare service-utilization areas in the country – 82% of the national average.  Only 13 service areas (out of 404 nationally) outperformed us.  This report shows that Fletcher Allen providers are not routinely overusing or over prescribing health care services for their patients, which could lead to unnecessary costs to the system.
Regionally, Vermont’s Act 49 report issued this year with data from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine showed that Fletcher Allen’s hospital service area had the lowest rate of Emergency Department visits and the lowest rate of potentially-avoidable ED use.   Fletcher Allen’s service area also had the lowest per-member per-month expenses for insured patients in the three-state region.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2003 through the third quarter of FY 2010 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org .
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
Click here for FY 2010 Third Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2010 Third Quarter Y-T-D Financial Results]]> Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/2010_year-to-date_and_third_quarter_finan.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/expanded_lab_opens_at_uhc_campus_october_18.html Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/expanded_lab_opens_at_uhc_campus_october_18.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/flu_season_advice_from_fletcher_allen_health_care.html ·    Influenza kills approximately 36,000 Americans each year, and causes 200,000 to be hospitalized.  It is a serious disease that can lead to pneumonia. 
·    The Centers for Disease Control now recommends that everyone older than six months be vaccinated
·    Studies show flu vaccines are 70 – 90% effective for those under age 65 when there is a good match between circulating viruses and those in the vaccine. Getting the vaccine is your best protection against this disease.
·    Flu vaccines do not cause influenza.  They contain inactivated viruses which cannot cause infection.  Billions of shots have been administered safely over the past three decades. 
Steps you can take this flu season:
·    GET VACCINATED -- this is the single most effective step you can take to avoid the flu and prevent yourself from spreading the disease.
·    Practice good hand hygiene -- wash your hands.
·    Cover a cough or sneeze with the inside of your arm at the crook of your elbow
Visiting Fletcher Allen:
·    Please don’t visit someone in the hospital if you have flu-like symptoms.  We want to protect all of our patients and staff from this disease.  Postponing a visit until you have recovered will be appreciated by everyone.
Flu Season Advice                                                                                              
·    If you must come to the hospital and have a cough or flu-like symptoms, let the receptionist know and ask for a mask.
·    You can make a difference this flu season by getting vaccinated, practicing good hand hygiene and covering a cough or sneeze. Please use hand sanitizers that will be available at entrances to our facilities.
For more information about the Flu contact your health care provider or visit the Vermont Department of Health website at http://healthvermont.gov/ and click on “THE FLU ENDS WITH U”
 
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
 ]]> Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/flu_season_advice_from_fletcher_allen_health_care.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/mini-mba_program_for_doctors_receives_national_grant.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
Burlington, VT– Fletcher Allen’s Center for Health Care Management has received a $75,000 grant from The Physicians Foundation to help fund the addition of advanced courses to its "mini-MBA" program for doctors and other health care professionals. The Physicians Fund is a national organization dedicated to advancing the work of practicing physicians to improve the efficiency and quality of health care for all Americans, a mission shared by the Center.
Starting last autumn, health care providers and administrators from within Fletcher Allen have taken the Center’s classes in business and management taught by faculty of the UVM School of Business Administration. Graduates of that program now have the opportunity to move to a more advanced level of learning as they seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery in Vermont and northern New York.
"Everyone in the health care system is trying to do a better job of coordinating care and providing it at the least possible cost, and physicians need to play a critical leadership role to reach that goal," said Abigail Trutor, MBA, Program Director at the Center. "Unfortunately, many providers lack an education in basic business and management skills. That’s why we created the Center. Our programs give them the tools to be successful, and the grant from the Physicians Foundation will really strengthen our efforts."
"The School of Business Administration is pleased to be able to partner with Fletcher Allen to deliver management training to physicians and administrators," said Larry Shirland, dean, UVM School of Business Administration.
"The Center for Health Care Management is providing the kind of educational programs that are critically needed if we are going to improve the quality of health care in America. We’re pleased to help support the expansion of their offerings," said Lou Goodman, PhD, President of the Physicians Foundation.
Students in the Core Program take full-day classes in Organizational Behavior, Finance, Operations, Marketing and Strategy. The first Advanced Program is focused on teaching negotiation strategies. The Center’s offerings are open to all health care providers and health care administrators in Vermont and upstate New York.
###

About The Fletcher Allen Center for Health Care Management:

The Center for Health Care Management educates clinical providers and health care administrators in business and management skills that directly improve efficiency and patient care. In partnership with the University of Vermont School of Business Administration, the Center also conducts research on new approaches to health care delivery in rural areas. Research findings are incorporated into the curriculum on an ongoing basis. Additional information is available at www.fletcherallen.org/healthcaremanagement
About the Physicians Foundation:
The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and to improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans. The Foundation is unique in its commitment to working with physicians nationwide to create a more efficient and equitable healthcare system. It pursues its mission through a variety of activities including grantmaking, research and policy studies. Since 2005, The Foundation has awarded numerous multi-year grants. Additional information about The Physicians Foundation is available online at www.physiciansfoundation.org
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org
 ]]> Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/mini-mba_program_for_doctors_receives_national_grant.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermont_fletcher_allen_given_featured_roles_in_1st_summit_me.html read full article here
October 1, 2010
(FRIDAY, Oct. 1) -- Next week’s first national health care summit meeting on health quality and costs since enactment of landmark health insurance reforms six months ago will spotlight Fletcher Allen Health Care’s success with its innovative steps in boosting quality while lowering costs.  The day-long conference will convene Monday (Oct. 4) on Capitol Hill in Washington.
At the suggestion of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dr. Melinda Estes, president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care, will discuss Fletcher Allen’s model and experience in the conference’s first session, “Designing High Value Health Care: Lessons From The Field.”
Dr. Craig Jones, director of the Vermont Blueprint For Health, is a panelist in another session on “Fostering State-Federal Collaboration And Public-Private Partnerships.”
Leahy, who had often touted Fletcher Allen and the Vermont Blueprint For Health during Congress’s year-long health insurance reform debate, had personally suggested roles for Vermont’s health care leaders in the summit meeting to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who organized the conference.  She agreed with Leahy that Vermont’s example is valuable as a model for other states to study and emulate.
“Fletcher Allen has put theory into practice, forging innovations that work,” said Leahy.  “The impetus for reform is now the law of the land, and Vermont continues to lead on the cutting edge.  Fletcher Allen and the Vermont Blueprint For Health will have the health care community’s undivided attention at this summit.”
The new law actively encourages others states to follow examples like Vermont’s, and other states and regions are taking note of Vermont’s success.
Fletcher Allen consistently ranks as a high-value provider because of the system’s coordinated model of health care delivery that emphasizes reliance on primary and specialty physician care, resulting in lower inpatient and outpatient service needs and in lower costs.  
The most recent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report on Medicare payment variations validates Vermont’s efforts, showing the Burlington area (Fletcher Allen’s service area) with a service use per beneficiary rate of 82 percent of the national average – the lowest rate in New England, and ranking 14th best of the 404 service regions surveyed.  Statewide, Vermont also ranked high on the list.
Vermont’s Blueprint for Health, a chronic care initiative, supports this model statewide by coordinating patient care through the use of “medical homes” – a care delivery system that was recognized in the health reform law.
Both models are broadly applicable as other states and care delivery systems move to improve value and curb spiraling costs, as prescribed in the health reform law.]]> Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/vermont_fletcher_allen_given_featured_roles_in_1st_summit_me.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_radiation_therapy_facility_dedicated_at_fletcher_allen.html Named the Garden Pavilion in recognition of a rooftop garden, the 23,000-square-foot one-story building brings together all of Fletcher Allen’s radiation oncology services in one location and is located next to the Vermont Cancer Center, providing connectivity between the two areas for patients and providers. Approximately 800 patients are treated annually in this facility.
A patient user group provided valuable input on the development of the new facility, which will greatly enhance the patient care experience for the people who come here for care from Vermont and Northern New York. Key features include:

Increased Privacy: Each treatment area has two exam rooms and two private changing rooms – complete with personal restrooms and lockers. The changing rooms are located directly across from the treatment rooms, providing patients with convenient access to treatment.
More Space: The new space – immediately adjacent to the parking garage - is approximately two-and-a-half times larger than the old facility, and includes all examination and treatment space in one location.
Enhanced Aesthetics: The facility has been designed to maximize the use of natural daylight through the strategic placement of windows and skylights.

Leading Edge Technology
The facility offers the latest approaches to tumor localization, care planning and treatment – including two new, state-of-the-art linear accelerators which are used to administer radiation treatment.
A “Green” Building
Fletcher Allen is aiming to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the Garden Pavilion. As part of those efforts, the new facility was built into the hillside of the East side of the Ambulatory Care Center to reduce the need for heating and cooling year-round. The building also includes:

Natural lighting to reduce energy use and provide a sense of connection to the outdoors
Efficient lighting and innovative heating and cooling systems designed to reduce energy consumption
Plumbing fixtures that reduce water usage
Use of recycled, low chemical-emitting, and locally sourced construction materials to improve indoor air quality
A “green” roof with accessible public space, a vegetable garden and plantings to reduce heat build-up and storm water run-off

About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center - providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York - and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_radiation_therapy_facility_dedicated_at_fletcher_allen.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/hinesburg_family_health_joins_fletcher_allen_health_care.html The third physician, James Ulager, M.D., Holly Whitcomb, N.P., the nursing staff, and the reception staff, will be joined by Michael Sirois, M.D., a family medicine physician who resides in Hinesburg.  He will relocate his practice from the Family Medicine Service’s South Burlington office to Hinesburg over the next several months.
In a letter to their patients, Drs. Reynolds and George stated, “We, and the Hinesburg community, are fortunate that Fletcher Allen has chosen to assume the operation of Hinesburg Family Health.”  They continued, “We have the highest confidence that Fletcher Allen will serve your medical needs well, and that you will continue to have access to a high-quality primary care practice.”
Tom Peterson, M.D., physician leader of Fletcher Allen’s Family Medicine Service said in his letter to patients that the practice would continue to provide comprehensive primary care for men, women, and children, newborn care, elder care in the hospital, minor procedures, diagnosis of illness and injury, sports medicine, and home, nursing home and hospice care. 
Recruitment is already underway to bring a third physician to the practice. Until that physician is hired, the Family Medicine Service will provide additional physician coverage to ensure that patients have access to a physician when needed.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia. ]]> Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/hinesburg_family_health_joins_fletcher_allen_health_care.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/tenth_anniversary_motorcycle_benefit_ride_to_include_a_route.html Jeff Wyand, a Plattsburg resident, developed medulloblastoma, a malignant tumor affecting the central nervous system at age 10.  He died in December 2006, when the disease returned soon after his high school graduation that June. Through the efforts of his parents Tom and Diane Wyand, and many others, the event has enjoyed great success.
The event has raised almost $377,000 over the past 9 years.  Organizers are hoping to raise an additional $50,000 this year.  All of the money goes towards clinical care and support of childhood cancer patients at the Vermont Children’s Hospital.
New York riders will gather at American Legion Post 1619 in West Plattsburgh and North End Harley in Plattsburgh on the 15th between 8am and 9:30am.Vermont riders will gather at the Medical Center Campus of Fletcher Allen between 9am and 11:30am where all riders will take off at 11:30am. If you wish to participate, please call 802-847-1010 or register online at www.jeffwyandride.org. Registration fees start at $35.
Non-riders can participate by making a donation online at www.jeffwyandride.org  or by calling (802-847-1010), and by watching the motorcycles ride down Burlington’s Main Street, Church Street, Colchester’s Lakeshore Drive and Blakely Road to US. Rte. 2.  The ride ends with a BBQ celebration for the riders at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta in South Hero.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.]]> Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/tenth_anniversary_motorcycle_benefit_ride_to_include_a_route.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_knee_implant_available_that_may_double_useful_life_to_30.html “Physically active patients want to end their knee pain,” said David Halsey, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, Fletcher Allen Health Care and associate professor, University of Vermont College of Medicine. “I want to offer active patients a knee implant that lasts a long time and I’m pleased that FDA-cleared VERILAST technology has been wear-tested out to 30 simulated years.  It’s a vast improvement over the current estimated useful implant lifespan of 10 to 15 years.  This is not an incremental improvement; it’s a generational leap forward for active patients.”
“For a younger, more active patient, this is very good news,” said Dr. Halsey. “They get the pain relief they need, the mobility they want and the longevity they expect. The other significant improvement,” he continued, “is that it is hypoallergenic – there’s no nickel or chromium – two metals that can cause problems for patients who have metal sensitivity.”
Made up of three main parts, all total knee implants consists of a plastic insert positioned between two metal components. Over time, the movement of the metal component sliding against the plastic insert can wear down the plastic and cause it to fail. In some cases, tiny particles of the plastic can accumulate in the joint resulting in a condition known as osteolysis, or the softening of the bone around the joint. When this happens, the implant may shift or loosen, which leads to pain and instability in the joint.
Unlike knee implants made from cobalt chrome metal and a high-density plastic, the new technology is made from a proprietary metal alloy that produces a ceramic surface, and a specialized plastic-like material. By combining these two low-friction materials, the new knee implant device can significantly reduce the kind of wear that can cause an implant to wear out before its time.
Read Dr. Halsey’s blog on joint care at http://fletcherallenblog.wordpress.com/
Total Knee Replacement Facts 

Approximately 300 knee replacements are performed annually at Fletcher Allen
Approximately 400,000 knee replacements are performed annually in the United States
All total knee replacements consist of a three-part system: two metal components and a plastic insert between them
Wear is a common issue with knee transplants. As the surfaces of the implant rub together, tiny fragments of plastic and metal wear off
Wear is one reason knee implants fail and may require a repeat surgery years after the initial procedure. One recent study found that in a group of knee implants that were redone after an average of seven years of use, 44% of the cases were the result of plastic wear.
Currently, conventional knee implants are expected to last between 10 and 15 years before wear becomes an issue.About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.

 ]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_knee_implant_available_that_may_double_useful_life_to_30.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/from_our_blog_first_with_kids_make_sure_to_spot_your_tot_-_p.html Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/from_our_blog_first_with_kids_make_sure_to_spot_your_tot_-_p.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_inter-lakes_health_in_ticonderoga_ny_affliati.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care and Inter-Lakes Health, Inc., in Ticonderoga, NY, have signed an affiliation agreement that will enable both organizations to work more closely together to meet the health care needs of the Ticonderoga community. Inter-Lakes Health is more commonly known by its historical name: Moses-Ludington Hospital.
This formal affiliation builds on a strong foundation of collaboration between the two organizations. For many years, Fletcher Allen, Vermont’s academic medical center, and Inter-Lakes Health, a critical access hospital, have participated in a joint telemedicine program that allows health care providers in the Emergency Department at Inter-Lakes Health to consult with trauma care experts at Fletcher Allen on difficult trauma cases. More recently, Fletcher Allen has operated three clinics at Inter-Lakes Health – Cardiology, Dermatology and Neurology – staffed by Fletcher Allen physicians who travel to Ticonderoga on a monthly basis to see patients who need specialty care.
With this new affiliation, there is a commitment to increase Fletcher Allen’s clinical collaboration with Inter-Lakes Health in areas such as Emergency Services to bring an even greater level of service to the hospital.
“The leadership and board of directors of Inter-Lakes Health are excited to be affiliating with Fletcher Allen as we greatly appreciate the benefits of an academic medical center to our patients,” said Sandra R. Bolton, chairperson, Inter-Lakes Health Board of Directors. “We see this new partnership as a win-win for everyone involved.”
“We at Fletcher Allen look forward to this new partnership, which will allow us to work together more closely with our friends at Inter-Lakes Health for the benefit of patients in the Ticonderoga area,” said Melinda Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer at Fletcher Allen. “In this new era of health care reform, it is more important than ever that we collaborate and coordinate with other hospitals in the region to provide high-quality care to the people in the communities we serve. This aligns with Fletcher Allen’s vision, which is to be a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.”
About Inter-Lakes Health
Inter-lakes Health, formally known as Moses-Ludington Corporation, is a family of health services located in Ticonderoga, NY between Lake George and Lake Champlain in the Adirondack Mountains. Inter-lakes Health services patients from Essex, Warren and Washington Counties. The not-for-profit family members include Moses-Ludington Hospital, a 15-bed Critical Access Hospital, Heritage Commons Residential Health Care, a 84-bed nursing home, Moses-Ludington Adult Care, a 23-bed adult home, the Inter-Lakes Dental Clinic, and Lord Howe Estates, a 43-unit HUD Section 8 202 multi-family housing complex for low income elderly.
Inter-Lakes Health is the sole provider of safety-net services for an area with a local resident population of 14,000 that welcomes approximately 15,000 additional summer residents, and we're there for the estimated 200,000 summer tourists who pass through our corner of the mountains. Additionally, Inter-Lakes Health maintains working relationships with care providers from around the region to help support the community’s health needs.
Our mission is to be a caring, community responsive health care partner that promotes wellness, individual dignity, and quality and value.
It is our vision to facilitate a coordinated continuum of quality, cost-effective health services which include acute and emergency services, assessment and referral, primary care, long- term care, restorative services, education and community outreach. To learn more, please join us at www.interlakeshealth.com.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
Fletcher Allen now has affiliations with three northern New York hospitals – Inter-Lakes Health (Ticonderoga, NY), Alice Hyde Medical Center (Malone, NY) and Canton-Potsdam Hospital (Potsdam, NY). With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_inter-lakes_health_in_ticonderoga_ny_affliati.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_blog_posted_why_healthysustainable_food_matters_to_fletc.html Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/new_blog_posted_why_healthysustainable_food_matters_to_fletc.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenyear-to-dateandsecondquarterfinancialresults.html June 15, 2010
Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886

BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported an operating income of $6.9 million for the first two quarters of the 2010 fiscal year. This includes an operating income of approximately $6.8 million for the second quarter. The second quarter covers the period beginning January 1 and ending March 31.
Second Quarter Results
Operating income for the second quarter was $1.9 million above budget and $4.3 million below the corresponding quarter in FY 2009.  Net operating revenues for the quarter were $218.1 million, $620,000 below budgeted revenues.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were $211.2 million, $2.5 million under budget, resulting in an operating income of approximately $5.0 million and an operating margin of 3.2% for the second quarter.  By comparison, the organization produced an income from operations of $9.3 million in the second quarter of FY 2009.
Year-to-date Results
On a year-to-date basis, the $6.9 million net income from operations was below the budgeted $9.6 million for the period, and produced an operating margin of 1.6%. A year ago, the organization generated a two-quarter operating gain of $13.3 million.  For the first half of the fiscal year, net operating revenues were $428.3, $11.5 million below budget. Operating expenses were $421.4 million, below budget by $8.8 million.
A key financial indicator, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) stood at approximately $39.3 million for the first two quarters.  This was below the FY 2010 budget forecast of $41.5 million.  EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization’s actual earnings.
At the end of the second quarter, days cash on hand stood at 107 days using a 12-month rolling average compared with 97 days last year. This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.   
The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2003 through the second quarter of FY 2010 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
Click here for FY 2010 Second Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2010 Second Quarter Y-T-D Financial Results]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcherallenyear-to-dateandsecondquarterfinancialresults.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_state_awards_for_green_practice.html Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen' drive to become one of the greenest health care organizations in the country was recognized this month with awards from two national organizations and the State of Vermont.
For the second year in a row, Fletcher Allen was selected to be in the "Environmental Leadership Circle" by Practice Greenhealth, the nation' leading association devoted to environmentally responsible health care. The Leadership Circle awards are given to institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of their operations. In 2009, Fletcher Allen increased recycling to 34% of its waste stream, up from 21% in 2007. Electric use at the Medical Center Campus dropped8% from FY 2008 to 2009.
"All of our members are committed to improving health care's environmental performance, but Fletcher Allen belongs to a select group of facilities setting the highest standards," said Practice Greenhealth Executive Director Anna Gilmore Hall.
Also this month, Fletcher Allen was one of four Vermont organizations to receive the Governor' Award for Environmental Excellence in Earth Stewardship & Resource Protection. This award recognizes projects with "measurable and direct benefits to air, land or water – or fish, wildlife and human communities dependent upon a clean and healthy environment." The award citation noted organization-wide projects to improve the environmental impact of Fletcher Allen, including a commitment to local and sustainable food.
Programs to make commuting easier for employees earned Fletcher Allen a repeat award as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research at the University of Florida (www.bestworkplaces.org).
The designation – which is shared with the Campus Area Transportation Management Authority (CATMA) – recognizes employers who meet the Environmental Protection Agency national standard of excellence for offering outstanding commuter benefits. These promote energy conservation by reducing traffic congestion and related air pollution.
Among commuter programs available to Fletcher Allen employees are the Bike/Walk Rewards Program, Carpool Matching Service, Emergency Ride Home, discounted bus passes and alternative commuting incentives.
"These awards reflect the commitment of all the Fletcher Allen employees who have worked hard to make our operations greener," said Melinda L. Estes, M.D., President and CEO. "I'm proud that we are being recognized as an environmental role model both locally and nationally, and I'm committed to continuing our efforts to further reduce our environmental impact."
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont' academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_state_awards_for_green_practice.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_eliminates_30_medical_transcription_jobs.html New Technology Decreases Need for Transcriptionists 
BURLINGTON, VT -- Today, Fletcher Allen Health Care announced that 23 full- and part-time employees will lose their medical transcription positions, effective June 25, as a result of increased efficiencies gained by new technology.  Additionally, three positions were vacated through attrition and four per diem positions were eliminated, bringing the total to 30 positions.  Fletcher Allen is providing severance packages to affected employees and has reached out to three transcription companies to try to secure employment for qualified candidates.  
New TechnologyMedical transcriptionists type and edit the notes dictated by health care providers for a patient’s medical record.  A combination of two new technologies is responsible for the decreased need for transcription services.  New speech-recognition software, which transcribes lines of dictation that only require editing, was introduced in the fall of 2009; with this new software, the transcription service can produce more lines of dictation in less time with fewer people. In addition, Fletcher Allen implemented an electronic health record system in June, 2009, which allows physicians to enter information directly into the system without dictation; this technology decreased the overall volume of transcription work by 27% to date.New technology is one example of the changing health care landscape.  Health care reform is encouraging the adoption of electronic medical records in health care systems to enhance patient safety, improve outcomes and reduce health care costs.   
Impacted Employees to Receive Human Resources SupportFletcher Allen is providing severance packages to impacted employees tied to their length of service. The package includes assistance in locating other employment. To that end, Fletcher Allen is working with three transcription companies that have expressed interest in making jobs available to qualified candidates; these companies will be testing those interested within the next two weeks.  Fifty-three people will continue to provide editing services and a small amount of traditional transcription services for the organization, which currently produces approximately 19 million lines of transcription per year.   
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.FletcherAllen.org.]]> Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_eliminates_30_medical_transcription_jobs.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/wcax_local_grad_chooses_fletcher_allen.html Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/wcax_local_grad_chooses_fletcher_allen.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_teams_with_vermont_hitec_to_train_nurses.html Burlington, VT: Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC are recruiting candidates for the partnership’s first training program for Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs). The free training will lead directly to employment in part-time or full-time positions for eight participants.  The program is targeted to unemployed and underemployed Vermonters, and Fletcher Allen employees seeking to upgrade their skills.
The two-part training program will be conducted over an eight week period.  Students who successfully complete an unpaid three week readiness program will enter a paid five-week training program that combines academic course content with clinical rotations.  The program will prepare eight participants to work directly with patients and to apply for LNA licensure with the Vermont State Board of Nursing.  Upon completion of the eight week training, the new LNAs will also participate in a one year state certified apprenticeship program.  
The pay scale for an LNA begins at $11.23 per hour with a comprehensive benefits package, with potential future earnings up to $16.89 per hour.  Participants may also receive college credit toward an associate’s degree at a state community college.
The LNA program follows the success of six previous training programs between Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC, funded with support from Senator Patrick J. Leahy. 
“LNAs are valued members of our nursing care team, working with the RNs and LPNs in providing quality care and caring for the patients and their families.  We look forward to working with our partners at Vermont HITEC to provide this excellent training opportunity,” said Sandra Dalton, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer of Fletcher Allen Health Care.                                
"Fletcher Allen has provided Vermonters with the opportunity to demonstrate that with the appropriate training they can become part of a high quality workforce dedicated to patient care,” said Gerry Ghazi, President of Vermont HITEC.  “We applaud their efforts to engage in this innovative partnership and hope to continue to offer similar opportunities in the future.”
The deadline for applying to the LNA program is Tuesday, June 1, 2010.  Individuals interested in applying to the program must visit www.vthitec.org to fill out an online application. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Lisa Gorman, ITAR Project Leader, Vermont HITEC, Inc., P.O. Box 1548, Williston, VT 05495, or by email at lisa.gorman@vthitec.org. For up-to-date program information, visit: www.vthitec.org.
About the Fletcher Allen/Vermont HITEC PartnershipFletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC developed their partnership in 2004 with funding assistance from both the State of Vermont and the U.S. Department of Labor.  The partnership was created to help address critical workforce development needs by training unemployed and underemployed Vermonters for jobs that are persistently difficult to fill. The goal is designed to be flexible to match current workforce needs with potential applicants who lacked the necessary skills to be considered for a position.
Training programs have been conducted for a variety of positions including practice support specialists, registration representatives, medical coders and phlebotomists.  Most recently, in the fall of 2009, the partnership trained 32 Data Abstractors and PRISM Go-Live Specialists to assist with the implementation of Fletcher Allen's electronic health record.  To date, a total of 102 Vermonters have been trained and offered positions at Fletcher Allen as a result of these programs. 
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced are to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
About Vermont HITECVermont HITEC is a 501C (3) non-profit organization with a mission to transform the lives of Vermonters through employer based education and training opportunities. Vermont HITEC has employed over 400 Vermonters over the past ten years in the fields of healthcare, information technology and manufacturing partnering with over 20 Vermont businesses including Fletcher Allen Health Care, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Hazelett Strip Casting Corporation, IDX Systems (GE Healthcare) and Dealer.com. ]]> Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_teams_with_vermont_hitec_to_train_nurses.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/african_childrens_choir_to_the_childrens_specialty_center_.html Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/african_childrens_choir_to_the_childrens_specialty_center_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/test_url.html Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/test_url.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/local_doctor_to_become_president-elect_of_national_doctors_o.html
April 26, 2010

Michael CarreseMarketing  and Communications802-847-2886

Term to Begin in April During American College of Physicians Annual Meeting
BURLINGTON, VT -- (April 21, 2010) Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FACP, a local internist and nephrologist, will take office April 24, 2010, as President-elect of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s second-largest physician organization. Her term will begin during Internal Medicine 2010 -- the ACP annual scientific meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 22-24. Dr. Hood will become ACP President in April 2011.

A resident of Burlington, Vt., Dr. Hood is a professor of medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She is an attending physician and Chair of the Residents’ Research and Scholarly Activity Committee at Fletcher Allen. She is also a consulting physician for Central Vermont Medical Center.
Dr. Hood was elected to the ACP Board of Regents in 2005 and re-elected in 2008. She served as the 2008-2010 Chair of the national ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. She has been a member of that committee since 2003. She has also served as Chair of the ACP International Subcommittee, now the International Council, for 2007-2009 and is an ex-officio member of the ACP Membership Committee.
Dr. Hood has served in an advisory capacity to the State of Vermont’s health care programs as a member of the Drug Utilization Review Board in the Office of Vermont Health Care Access (Medicaid). She also served as a member of the Diabetes Surveillance Committee, Healthy Vermonters 2010 Heart Disease Workgroup and Ladies First Program for the Vermont Department of Health. She contributed to developing and updating the guidelines for Management of Diabetes for the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care.
Dr. Hood served as ACP Governor for Vermont for 1999-2003, and was the chapter's Vice President from 1991 to 1994. In 2003, she was named a Laureate of the Vermont Chapter. Laureate awards honor local Fellows or Masters of ACP who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research, or who have provided service to their community, chapter and the ACP. Dr. Hood has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) since 1991. FACP is an honorary designation that recognizes ongoing individual service and contributions to the practice of medicine.
A medical graduate of the University of Sydney, Dr. Hood completed a residency at Mater Misericordiae Hospital. She completed two years of fellowship training in nephrology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and her third year of fellowship training at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. In 1993 she received an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology.
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 129,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
# # #
Media Contacts: Laura Zansitis, ACP, lzansitis@acponline.org or 215-351-2656.
Mike Noble, Fletcher Allen Health Care, 802-847-2886.
Jennifer Nachbur, UVM College of Medicine, 802-656-7875.
　

 ]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/local_doctor_to_become_president-elect_of_national_doctors_o.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/cookie_monster_elmo_leave_sesame_street_to_visit_kids_at_fah.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/cookie_monster_elmo_leave_sesame_street_to_visit_kids_at_fah.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_gives_back_destination_haiti.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_gives_back_destination_haiti.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/team_fletcher_allen_make_every_step_meaningful.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/team_fletcher_allen_make_every_step_meaningful.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/uvm_college_of_medicine_ranks_4th_for_primary_care_and_8th_f.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/uvm_college_of_medicine_ranks_4th_for_primary_care_and_8th_f.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/sheikh_jamal_rahman_to_lead_spiritual_care_week_conversation.html www.jamalrahman.com) a leader in interfaith community building to engage in conversations centered on suffering, compassion and the spiritual journey.
Sheikh Jamal Rahman remains rooted in his Islamic tradition and cultivates a "Spaciousness" by being open to the beauty and wisdom of other faiths.  His most recent book, Getting to the Heart of Interfaith:  the Eye-Opening, Hope Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi, and a Sheikh brings together leaders of three faith traditions.  Known as the Three Amigos, they have been featured in the New York Times, on CBS and PBS and have lead interfaith pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
On Thursday afternoon, April 29 at 4:00, Sheikh Rahman will speak at Fletcher Allen's Davis Auditorium on, A Muslim Response to Suffering and Medical Crises.
On Friday, April 30 he will be joined by Carol Fournier of the Silver Dove Institute and Rabbi Jan Salzman at First Congregational Church in Burlington for a pair of workshops which are free and open to the public.  At 9:00 they will present, The Call of Compassion:  Our Common Spiritual Path.  At 1:00 they will present, The Role of the Spiritual Director on the Spiritual Journey.
On Friday evening, at St. James' Episcopal Church in Essex Junction at 6:00 PM, the celebration will conclude with Interfaith Worship, A Call to Transformation of the Heart.  This worship is free and open to the public and will be lead by The Rev. Kenneth Hitch, Rabbi David Steinberg and Sheikh Jamal Rahman.
More information is available from the Fletcher Allen Health Care Spiritual Resource Center, 847-2770, or St. James' Episcopal Church office, 878-4014.]]> Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/sheikh_jamal_rahman_to_lead_spiritual_care_week_conversation.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fitness_nutrition_during_after_treatment.html The program will be presented by Dr. Faith Ottery, MD, PhD, FACN of East Brunswick, New Jersey, who is internationally known in the field of nutritional oncology and cancer rehabilitation and survivorship. She developed the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) of nutritional status, which has become the standard nutritional assessment for patients with cancer. She was the founding president of the Society for Nutritional Oncology Adjuvant Therapy (NOAT), an international and interdisciplinary research and educational organization. She writes and lectures extensively in nutritional oncology and cancer rehabilitation.
Dr. Ottery trained in medical and surgical oncology with her PhD in nutritional sciences. She has worked in a variety of clinical, research and educational settings. Currently, Dr. Ottery is President of Ottery and Associates, Oncology Care Consultants and is Senior Director of Medical Affairs, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PROGRAM DETAILS
WHO: Dr. Faith Ottery, MD, PhD, FACN
WHAT: Fitness and Nutrition: During and After Treatment
WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2010 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
WHERE: Carpenter Auditorium, Given Medical BuildingUniversity of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401
The public is welcome to attend this educational program on a topic which is so important to patients, survivors, families and medical staff. This is a free event sponsored by the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund, however, space is limited and reservations are requested. Call 434-3979 now to reserve your spot.
The Eleanor B. Daniels Fund was created in 2004 in honor of Eleanor B. Daniels, a beloved artist, mother, and teacher. Her courageous efforts in the area of cancer trials have advanced the techniques of cancer treatment today. The EBD Fund is dedicated to supporting education, research and development efforts for gynecologic malignancies and women’s health issues. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen provides free educational programs for the public each fall and spring, sponsored by the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund.]]> Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fitness_nutrition_during_after_treatment.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_first_quarter_financial_results_for_.html Fletcher Allen Releases First Quarter Financial Results For Fiscal Year 2010 and Results for FY 2009
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported a net operating income of approximately $96,000 for the first quarter of the 2010 Fiscal year.  The first quarter covers the period beginning October 1st and ending December 31, 2009.  The organization also finished its 2009 fiscal year approximately $1.2 million above budget. The fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.
First Quarter Results
The net operating income for the first quarter was approximately $4.6 million below the budgeted amount of $4.7 million, and $3.9 million below the first quarter of FY 2009.
Total operating revenues for the first quarter were $210.2 million, approximately $10.9 million below budget.  The organization’s operating expenses for the quarter were $210.1 million, $6.3 million below budget, resulting in the net operating gain of $96,000 and a slightly positive operating margin for the first quarter.  By comparison, the organization had an operating margin of 2.0 % in the first quarter of FY 2009.
Operating earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the period totaled $16.1 million compared to the $21.0 budgeted figure and $17.8 million for the first quarter of FY 2009.
Fletcher Allen First Quarter 2009 Financials and FY08                    
Days cash on hand was measured at 107 days for the quarter compared to 100 days last year.  This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.
FY 2009 Results
Fletcher Allen reported a net operating income of $21.3 million for the 2009 fiscal year. This included an operating income loss of approximately $3.6 million for the fourth quarter beginning July 1 and ending September 30.  The yearly operating income figure was approximately $1.2 million above budget.
Results on the Web Site
 The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as the quarterly results for FY 2003 through the first quarter of FY 2010 will be available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
Click here for FY 2010 First Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2009 Year-End Financial Results
Click here for FY 2009 Fourt Quarter Financial Results
 ]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_first_quarter_financial_results_for_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/pizzagalli_foundation_donates_one_million_to_fletcher_allen.html Gift will be used to install a video-on-demand patient education system
BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen announced today it has received a $1 million gift from the Pizzagalli Foundation of South Burlington, VT. The Pizzagalli Foundation is a philanthropic organization established by the founders of the Pizzagalli Construction Co. to support area institutions.
“We are deeply honored that the Pizzagallis - Jim, Angelo and Remo - have chosen to make this gift to Fletcher Allen,” said Melinda Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer. “This generosity from a local family to our academic medical center is greatly appreciated and will help us improve care by providing our patients and their families with access to educational programming that will increase their understanding of common health problems, Fletcher Allen services and follow-up care.”
“The Pizzagalli Foundation wanted to recognize the outstanding work of Dr. Estes and her leadership team to put Fletcher Allen on a sound operating basis,” said James Pizzagalli, foundation trustee. “Fletcher Allen has made enormous contributions to the welfare of our community.”
An interactive, video-on-demand patient education system was identified by a team of employees assembled to look at ways the organization could enhance its patient care experience.
“This type of system is a great patient satisfier in organizations where it has been installed,” Dr. Estes continued. “We are pleased that with this generous gift from the Pizzagallis, we will be able to purchase and implement this system, moving forward with this recommendation from employees.”
One of the leaders of that employee team was Norman Ward, M.D., medical director, Case Management at Fletcher Allen. “The opportunity to offer excellent medical education to our patients at the bedside whenever and as often as they wish represents a huge opportunity to provide them with the information they need in order to have the best possible recovery,” said Dr. Ward.
Studies have shown that patients who benefit from a combination of improved discharge education and follow-up programs can reduce their chance of readmission by approximately 40%. The lowering of readmission rates is a nationwide quality initiative among hospitals this year.
Each patient will have his or her own video screen and controls. The system is web-based and user-friendly. Patients will be able to order educational programs any time of the day or night. This ensures that patients see material related to their disease and recovery when they are most receptive to viewing the information. There is also the capability to automatically document in the patient’s electronic medical record that a patient has viewed a program. This feature of the system is planned for implementation in the future.
Last year, Fletcher Allen implemented an electronic health record across its inpatient areas, converting traditional medical charts, treatment notes, medication lists and prescription orders from paper files to a single electronic record housed on a computer-based software application.
The new video on-demand patient education system also will provide some of the comforts of home by offering video-on-demand movies, popular television channels, and relaxation programming, in addition to information regarding their illness and care.
Currently, many patient rooms have one wall-mounted conventional television set that must be shared when both beds are occupied. While some patient education programming is available on this system, it is only available at specific times, similar to a daily TV broadcast schedule. This schedule can conflict with patient treatment and test schedules, as well as family visiting times.
Aceso Interactive, of Charlestown, MA, has been selected as the vendor. Installation of the system should be complete by summer 2010.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/. ]]> Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/pizzagalli_foundation_donates_one_million_to_fletcher_allen.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/two_new_trustees_join_fletcher_allen_board_-_roger_stone_rep.html Paul Danielson, D.M.D., an oral surgeon with Champlain Valley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, South Burlington, and John Neuhauser, Ph.D., president, Saint Michael's College, Colchester. 
The Board also elected Board member Roger Stone, former president of Burlington-based Stone Investment Advisory, Inc., to serve as Board Chair, replacing Chris Dutton, former chief executive officer, Green Mountain Power, who stepped down at the expiration of his term.
Paul Danielson, D.M.D., has been in practice in South Burlington since 1978. He is a member of Fletcher Allen's attending staff in the Department of Surgery and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.  He is the author or co-author of a number of papers in peer-review journals.  Dr. Danielson served as president of the Fletcher Allen Health Care Medical Staff in 2008.  He is also a past president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Dr. Danielson completed a dental internship at Fletcher Allen followed by an oral surgery internship and residency at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT.  
"We are very pleased to have Dr. Danielson join the Fletcher Allen Board," said Roger Stone, chair of the Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees. "His work at the local and national level as well as his committee work at Fletcher Allen and one of its predecessor organizations provides us with a valuable perspective."
John Neuhauser, Ph.D., is president of St. Michael's College, Colchester, a post he has held since 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was a professor at Boston College, where he held several key positions during his 39 years at that institution. In his last administrative post there, academic vice president and dean of faculties, Dr. Neuhauser oversaw a doubling of grant funding to over $40 million annually, a 50 percent increase in undergraduate applications with a steady increase in quality, and a constant placement in the top 40 national universities in the U.S. News & World Report college rankings. Dr. Neuhauser received a bachelor's degree in physics from Manhattan College, and both a master's and doctorate in operations research and statistics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has served on the St. Michael's Board of Trustees since 2001.
"I look forward to working with Dr. Neuhauser. We are delighted that he will be bringing his expertise, enthusiasm and experience to his new role on the Fletcher Allen Board," said Stone.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/. ]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/two_new_trustees_join_fletcher_allen_board_-_roger_stone_rep.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_year-to-date_and_third_quarter_finan.html Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported an operating income of $24.9 million for the first three quarters of the 2009 fiscal year. This includes an operating income of approximately $11.5 million for the third quarter. The third quarter covers the period beginning April 1 and ending June 30.
Third Quarter Results
Operating income for the third quarter was $6.3 million above budget and $2.5 million above the corresponding quarter in FY 2008.  Net operating revenues for the quarter were $219.3 million, $8.2 million above budgeted revenues.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were $207.8 million, $1.9 million over budget, resulting in an operating income of approximately $11.5 million and an operating margin of 5.2% for the third quarter.  By comparison, the organization produced an income from operations of $9.0 million in the third quarter of FY 2008.
Year-to-date Results
On a year-to-date basis, the $24.9 million net income from operations was above the budgeted $14.6 million for the period, and produced an operating margin of 3.9%. A year ago, the organization generated a three-quarter operating gain of $13.7 million.  For three quarters, net operating revenues were $629.5, $1.8 million above budget. Operating expenses were $604.6 million, below budget by $8.4 million.
A key financial indicator, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) stood at approximately $67.2 million for the three quarters.  This was above the FY 2009 budget forecast of $58.0 million.  EBIDA provides a good measure of the organization's actual earnings.
Key volume measures for the three quarters were positive. Total inpatient discharges were above budget by less than 1%.  Combined Inpatient and Outpatient Days, a measure of the number of patients in the hospital each day, were approximately 16.5% above budget, and physician office visits were less than 1% above budget.  At the end of the third quarter, days cash on hand stood at 106 days using a 12-month rolling average. This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received.   
The institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as unaudited quarterly results for FY 2003 through the third quarter of FY 2009 are available on the Fletcher Allen Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.

Click here for FY 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results
Click here for FY 2009 Third Quarter Y-T-D Financial Results ]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_year-to-date_and_third_quarter_finan.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_named_to_100_top_hospitals_for_cardiovascular.html Fletcher Allen was named to the list of top 100 hospitals for Cardiovascular Care in the United States in an annual study released December 2009 by Thomson Reuters, Inc.
The 11th annual study identifies the 100 U.S. hospitals that set the nation's benchmarks for inpatient cardiovascular care.  Thomson Reuters supplies information to professionals working in finance, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science, and media fields.
The study, 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks, examined the performance of 971 hospitals by analyzing outcomes for patients diagnosed with heart failure and heart attacks, and for those who received coronary bypass surgery or percutaneous cardiovascular interventions (PCI) such as angioplasties.
The study found that these hospitals have:

17 percent lower mortality rates for heart attack patients.
10 percent lower mortality rates for heart failure patients.
27 percent lower mortality for bypass surgery patients.
22 percent lower mortality following PCI.
Fewer post-operative complications (99 percent of patients were complication-free).
Close to 12 percent shorter average hospital stay.
12 percent lower cost per case.

These top performing hospitals perform over 50 percent more cardiac surgeries than peer hospitals.
"These hospitals provide balanced, high-performance across cardiovascular services. This means they are providing high quality and highly efficient care at a reasonable cost in comparison to peers across the United States," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters.
The 100 Top Hospitals study evaluated short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of cardiology patients.  Hospitals were classified into three comparison groups: Teaching Hospitals with Cardiovascular Residency Programs (30 hospitals, including Fletcher Allen), Teaching Hospitals Without Cardiovascular Residency Programs (40 hospitals), and community hospitals (30 hospitals).
Thomson Reuters researchers analyzed 2007 and 2008 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, 2008 Medicare cost reports, and data from other sources. They scored hospitals in key performance areas: risk-adjusted medical mortality, risk-adjusted surgical mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, procedure volume, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/.
About Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is a leading source of information for businesses and professionals., combining combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI) and New York Stock Exchange (TRI). For more information, go to http://www.100tophospitals.com/top-cardio-hospitals/ ]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_named_to_100_top_hospitals_for_cardiovascular.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_outpatient_phase_.html PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management­), Fletcher Allen’s electronic health record, is now fully functional at Aesculapius Medical Center in South Burlington, which serves 18,000 people and is one of Fletcher Allen’s ten primary care clinics.  Providers and staff at Aesculapius are now using the system to record patient medical information and to administer medications.  By the end of 2010, all of Fletcher Allen’s outpatient clinics – both primary care and specialty care - will be “live” with PRISM.   
“We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made during the inpatient implementation, which has enabled us to start implementing PRISM in our outpatient clinics,” said Paul Taheri, MD, MBA, President of Fletcher Allen’s Faculty Practice.  “We’re now able to offer these patients the same enhancements in safety, efficiency and coordination of care that we provide to patients admitted to the hospital,” he said.  
An electronic health record is essentially a computer system that replaces paper medical records, charts and other items with a single electronic file for each patient.  There are several key reasons health care experts believe electronic health records will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care: 

All medical information for each patient is in one place and all providers can see it at the same time from different clinical locations, so it’s easier to coordinate care. 

With PRISM’s outpatient implementation, this means that medical information patients give to their Fletcher Allen primary care provider will be accessible to other members of their Fletcher Allen care team.

The system alerts providers about drug allergies or conflicts with patient medications making them instantly aware of potential problems.
Medical staff will spend less time tracking down charts, x-rays, MRIs and other information that is essential for providing timely care.    

“Electronic health record technology is a major step forward in patient care,” added Dr. Taheri. “The improvements in safety, efficiency and coordination of care will enhance quality and the overall patient experience.  This is the future of health care, and I’m proud Fletcher Allen is bringing this leading edge technology to our community,” he said.  
Fletcher Allen has joined only 1.5% of health care facilities nationwide in implementing such a comprehensive computer system for patient care*.  The system went “live” in Fletcher Allen’s inpatient areas, pharmacy, Emergency Department, and some hospital outpatient areas on the Medical Center Campus in Burlington, as well as the Walk-In Care Center and inpatient rehabilitation service at the Fanny Allen Campus in Colchester, in June 2009. 
--------
* According to a nationwide hospital survey published in the March 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, only 10.9% of U.S. hospitals have implemented a basic Electronic Health Record, and only 1.5% have implemented a comprehensive Electronic Health Record like PRISM.   
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. ]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_outpatient_phase_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_makes_additional_changes_to_inpat.html Immediate:  October 15, 2009
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen Health Care has made further changes to its visiting policy in an effort to protect both high-risk patients and its staff during the expected outbreak of H1N1 this fall.  Visiting restrictions are already in place in the Birthing Center, the Mother/Baby Unit, and intensive care units. Additional restrictions have now been applied to protect pediatric inpatients and their families.
The following restrictions now apply to those visiting pediatric inpatients:
For All Visitors to Inpatient Pediatrics:

Use hand hygiene:

Wash hands or use hand sanitizer  upon entering the  floor, AND just before and just after leaving a patient's room

No one under the age of 12 to visit the inpatient Pediatric unit.     
Only immediate family to visit, or guardians/caregivers if applicable.
Only two (2) immediate family members in the patient's room at one time.
Patients will be asked not to visit if they have symptoms of a fever and a cough or cold, or if they suspect they may have the flu.

For Visitation With Inpatient Pediatric Patients Who May Have Flu:
Additional restrictions include:

While in the room, visitors must wear a white mask, gown and gloves. These should be disposed of in the room.  Instructions from the nurse shall be provided BEFORE the visitor enters the room.
Visitors to Pediatric patients with influenza (or being tested for influenza), must minimize contact with all other people in the hospital.  They will be asked to leave the hospital immediately after visiting. This precaution protects other patients and their families.

"These extra visiting precautions are in the best interests of our patients during the flu season," said Dawn LeBaron, vice president, Hospital Services.  "Patient safety and infection control are top priorities at this institution.  We recognize that this flu season will not be like others in recent memory and we have made plans that anticipate different levels of a flu outbreak. The visiting policy changes are part of that plan and they may change as the flu season progresses." 
Fletcher Allen is also mounting a strong campaign to encourage staff to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine shot when it becomes available.  The organization will make the vaccines available to staff at no charge.
Updated flu season visitation policies are always available on our website, http://www.fletcherallen.org/
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/. ]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_makes_additional_changes_to_inpat.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_accreditation_from_the_american_coll.html Immediate (October 13, 2009)
Mike Noble Marketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen has received a full three-year accreditation from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer.
This is the highest level of accreditation the Commission on Cancer awards, and serves to distinguish organizations that voluntarily commit to provide the best in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Accredited institutions successfully undergo a rigorous 36-point evaluation process and performance review, focusing on quality outcomes, education and performance monitoring. The Commission on Cancer site survey report gave particular praise to Fletcher Allen's cancer-related outcomes work, clinical trials accrual, community outreach initiatives, and cancer registry operations.  Fletcher Allen's cancer activities are closely tied to the Vermont Cancer Center, which links patient care with research and education at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
According to the Commission on Cancer, there are 1,400 Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, representing 25% of all hospital programs.  These 1,400 programs diagnose and treat 80% of newly-diagnosed cancer patients each year.
The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through setting standards, cancer prevention efforts, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information, please visit their Web site at www.facs.org/cancer/index.html
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/. ]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_accreditation_from_the_american_coll.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_makes_changes_to_visiting_policy_.html
For Release: 
September 29, 2009
Contact:Mike NobleMarketing & Communications(802) 847-2886  View recent changes to Pediatric Visiting Hours
BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen Health Care has made changes to its visiting policy in an effort to protect both high-risk patients and its staff during the expected outbreak of H1N1 this fall.  Changes affect the Birthing Center, the Mother/Baby Unit, and intensive care units. 
The Birthing Center, located on the seventh floor of the McClure Building, and the Mother/Baby Unit, located on the fifth floor of the Shepardson Building have made the following changes:

The number of people accompanying the mother-to-be is limited to two persons.

These persons must remain the same throughout labor, delivery and the stay on the Mother and Baby Unit.  No alternates will be allowed to visit.
A child 12 years of age or older will count as one of the two allowed visitors.

The two visitors must have no signs of illness.
Children under 12 years of age cannot visit.

Additionally, the Intensive Care Units located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the McClure Building have instituted the following visiting policy:

Visitors are limited to include only immediate family members or close friends if the patient has no immediate family.
Visitors with signs of influenza-like illness (cough, cold or fever) will not be permitted to visit.
No visitors under the age of 12.
Visitors will be asked to use hand sanitizers entering the intensive care units and upon entering and leaving the patient’s room.
For patients sick with seasonal or H1N1 influenza visitors will wear a protective gown, gloves and mask while in the room.
Visitors will be asked to minimize contact with others in the hospital to reduce the risk of acquiring or spreading disease.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located on the 7th floor of the McClure Building will make the following change effective October 1:

Only the child’s parents may visit, or the child’s mother and one consistent adult support person. 

These visiting precautions are in the best interests of our patients as the flu season begins.  Patient safety and infection control are top priorities at this institution.  We recognize that this flu season will not be like others in recent memory and we have made plans that anticipate different levels of a flu outbreak. The visiting policy changes are part of that plan and they may change as the flu season progresses.   
Fletcher Allen is also mounting a strong campaign to encourage staff to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine shot when it becomes available.  The organization will make the vaccines available to staff at no charge. 
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. ]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_makes_changes_to_visiting_policy_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/glen_wright_to_chair_fletcher_allen_foundation.html C O N T A C T: Maria McClellan       Marketing & Communications(802) 847-2886                 
BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen Health Care today announced that Glen Wright has been elected Chair of the hospital's Foundation board.
Wright, a native Vermonter and former managing partner of KPMG LLP's Burlington office, succeeds Edwin I. Colodny as chair of Fletcher Allen's fundraising board.  In addition, Brian Boardman has been elected Vice Chair, and Emily Morrow has assumed the position of Secretary.
"Fletcher Allen has touched both my life and that of my family," said Wright, 60, who suffered two heart attacks in his 50's.   "As a result, I have a great devotion to the hospital and view it as one of the most significant and valuable assets in Vermont and upstate New York. I am honored to serve as chair of the Fletcher Allen Foundation, and I look forward to continuing to build on the success of the philanthropic efforts of the medical center."
Wright's commitment to fundraising for Fletcher Allen also comes from his father, Wilbur Wright, now deceased, who used the hospital extensively, and like Glen, was a cardiac patient. 
"We are extremely fortunate to have Glen Wright step forward to lead our Foundation," said Melinda L. Estes, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Fletcher Allen. "Glen has deep roots in the community and longstanding ties to Fletcher Allen.  He understands firsthand the value of our academic medical center and the important role that philanthropy plays in helping us achieve our vision of being a national model of the delivery of high-quality academic health care in a rural region."
Other members of the Fletcher Allen Foundation Board include:  Dr. Nancy Binter, Dr. John Brumsted, David Coates, Phil Daniels, Holly Miller, Marc Monheimer, Dr. David Schneider, Roger Stone and ex officio member Dr. Melinda Estes.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at http://www.fletcherallen.org/.          ]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/glen_wright_to_chair_fletcher_allen_foundation.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_and_eleanor_b_daniels_fund_sponsor_free_educa.html FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:      September 14, 2009 CONTACT:                                        Sherry DanielsEleanor B. Daniels Fund(802) 434-3979Sdaniels2@cs.com  
(Burlington, VT) – The Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen and the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund are pleased to present “Families Surviving Cancer,” a free, educational program for survivors of cancer and their supporters on Saturday, September 19, from 8:30 am to noon at the Burlington Sheraton Conference Center.  The event is sponsored by The Eleanor B. Daniels Fund.
PROGRAM DETAILS
WHAT: Exploring Survivorship: Families Surviving Cancer   A Free Program for Survivors and their Supporters
WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 8:30 am to Noon
WHERE: Sheraton Burlington Conference Center
SCHEDULE:

8:00-8:30 a.m.

Welcome and light refreshments

8:30-9:45
Survivors Dialogue – panel of cancer survivors with Heather Barton, M.A., Moderator

10:00-10:45
Family Link: Updates and Impacts on Cancer Treatment with Dr. Cheung Wong, Fletcher Allen/UVM

10:45-11:30
Healing Support Circle with Heather Barton, M.D.

11:35-11:45
Closing Word Ceremony with Sherry Daniels

The program will begin with a “Cancer Survivors Dialogue” during which a unique panel of cancer survivors and their supporters will candidly discuss their experiences living through cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how they approach their daily lives.  Other presentations include:

Dr. Cheung Wong, Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen and associate professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine on “The Family Link:  Updates and Impacts on Cancer Treatment.”
“Healing Support Circle”- an interactive session that will explore issues and insights relating to survivorship lead by Heather Barton, M.A. of the Cancer Patient Support Program. 
Closing Word Ceremony lead by Sherry Daniels, cancer survivor and sister of Eleanor B. Daniels.

Members of the public wishing to attend the event should call 847-3919 to make a reservation. For more information, go to www.ebdfund.org.  The Eleanor B. Daniels Fund was created in 2004 in honor of Eleanor B. Daniels, a beloved artist, mother, and teacher.  Her courageous efforts in the area of cancer trials have advanced the techniques of cancer treatment today.  The EBD Fund is dedicated to supporting education, research and development efforts for gynecologic malignancies and women’s health issues.  The Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fletcher Allen provides free educational programs for the public each fall and spring, sponsored by the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund.
  ]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_and_eleanor_b_daniels_fund_sponsor_free_educa.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_debuts_redesigned_web_site__.html F O R   R E L E A S E: Immediate (July 9, 2009)
C O N T A C T:                        Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen unveiled its redesigned Web site today, www.FletcherAllen.org.  Designed with patient and visitor needs in mind, the site features a fresh look, enhanced content and a new, user-friendly structure that will make it easier for visitors to find the information they are seeking.  The site includes several key enhancements:

Searchable Provider Directory – Visitors can now easily search for a provider who meets their needs with familiar terms like “heart” and “cancer” in addition to “cardiology” and “oncology”.  The directory, which can now be printed by visitors to the site, features a more professional look and includes color photos of most of Fletcher Allen’s 500 Faculty Practice physicians who are jointly employed by Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont College of Medicine.    
Google Maps – The new site features interactive maps and driving directions for each of our 30 satellite locations, as well as a map and directions for our medical center campus in Burlington. 
Events Calendar – An Events link on the home page includes news about public educational offerings such as our Community Medical School and HealthSource classes, and other events of interest to the general public. 
Enhanced Support Groups Directory –Support group information has been reorganized so that visitors can easily find comprehensive information on support services available across the region.    
Video Gallery – FletcherAllen.org features over 50 videos, including educational videos about services, medical conditions and procedures, patient testimonials about the quality of care they received at Fletcher Allen, and videos about the history of this organization. 

Click here to visit our new Web site.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. 
 ### ]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_debuts_redesigned_web_site__.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_teans_with_vermont_hitec_to_train.html For Release:  Immediate (July 8, 2008)
Contact:  Kim O’LearyMarketing & CommunicationsFletcher Allen802-847-2886Applications for Free Training Program Due July 20th
BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC announced today that they are recruiting candidates for the partnership’s first training program to prepare participants for a career working with Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The training will lead directly to a one-year term of employment at Fletcher Allen, with the possibility for additional training and continued employment.
Up to 25 program participants will be trained to work directly with Fletcher Allen’s new Electronic Health Record system, called PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management) as EHR data abstractors.  EHR data abstractors convert medical data from physical patient files to an electronic record. 
The training programs are targeted to unemployed and underemployed Vermonters, as well as current Fletcher Allen staff, and are offered free to selected participants. Successful graduates of the program will be offered positions for a term of one year at Fletcher Allen at the completion of the 5-week course.  The pay scale for EHR data abstractors starts at $11.50 per hour.  The positions will also include a comprehensive benefits package.
Individuals will be selected for the training program through an extensive recruitment process. The deadline for applying to the Fletcher Allen EHR Data Abstractor ITAR program is July 20, 2009.  Individuals interested in applying to the program must visit www.vthitec.org to fill out an online application. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Lisa Gorman, ITAR Project Leader, Vermont HITEC, Inc., P.O. Box 1548, Williston, VT 05495, or by email at lisa.gorman@vthitec.org. For up-to-date program information, visit: www.vthitec.org.
"We deeply value our partnership with Vermont HITEC, which has grown into a long-term commitment to train Vermonters for jobs in the health care industry – not just today, but for many years to come," said Melinda L. Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen Health Care.
"The emergence of the Electronic Medical Record in Vermont is creating a new branch in the job market," added Gerry Ghazi, President of Vermont HITEC.  "As Fletcher Allen pioneers the adoption of this technology, our goal is to match the growing needs of this field by providing highly-motivated Vermonters with a valuable skill set.”
The EHR data abstractor program is conducted under the auspices of the Fletcher Allen Workforce Development Institute, a partnership between Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC.  The Institute is funded with support from Senator Patrick J. Leahy.  The EHR data abstractor program follows on the success of five previous training programs implemented by the partnership between Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC over the past four years.  
About the Fletcher Allen/Vermont HITEC PartnershipThe Fletcher Allen Workforce Development Institute was created in partnership with Vermont HITEC to help address critical workforce development needs by training unemployed and underemployed Vermonters for jobs that are persistently difficult to fill. The institute is designed to be flexible to match current workforce needs.
Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC developed their partnership in 2004 with funding assistance from both the State of Vermont and the U.S. Department of Labor.  The first Vermont HITEC training session was conducted over an eight-month period in an intensive training program for 20 medical transcriptionists.  This work-at-home program was followed by the launching of a more formal health care workforce development training institute developed with the support of a $325,000 federal grant secured by Senator Patrick Leahy.  The federal funding allowed for the implementation of the workforce institute and associated programs. Senator Leahy has since secured another $588,000 to support additional training programs.
Funding for the EHR data abstractor program is offered in part with support from the Vermont Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Department of Labor. To date, a total of 68 Vermonters have been trained and offered positions at Fletcher Allen Health Care as a result of these programs.
About Vermont HITECVermont HITEC is a 501C (3) non-profit organization with a mission to educate, train and employ Vermonters in a variety of fields. Vermont HITEC has employed over 300 Vermonters over the past seven years in medical transcription, information technology and manufacturing partnering with over 20 Vermont businesses including Fletcher Allen Health Care, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Hazelett Strip Casting Corporation, IDX Systems (GE Healthcare) and Dealer.com.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced are to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.     ]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_teans_with_vermont_hitec_to_train.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_for_providing_high_quality_care_to.html C O N T A C T:                                 Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886 Demand for Services Will Increase as National Guard Units Are Deployed
(Burlington, VT) Fletcher Allen Health Care has been recognized by Health Net Federal Services for providing high-quality health care to members of the Armed Services and their families living in Vermont and northern New York. 
Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) is the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE North Region, a health care program for active duty and retired service members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, family members of each of these populations, survivors and other eligible beneficiaries. It serves approximately 20,000 people in Vermont and northern New York.
Denise Luck, Plattsburgh TRICARE Service Center Manager at HNFS recently presented a plaque thanking Fletcher Allen for its support of military personnel to Dr. Mitchell Norotsky, Associate Vice President for Faculty Practice Operations.
“We really appreciate Fletcher Allen’s continued efforts to provide the highest quality care for our military heroes and their families," said Denise Luck.  “Its participation as a TRICARE network provider will become even more critical during the upcoming deployment of National Guard units to Afghanistan, which will add about 3,000 people to our program,” she added.
“I’m proud to accept this recognition on behalf of all the Fletcher Allen employees who are dedicated to providing excellent patient care for these important members of our community and their families,” said Dr. Norotsky. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.  ###]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_recognized_for_providing_high_quality_care_to.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_can_help_you_quit_smoking.html F O R   R E L E A S E:   Immediate (June 22, 2009)
C O N T A C T:   Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886
BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen’s Tobacco Cessation Program can provide you the tools you need to quit smoking, and to stay smoke-free for life. 
Quitting smoking supports a healthy lifestyle and will save you money.  With recent increases in Vermont’s tobacco taxes, tobacco products are now more expensive than ever. 
Fletcher Allen’s Tobacco Cessation Program provides free personal coaching and classes, as well as quit-smoking aids such as patches, gums, and lozenges. 
To learn more, call the program at 802 847-6541, or email: wellness@vtmednet.org. 
 ]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_can_help_you_quit_smoking.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_electronic_health_record_system_to_i.html medical records, charts and other items with a single electronic file for each patient. (please see attached Fact Sheet for details)  There are several key reasons health care experts believe EHRs will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care:

All medical information for each patient is in one place and all providers can see it at the same time from different clinical locations, so it’s easier to coordinate care.
The system alerts providers about drug allergies or conflicts with patient medications making them instantly aware of potential problems.
Medical staff will spend less time doing paperwork and tracking down charts, x-rays, MRIs and other information that is essential for providing timely care.   

  “I’ve been involved in many aspects of bringing EHR’s online at four other health care facilities across the country and I’m pleased and impressed with how smoothly the process has been at Fletcher Allen,” said Sandi Dalton, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer.  “There have been some minor delays in providing care as technical issues were addressed, but patients have not dealt with major disruptions in their care, and our medical staff and employees are handling the transition well despite the stress of learning a new way of doing things,” she said. PRISM has extensive security features built-in to make sure patient privacy is maintained.  The only staff authorized to see medical information are providers who need to see it to do their jobs.  Other hospital employees – like those in registration or billing – cannot see medical information.  In addition, PRISM records cannot be e-mailed or put on the internet, and the system is constantly monitored to make sure no one is gaining unauthorized access.“The new PRISM system is a major step forward in patient care,” said John Brumsted, M.D., Chief Quality Officer. “The improvements in safety, efficiency and coordination of care will enhance quality and the overall patient experience.  This is the future of health care, and I’m proud Fletcher Allen is bringing this leading edge technology to our community,” he added.  The next phase of the project will expand PRISM to the oncology department and will introduce a secure, web-based portal called “My Chart,” which will allow patients to view parts of their health record, schedule appointments, request medication renewals and research medical conditions.  The second phase also involves developing a data warehouse for reporting and analysis, to be completed by December 2009. The final stage of implementation will focus on the outpatient (also known as ambulatory) service areas, and patient scheduling.  This will be completed by the end of 2010.
* According to a nationwide hospital survey published in the March 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, only 10.9% of U.S. hospitals have implemented a basic Electronic Health Record, and only 1.5% have implemented a comprehensive Electronic Health Record like PRISM. 
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. ### PRISM FACT SHEETFletcher Allen’s Electronic Health Record System The development of an electronic health record is a critical, clinical process that will help Fletcher Allen improve quality and enhance safety while protecting the security and confidentiality of our patients' health information.  According to a nationwide hospital survey published in the March 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, only 10.9% of U.S. hospitals have implemented a basic Electronic Health Record, and only 1.5% have implemented a comprehensive Electronic Health Record like PRISM.  What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system?All of your health information, including medical charts, treatment notes and prescription orders, are converted from paper files to a single electronic record housed on a computer-based software application. Your EHR can be retrieved by all providers on your care team –whether at Fletcher Allen or practicing in the community – to facilitate coordination of care.   What is PRISM (Patient Record and Information Systems Management)?In 2008, Fletcher Allen received state approval to begin a $57 million, three-year phased implementation of an electronic health record system, called PRISM, which will connect virtually every key function in the organization.  When completed, PRISM will allow patients' clinical information to be electronically stored, updated and accessed instantaneously, largely replacing the paper medical record in use today.  The PRISM project will serve 750 physicians credentialed at Fletcher Allen, and its more than 30 facilities in Vermont.  PRISM will be compatible with other health records systems in the state, making it a critical element in the statewide, integrated, electronic health infrastructure being coordinated through Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL). What are the benefits of PRISM to patients, and how will it affect their care experience?

Enhanced Quality and Safety Measures – PRISM includes built-in, automatic checks in the electronic system to safeguard against undesirable medication and allergy interactions and incorrect dosage amounts, improving patient safety and helping us to provide you with the best care possible.

Confidential and Secure – Patient privacy will be guarded through built-in protections within the electronic health record to prevent security breaches.  The only staff authorized to see medical information are providers who need to see it to do their jobs.  Other hospital employees – like those in registration or billing – cannot see medical information.  In addition, PRISM records cannot be e-mailed or put on the internet, and the system is constantly monitored to make sure no one is gaining unauthorized access.
One Patient, One Record –All members of your care team can access your electronic record at the same time from separate clinical locations, creating a faster and more seamless care experience for you.

Convenient Access to Your Health Information – PRISM will eventually include a customizable web-based portal where you can quickly and easily view your health record, schedule appointments, view lab results, request medication renewals, and view your children's medical records.  This feature is called MyChart, and will be available in late 2009. 

Improved Communication Between Providers – PRISM enables the medical providers on your care team, including referring providers, to communicate quickly and efficiently about your care, through shared access to your electronic health record.

Shorter Medication Processing Time – Using an electronic health record ensures a shorter processing time between when a medication is ordered and when you, as a patient, will receive it.  Prescription orders are sent electronically to your pharmacy, eliminating the step of patients having to drop them off. 

  ]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_launches_electronic_health_record_system_to_i.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_first_quarter_financial_results_for_.html Immediate (June 8, 2009) Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886 BURLINGTON VT - Fletcher Allen reported a net operating income of $4 million for the first quarter of the 2009 Fiscal year.  The first quarter covers the period beginning October 1st and ending December 31, 2008.  The organization also finished its 2008 fiscal year approximately $0.1 million above budget. The fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. First Quarter ResultsThe net operating income for the first quarter was approximately $0.3 below the budgeted amount of $4.3 million, and $4.5 million above the first quarter of FY 2008. Total operating revenues for the first quarter were $200.9 million, approximately $4.8 million below budget.  The organization's operating expenses for the quarter were $196.8 million, $4.6 million below budget, resulting in the net operating gain of $4.0 million and an operating margin of 2.0% for the first quarter.  By comparison, the organization had an operating margin of - 0.26% in the first quarter of FY 2008. Operating earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the period totaled $17.8 million compared to the $18.5 budgeted figure and $12.7 million for the first quarter of FY 2008. Days cash on hand was measured at 100 days for the quarter compared to 106 days last year.  This indicator is a projected estimate of the number of days an organization could meet operating expenditures provided no additional revenues were received. Key volume measures were mixed for the first quarter. Total inpatient discharges were above budget by 45 (0.8%) as was combined inpatient and outpatient days, a measure of the number of patients in the hospital each day, at 19.1% above budget. However, physician office visits were 0.6% below budget. FY 2008 Results Fletcher Allen reported a net operating income of $21.1 million for the 2008 fiscal year. This included an operating income of approximately $7.4 million for the fourth quarter beginning July 1 and ending September 30.  The yearly operating income figure was approximately $0.1 million above budget. Results on the Web SiteThe institution began making its quarterly financials public with the release of the first quarter results for FY 2003 in February 2003.  The audited financial statements as well as the quarterly results for FY 2003 through the first quarter of FY 2009 will be available on the Fletcher Allen Web site. Please click here to see FY 2009 First Quarter Financial Results and FY 2008 Year-End Financial Results. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. ]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_releases_first_quarter_financial_results_for_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_award_for_green_practices.html C O N T A C T:                      Michael CarreseMarketing and Communications802-847-2886 or 760-8832BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care is one of two organizations in the nation receiving the highest award for environmental excellence this year from Practice Greenhealth, the country’s leading association devoted to environmentally responsible health care.  Fletcher Allen joins Metro Health of Wyoming, Michigan in being selected to Practice Greenhealth’s “Environmental Leadership Circle.”
The association’s awards are given to institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of their operations.
"I’m pleased to accept this award on behalf of all the Fletcher Allen employees who have worked hard to make our operations greener,” said Dr. Melinda Estes, President and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care.  “I’m proud we are being cited as a national role model for environmental practices, and I look forward to working with our staff to reduce our carbon footprint even further,” she added. 
Practice Greenhealth noted that in the past year, Fletcher Allen has reduced energy consumption by 8%, introduced recycling to patient rooms, and expanded use of locally grown food and green construction materials. 
"All of our members are committed to improving health care's environmental performance, but Fletcher Allen belongs to a select group of facilities setting the highest standards," said Practice Greenhealth Executive Director Bob Jarboe. Awards are presented in seven categories to more than 60 facilities.  Practice Greenhealth will sponsor the planting of 100 trees in Haiti for each award presented.
About Practice GreenhealthPractice Greenhealth is the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment. For more information on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.orgAbout Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org. ###  ]]> Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_wins_national_award_for_green_practices.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_opens_new_sustainable_harvest_cafe_announces_.html F O R   R E L E A S E: Immediate (May 11, 2009)
C O N T A C T: Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen today hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house for the new Harvest Café on the organization’s medical center campus in Burlington.  The Café aims to be the most sustainable health care food service in the country, with the goal of producing little to no waste, and recycling or composting everything.    Congressman Peter Welch was on hand for the celebration to announce a federal grant of $143,000, which he and Senator Patrick Leahy secured for the development of the “Center for Nutrition and Healthy Food Systems” at Fletcher Allen, which will act as an educational entity between health care and the New England food system, fostering partnerships with local farmers and educating other health care institutions in Vermont regarding how to build a sustainable food service.“With the launch of the Harvest Café, Fletcher Allen is taking a lead not only in Vermont but throughout the country in integrating fresh, regional food with patient care. This initiative will promote healthy eating choices, support Vermont farms and create a national model for other health care centers to follow,” Congressman Welch said. “I was pleased that Senator Leahy and I could secure federal funding for this valuable project.”Senator Leahy, who was unable to attend the event, echoed Congressman Welch’s sentiments.  “Once again, Vermont is taking the lead on environmental, agricultural and health issues.  From its use of sustainable building materials, locally grown organic food, and even Vermont’s cold winter air in its refrigeration system, Fletcher Allen Health Care’s Harvest Café is a model that other institutions will follow for decades to come.  I was proud to work with Congressman Welch to obtain funding for this innovative and exciting project.” 
“We are very pleased that our congressional partners have secured this funding to support our Center, which aims to be a national model for healthy and sustainable food systems,” said Melinda Estes, M.D., President and CEO of Fletcher Allen.  “The goals of the Center are in keeping with Fletcher Allen’s ongoing commitment to building a healthy community.”    
About the Harvest Café The open house event also featured samples from the new Harvest Café menu, which will incorporate fresh, organic and local fare, such as local squash and soy milk, locally-raised ground beef, chicken and turkey raised without non-therapeutic antibiotics and arsenical compounds, lots of vegetarian choices, and organic fair trade coffee.  The event included tours of the renovated facility, which now boasts a full fruit bar and salad bar, flatbread and panini stations.   Construction of the Harvest Café was in keeping with the sustainability philosophy.  The organization donated two truck loads of equipment and material to the Lucas James Williams Memorial Youth Fund in Bakersfield, Vermont, which provides summer lunch and after-school food programs to Vermont youth.  Fletcher Allen also reduced construction waste by reusing ceiling tiles in other parts of the hospital, and choosing sustainable building materials – such as Marmoleum (linseed) flooring in the dining area - when possible.  The Harvest Café is also reducing its energy consumption by choosing equipment that has higher energy ratings, and building a "free cooling" walk-in refrigerator that pulls in cold air from the outdoors during the colder months.  This “Freeaire” system is the first of its kind in any Vermont hospital.About Fletcher Allen’s Nutrition Services ProgramOnly the third hospital in the country to sign on to the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge, Fletcher Allen is purchasing local foods, offering organic or fair-trade products, increasing our offering of fruit, vegetables and other nutritionally dense foods, eliminating deep-fried foods from our menus and reducing antibiotics in our food supply.  In addition, we have developed strong relationships with the local farming community, including production planning with several farms, a garden onsite, and bee-keeping in the spring of 2009.  We are also a proud member of the Vermont Fresh Network.  About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.  ### ]]> Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_opens_new_sustainable_harvest_cafe_announces_.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_among_top_100_integrated_health_care_networks.html C O N T A C T:   Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886       BURLINGTON VT -- Fletcher Allen Health Care has been ranked among the top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the United States in a survey conducted by SDI, a Pennsylvania-based health care data research firm.  Fletcher Allen, ranked 74th, was one of only five hospital systems in New England to make the list.The tenth annual survey conducted by SDI, and published in a recent edition of Modern Healthcare, ranks the top 100 networks among the country's approximately 580 regional, non-specialty health care systems.  The firm's survey measures the degree of integration in operations, quality of care, scope of services and efficiency.An integrated health care network is an organization that has joined together several health care facilities -- either through ownership or formal agreements-- in an attempt to improve quality and cost.The other four hospital systems in New England were:

MaineHealth, Portland, ME (55)
Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA (65)
Lifespan, Providence, RI (94)
Yale-New Haven Health System, New Haven, CT (100)      Complete survey results can be found on the organization’s Web site: http://www.sdihealth.com

Fletcher Allen Health CareFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s only academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.Fletcher Allen also serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
  ]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_among_top_100_integrated_health_care_networks.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_and_essex_junction_parks_and_recreation_depar.html C O N T A C T:   Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886      BURLINGTON – Each year, Essex residents of all ages participate in a wide variety of school and community sports programs with the understanding that injury is an occasional downside of these activities.  The incidence and impact of sports-related concussions has become a newsworthy issue.  More than 300,000 people suffer a concussion playing sports each year, and more than half of them are girls.  Concussion is the leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 15-24 year olds.     Understanding concussion – for athletes, coaches, and parents – is an important part of staying in the game.  Making an informed decision about when to return to play is not easy when the pressure to get back in the game is great.  The lasting cognitive problems that may persist when concussion management is poor, however, can be serious.
This is why Fletcher Allen and the Essex Junction Parks and Recreation Department have teamed up to invite coaches, athletes, and parents to a free discussion about concussion in sports featuring Dr. James Slauterbeck, an orthopedic surgeon at Fletcher Allen.  Dr. Slauterbeck, who specializes in sports medicine, will explain concussions and how to recognize and manage them.  He will also address making the tough decisions about returning to play or work following a concussion. 
Keeping Your Head in the Game: Concussions in Sports
Who:   Dr. James Slauterbeck, orthopedic surgeon at Fletcher Allen, and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Rehabilitation at the University of Vermont
When:   Tuesday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Where:  Essex Junction Parks and Recreation DepartmentMultipurpose Room75 Maple StreetEssex Junction, VT 05452
Registration is not required.  For more information, contact Fletcher Allen’s Community Health Improvement at 847-2278.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
  ]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_and_essex_junction_parks_and_recreation_depar.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/genetic_test_to_predict_risk_of_progression_of_idiopathic_sc.html C O N T A C T:   Mike NobleMarketing and Communications802-847-2886      BURLINGTON, VT – Effective mid-December, the Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Department at Fletcher Allen Health Care became one of 23 centers nationwide field-testing a genetic test that has been developed to predict the degree to which idiopathic scoliosis will progress in girls aged 9-13 years who have been diagnosed with the disease. This painless spit test allows early intervention for those at risk of spinal curve progression and eliminates the need for repeated x-rays for girls identified as unlikely to develop a severe spinal curve.John T. Braun, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Fletcher Allen’s Orthopedic Specialty Center and associate professor at the UVM College of Medicine, is the principal developer of the genetic test and oversees the field test at Fletcher Allen. He is also a co-founder of the company, Axial Biotech, which currently offers the test free of charge.Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in children, affecting 13-26 million adolescents worldwide. Girls are five times more likely than boys to develop this condition.  Statistics show that 10 of 100 children diagnosed with scoliosis will progress to wearing a brace and that 1 in 100 of those children will progress to needing major corrective surgery.      The genetic test determines which girls aged 9-13, who have been diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis, are likely to progress to a severe spinal curve which would eventually require surgery.  The test has been fully developed and the testing laboratory at Axial Biotech has been approved by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Program, overseen by the Division of Laboratory Services within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).The genetic test requires the patient to submit a saliva sample, which is analyzed and the results returned to the physician who submitted the sample. The patient makes two office visits, one to provide the sample and another visit to review the results with the physician.The field test, expected to last 6 months, will help the developers of the genetic test to assess the systems and processes that have been developed for collecting, delivering and processing saliva samples, and then reporting results to providers to share with patients and families. The genetic test will be administered at no cost during this field test time period. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region
  ]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/genetic_test_to_predict_risk_of_progression_of_idiopathic_sc.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_offers_free_wireless_network_access_to_guests.html C O N T A C T:   Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886      BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen is pleased to announce that free wireless access to the internet is now available at most of the organization’s clinical locations.  This system includes a Guest Wireless Network for patients and visitors. 
“Providing wireless internet access at Fletcher Allen is in keeping with our commitment to provide high quality, compassionate care in service to the community,” said Frank Harris, vice president of Information Services.  “Now our patients and their family members can enjoy free, convenient access to the internet via their laptops, cell phones, and personal digital assistants, whenever they visit a Fletcher Allen facility.”
The wireless technology being installed at Fletcher Allen will be able to access the network at nearly all inpatient and outpatient locations, including the medical center campus and University Health Center campus in Burlington, the Fanny Allen campus in Colchester, and all of Fletcher Allen’s primary care and family medicine sites.  Users of the network must supply their own computing device with wireless access, and will be asked to follow a simple log-on process when they access the network at Fletcher Allen.
Fletcher Allen’s wireless network initiative was made possible at no extra cost as part of the hospital’s PRISM – Patient Record and Information Systems Management – electronic health record project, which requires wireless technology to operate mobile inpatient workstations using a secure Employee Wireless Network. 
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
 
  ]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_offers_free_wireless_network_access_to_guests.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_local_walmart_recognize_2009_childrens_miracl.html C O N T A C T:   Kim O’LearyMarketing and Communications802-847-2886       What:  2009 Children’s Miracle Network “Meet the Champions” EventWho:  Fourteen year old Courtney Billings of Colchester, and her familyWhen:  Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where:  Walmart, 863 Harvest Lane, Williston
BURLINGTON VT – Fourteen year old Courtney Billings of Colchester, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 9 months, will be recognized as Vermont’s 2009 Children’s Miracle Network Champion at the Walmart store in Williston on Saturday, February 21.
Courtney, a patient at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen, will serve as an ambassador for patients of the hospital at events throughout Vermont, northern New York, and New Hampshire this year as part of the Champions Across America program, sponsored by Walmart and Sam’s Club. 
In March, she will travel with her family to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a Champion Celebration, where she will join with 52 of her peers nationwide, before traveling with the group to Washington, D.C.  
Other celebratory activities occurring at Walmart on Saturday include Cub Scouts offering “valet shopping” experiences, Ehler’s RV Coach for Kids, and entertainment provided by 98.9 WOKO, all part of a fundraising effort called “Big Change Roundup” to benefit the Vermont Children’s Hospital.  Vermont Children’s is the only Children’s Miracle Network hospital beneficiary in Vermont.   ]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_local_walmart_recognize_2009_childrens_miracl.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_stroke_center_earns_joint_commiss.html January 29, 2009

    Kim O’LearyMarketing & Communications802-847-2886

According to the Joint Commission’s Web site, this certification “recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care.  Achievement of certification signifies that the services provided have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes.”    “We are very pleased that the Joint Commission, the nation’s premier health care accreditation and certification organization, has recognized our Stroke Center’s commitment to high quality academic health care in service to the community,” said Christopher Commichau, M.D., a Fletcher Allen neurologist and University of Vermont Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, who serves as co-leader of Fletcher Allen’s Stroke Center along with Dr. Mark Gorman, and directs the Neurology Residency Program.BURLINGTON:  Fletcher Allen’s Multidisciplinary Stroke Center recently received the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers. 

Fletcher Allen’s Multidisciplinary Stroke Center, now the only Joint Commission-certified stroke center in Vermont, offers comprehensive care including acute stroke care, post-stroke care, and stroke education and prevention.   The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification program was developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association, based on the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers”. Fletcher Allen’s Stroke and Neurovascular Program also received “The Bronze Award” in 2007 from the American Heart Association for meeting or surpassing standards of the Association’s “Get with the Guidelines” program 90% of the time for three consecutive months.  “Get with the Guidelines” is a quality initiative that sets specific standards for the care of stroke patients.  Fletcher Allen was the only hospital in Vermont to participate in this program, and was compared to hospitals participating in this program across the nation.
Learn more about Fletcher Allen’s Stroke Center by calling 802-847-4589, or visit our Web site at: http://www.fahc.org/Stroke_Center/index.html.

About the Joint CommissionAn independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.   The Joint Commission’s mission is to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.  ]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_stroke_center_earns_joint_commiss.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_cigna_reach_accord.html For Release:  Jan. 13, 2009
Contacts:Lindsay ShearerCigna HealthCare603-268-7721
Mike NobleFletcher Allen802-847-2886                                                                                                                             BURLINGTON, VT - Fletcher Allen Health Care and CIGNA HealthCare announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow individuals served by CIGNA HealthCare to continue to receive services at in-network rates from Fletcher Allen. Both organizations described this as a significant step that will extend their contractual relationship without interruption to patient care.  The new contract will run from February 1, 2009 through January 31, 2011, replacing the current contract which would have expired the end of this month.  "We are pleased that our organizations have successfully concluded our recent negotiations.  We believe that with this contract, Fletcher Allen and CIGNA have been able to balance fair reimbursement to Fletcher Allen while controlling costs for individuals and their employers throughout the State," said Don Curry, president and general manager of CIGNA HealthCare of New England. "We look forward to working with Fletcher Allen to provide effective and affordable health care for Vermont residents.”“We have all worked diligently to reach this agreement,” said Roger Deshaies, chief financial officer, Fletcher Allen Health Care. “Vermonters rely on us to provide efficient and effective trauma care as well as care for the most serious cases of heart disease, stroke and cancer. This contract will assure continuity of care for the many Vermont residents whose health care insurance is provided by CIGNA who receive their care at Fletcher Allen.  As one of the state’s largest employers, we are well aware of the cost of health insurance, and as a health care provider, we are doing everything we can to provide efficient high-quality care.”  About CIGNACIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and security.  CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 47 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com.
About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.  ]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_cigna_reach_accord.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_teams_with_vermont_hitec_to_train.html For Release: Immediate (January 9, 2009)
Contact:                                             
 Julie A. DavisExecutive Director, Vermont HITEC802-343-2539Kim O’LearyFletcher Allen Health Care 802-847-2886Applications for Free Training Program Due January 26 
BURLINGTON, VT: Fletcher Allen Health Care and Vermont HITEC announced today that they are recruiting candidates for the partnership’s first clinical training program, which will lead directly to employment at Fletcher Allen.  Also for the first time, Fletcher Allen  has extended this training opportunity to current hospital employees. 
A total of 10 program participants will be trained to work directly with patients as full-time phlebotomists.  A phlebotomist obtains blood specimens using venipuncture and capillary collection from patients of all ages.
The phlebotomist program is conducted under the auspices of the Fletcher Allen Workforce Development Institute, a partnership between Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC. The Institute is funded with support from Senator Patrick J. Leahy. The phlebotomist program follows on the success of four previous training programs implemented by the partnership between Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC over the past four years. It is funded with support from the Vermont Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Department of Labor. 
The training programs are targeted to unemployed and underemployed Vermonters, and for the first time, current Fletcher Allen staff, and are offered free to selected participants.  Successful graduates of the program will be offered positions at Fletcher Allen at the completion of the 8-week course. 
 
"We deeply value our partnership with Vermont HITEC, which has grown into a long-term commitment to train Vermonters for jobs in the health care industry – not just today, but for many years to come," said Melinda L. Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen.                                
"We fill the gap between motivated individuals and employers looking for trained staff," added Gerry Ghazi, President of Vermont HITEC.  "Our goal at Vermont HITEC is to provide motivated Vermonters with the opportunity to acquire the skills needed for great jobs at highly successful organizations here in Vermont - these health care training programs are an excellent way to match Fletcher Allen with exceptional individuals.  We are excited to have grown our training programs to prepare participants for clinical careers."
Individuals will be selected for the training program through an extensive recruitment process. They will be required to participate in a free 8-week training program and one-year paid internship, at full wages and benefits, at Fletcher Allen.  The free training will prepare individuals to take the Phlebotomy Certification exam, issued by the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).  The pay scale for phlebotomists starts at $11.59 per hour with long-term earning potential of up to $17.37 per hour.  However, individuals who complete this program will be hired by Fletcher Allen at a minimum of $12.69 per hour.  The positions will also include a comprehensive benefits package.
NOTE: The submission deadline for phlebotomist applications is January 26, 2009.  To apply, visit the Vermont HITEC website at www.vthitec.org and complete the online application.  For more information or assistance, contact Lisa Gorman, ITAR Project Leader & Mentor via email at: lisa.gorman@vthitec.org, 802-872-0660, or by writing to: Vermont HITEC, P.O. Box 1548, Williston, VT 05495.
About the Fletcher Allen/Vermont HITEC PartnershipThe Fletcher Allen Workforce Development Institute was created in partnership with Vermont HITEC to help address critical workforce development needs by training unemployed and underemployed Vermonters for jobs that are persistently difficult to fill. The institute is designed to be flexible to match current workforce needs.
Fletcher Allen and Vermont HITEC developed their partnership in 2004 with funding assistance from both the State of Vermont and the U.S. Department of Labor.  The first Vermont HITEC training session was conducted over an eight-month period in an intensive training program for 20 medical transcriptionists.  This work-at-home program was followed by the launching of a more formal health care workforce development training institute developed with the support of a $325,000 federal grant secured by Senator Patrick Leahy.  The federal funding allowed for the implementation of the workforce institute and associated programs. Senator Leahy has since secured another $588,000 Federal Earmark to support additional training programs.
Funding for the phlebotomy program is offered in part with support from the Vermont Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Department of Labor. To date, a total of 58 Vermonters have been trained and offered positions at Fletcher Allen Health Care as a result of these programs.About Vermont HITECVermont HITEC is a 501C (3) non-profit organization with a mission to educate, train and employ Vermonters in a variety of fields. Vermont HITEC has employed over 300 Vermonters over the past seven years in medical transcription, information technology and manufacturing partnering with over 20 Vermont businesses including Fletcher Allen, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Hazelett Strip Casting Corporation, IDX Systems (GE Healthcare) and Dealer.com. About Fletcher AllenFletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center – providing advanced are to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York – and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
            ]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_health_care_teams_with_vermont_hitec_to_train.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/threenewtrusteesjoinfletcherallenboard.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/threenewtrusteesjoinfletcherallenboard.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/johnbrumstedmdelectedpresidentofvermontmedicalsociet.html BURLINGTON VT - Shelburne resident John R. Brumsted, M.D., was elected president of the Vermont Medical Society for 2008 - 2009 at the Society's 195th Annual Meeting on October 25.  The Vermont Medical Society represents more than 1,500 physicians licensed in Vermont.
Dr. Brumsted is Chief Quality Officer for Fletcher Allen and served as Chief Medical Officer for Fletcher Allen from 1998 - 2005.  He was Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Vermont College of Medicine from 2000 - 2006.  Dr. Brumsted is also a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with medical staff privileges in gynecology and reproductive endocrinology at Fletcher Allen.
During his inaugural speech, Dr. Brumsted discussed the VMS's legislative priorities for 2009 and the Vermont Blueprint for Health, a statewide chronic care initiative that Fletcher Allen actively supports.
"During the last 3 years, communities in Vermont have implemented improved diabetes care and prevention through provider training, expanded use of information technology, Clinical Microsystems training, self management workshops and support for community prevention programs," said Dr. Brumsted.  "I'm personally involved in one of the Blueprint pilot communities and I feel they offer a great opportunity to provide primary care physicians with the necessary support and resources to treat their patients with chronic conditions in an optimal manner."
Dr. Brumsted received his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School in 1978.  He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, at the University of Vermont.
About the Vermont Medical Society The Vermont Medical Society represents more than 1,500 physicians licensed in Vermont.  The mission of the Vermont Medical Society is to serve the public by facilitating and enhancing physician's individual and collective commitments, capabilities and efforts to improve the quality of life for the people of Vermont through the provision of accessible and appropriate health care services.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.FletcherAllen.org.
  ]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/johnbrumstedmdelectedpresidentofvermontmedicalsociet.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/executiveearnstopnationalhealthcaremanagementcredenti.html
Immediate (October 23, 2008) Kim O'Leary   Marketing and Communications (802) 847-2886
BURLINGTON, VT- Dawn A. LeBaron, vice president of Hospital Services at Fletcher Allen recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation's premier professional society for healthcare leaders.
The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is an international professional society of more than 30,000 health care executives who lead our nations' hospitals, health care systems and other health care organizations.  ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,500 participants each year.  ACHE's publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management, in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses. 
Fellow status in ACHE represents achievement of the organization's highest standard of professional development, evidenced by the fact that only 7,500 healthcare executives nationwide hold this distinction.  To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits, and demonstrating professional and community involvement.  Fellows are committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
"I feel privileged to use the ACHE credential, which signifies my ACHE Fellow status and board certification in health care management," said LeBaron, who resides in Colchester.  "I look forward to leveraging the competencies I've acquired through this prestigious program for the benefit of the patients and their families we serve here at Fletcher Allen."
"Because health care management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization," said Thomas C. Dolan, Ph. D, CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACHE.  "By achieving ACHE Fellow status, and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders demonstrate their commitment to providing high-quality service to the patients and communities they serve."
For more information regarding the ACHE credential, please contact the ACHE Division of Membership at (312) 424-9400 or membership1@ache.org, or visit the Credentialing page on www.ache.org.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.  For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.
  ]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/executiveearnstopnationalhealthcaremanagementcredenti.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_has_innovative_heart_attack_program.html

By Associated Press (AP)



BURLINGTON, Vt. (09/28/08) The last thing Erik FitzPatrick remembers
of the Corporate Challenge, he was waving to his wife and young
daughter as he neared the finish line.

That's when he went down
with a massive heart attack. Fortunately, runners behind him in the May
15 road race in Montpelier started CPR, and an ambulance arrived within
minutes.

"Evidently, I was dead," said FitzPatrick, 43, of South Burlington.

The
next day, he woke up in the hospital. He doesn't remember being
resuscitated twice in the street, taken to Central Vermont Hospital in
Berlin and then transferred to Fletcher Allen in
Burlington, where physicians opened his clogged artery about 90 minutes
after he had been stricken.

FitzPatrick figures he was lucky to
have the heart attack where he did, and not while running alone. But
the system that got him to Burlington so fast was anything but luck.

Physicians
at Fletcher Allen have been working with their colleagues
to provide heart attack patients lifesaving treatment in minutes rather
than hours, even if they fall ill in remote parts of the state.

The program uses technology, teamwork and a change in state rules.

Over
the last two years, a system has been honed to ensure that all patients
who arrive at the Burlington hospital can get needed treatment in 90
minutes, the national goal set by the American College of Cardiology
and the American Heart Association.

Now, that 90-minute clock is
being expanded to regional hospitals to see that patients who arrive in
St. Albans, Morrisville or Berlin can still get the treatment only
available in Burlington.

"This is really one of those landmark
breakthroughs in emergency cardiac care," said Dan Manz, chief of
emergency medical services for the Vermont Department of Health, who
helped develop the procedures.

According to 2007 data from 84
teaching hospitals, Fletcher Allen had the fourth-lowest heart attack
mortality rate of those facilities, the first time it ranked so highly.

The
types of heart attack that need such aggressive treatment are those in
which the arteries are completely blocked, a condition called
ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI.

In the more common
non-STEMI heart attacks, arteries aren't completely blocked, so some
blood is still reaching the heart muscles.

"STEMIs are a fire
drill. Every 30-minute interval that goes by, mortality increases
significantly," said Dr. Harold Dauerman, director of Fletcher Allen's
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories. "On the other hand, non-STEMI's
are not as time-pressured. If you catch them within four to 48 hours of
the presentation, they do very well."

The treatment given to
STEMI patients is to insert a catheter into a leg artery, feed it into
the blocked artery around the heart and then expand a balloon to open
the artery. A wire mesh tube called a stent (about the size of a ball
point pen spring) is then placed at the spot of the blockage, to keep
it open.

The emphasis on opening arteries with the balloon and
stent developed in the early years of this decade after it became clear
the procedure is significantly better than using clot busting drugs _
if the procedure can be performed quickly enough.

The effort to
get STEMI patients to the appropriate hospital within 90 minutes is
nationwide. Last year, the American Heart Association launched its
program "Mission: Lifeline," the goals of which are similar to those
being put into practice in northwestern Vermont.

Only about a
quarter of all hospitals can do the procedures. And only 8.6 percent of
STEMI patients nationally who need to be moved between hospitals
receive the procedure within the 90-minute window, said Dr. Alice
Jacobs, a cardiologist at Boston University and a past president of the
American Heart Association. She's helping lead the Mission Lifeline
campaign.

"It really takes a system of care, particularly in rural areas," said Jacobs

One
of the first large areas to develop such a system was in Minnesota. Now
35 hospitals and 11 clinics throughout the state have a system in place
to get patients to Minneapolis for treatment, (although not all the
hospitals send all their patients to Minneapolis) said Dr. Tim Henry of
the Minnesota Heart Institute.

"When I started talking about this there was a lot of push-back," Henry said. "In 2003ish the majority were naysayers."

But
the system cut in half the number of heart attack deaths, Henry said.
The system also cuts the length of hospital stays and reduces other
complications.

Now there are 50 to 60 such systems around the country.

The
first step to set up such a system at Fletcher Allen was to require
that an on-call team that does the angioplasty always be available
within 30 minutes. Now, 100 percent of STEMI patients who arrive at
Fletcher Allen are treated within 90 minutes.

Patients who
arrive at Northwestern Vermont Medical Center are being treated in
Burlington about 75 minutes after they arrive at the St. Albans
hospital. Times are being reduced from other hospitals as well.

"We
work by e-mail directly with all the (emergency department) directors
and the ED staffs throughout the region to make sure we have a very
slick system, sort of a bat-phone approach, one phone call gets the
whole cath lab team here, gets everything going," said Dauerman.

Increasingly,
ambulances are equipped with special heart monitors that can determine
if a STEMI heart attack is taking place. EMTs are being trained to read
the data. In some cases, the information can be transmitted directly to
a hospital where a physician can read it.

So, for example, if a
person in Stowe has a STEMI heart attack, an ambulance can take them
straight to Fletcher Allen, rather than going first to Copley Hospital
in Morrisville, as standard ambulance procedure requires.

Making that change wasn't as simple as it sounds.

Vermont
rules used to require that ambulances take patients to the nearest
hospital, said Dr. John Kaeding, the emergency room director at Copley.

The
St. Albans hospital has had about three or four STEMI cases a month
since the system was implemented, said Dr. Marc Kutler, an emergency
room physician at Northwestern.

The patient who arrives in St. Albans with a STEMI isn't even taken off the ambulance stretcher.

"In
a lot of cases we can get the patient out and on the road in less than
15 minutes," Kutler said. "The more you do it, it gets more organized,
it gets fine tuned.

Kaeding said that since Copley joined the
program earlier this year they haven't had a case, but that's typical
of emergency medicine. "You don't see any, then you see three in three
days," he said.

For patients too far away to reach Fletcher
Allen in time to meet the 90-minute goal, physicians will treat them
using a combination of clot-busting drugs followed by the balloon when
they reach the hospital.

In retrospect, FitzPatrick, who works
for the state of Vermont, said he'd noticed the tightness in his chest
during several training runs before he started the Corporate Challenge
road race last May. He ate right and exercised and - being so young -
didn't consider himself a heart attack candidate.

Then he died on the street.

Four
months later, he has recovered 100 percent. Blood flow to his heart was
restored so quickly there was no permanent damage. He's running again
and living a normal life.

"Here he is in this race when he had
his cardiac arrest,' said Dr. Matthew Watkins, who treated him at
Fletcher Allen. "Then another race started with incredibly high stakes.
He went from this race to another medical race for which he got the
gold medal."

More Information

To learn more about cardiac care at Fletcher Allen, click here.

 

]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_has_innovative_heart_attack_program.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/national_publication_profiles_our_fresh_food_offerings.html We’re part of the Vermont Fresh Network, which encourages farmers, food producers and chefs to build partnerships that contribute to stronger local communities and economies. And we were one of the first hospitals in the country to sign the “Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge” – a commitment to serve local, nutritious and sustainable food. These efforts ensure that Fletcher Allen is providing food that is both nutritious, and is produced in a way that’s good for our environment and community. 
National health care publication, Modern Healthcare, featured Fletcher Allen in its August 2008 issue.
  ]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/national_publication_profiles_our_fresh_food_offerings.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/copley_hospital_and_fletcher_allen_to_develop_new_heart.html
(Immediate) Monday, July 7, 2008 Leah HollenbergerDevelopment & Public RelationsCopley Health System802-888-8301 Mike NobleMarketing & CommunicationsFletcher Allen802-847-2886 Robert StirewaltCommunications OfficeVT Department of Health802-863-7281

BURLINGTON VT - When a heart attack happens, every minute counts.  A new protocol, approved by the Vermont Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), shortens the length of time it takes for individuals to receive advanced heart attack care by transporting them directly to a hospital that performs an artery-opening procedure called angioplasty.
Developed by Copley Hospital in Morrisville, and Fletcher Allen Health Care, located in Burlington, the new protocol improves access to specialized care for people who experience a particular type of heart attack referred to as STEMI (ST-wave elevated myocardial infarction).
People experiencing this type of heart attack have complete blockage of a vessel that supplies blood to the heart.  Because the heart needs to beat continuously, quick and effective restoration of blood flow is the best method to save lives. Opening blocked vessels with a balloon, referred to as angioplasty, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is the most effective treatment for STEMI.  Fletcher Allen is the only hospital that performs angioplasties in Vermont.
Prior to the revised protocol, EMS crews were directed to take a heart attack patient to the nearest hospital for evaluation.  The patient could be treated with clot busters (medications designed to open the blocked vessel) at that hospital, or, after determining the need, transferred to a hospital that performs angioplasties.
Under the new protocol, Copley Hospital medical staff will provide medical direction to EMS providers on the scene to decide if a heart attack patient needs to be transferred directly to Fletcher Allen for an angioplasty.
This new protocol reflects what is happening nationally in the field with EMS providers.The collaboration between Copley Hospital and Fletcher Allen sets a new standard for specialized emergency care in Vermont.
"Copley has a long history of cooperating with EMS to advance emergency care for our community," said Dr. John Kaeding, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Copley Hospital. "This new protocol will improve heart attack care for residents and visitors in the Lamoille County area."
Dan Manz, EMS chief at the Vermont Department of Health observed that the new STEMI protocol is an excellent example of how the professionals at a community hospital, a referral center, and the local EMS agencies can integrate their services to improve the system of care for patients with a very time-sensitive emergency.
"Our cardiology specialists in PCI under the direction of Dr. Harold Dauerman have worked hard to improve our systems and practices to be able to accept these patients on a 24/7 basis," said David Schneider, M.D., director of Cardiology Services at Fletcher Allen and professor of Medicine at the UVM College of Medicine.  "We continue to work with area hospitals to improve cardiac care for heart attack victims.  The work is paying off with times to open artery that are among the best in the nation, while at the same time, we are seeing significant improvements in the survival of patients.  Equally important, early treatment preserves heart function and allows people to return to normal activities after a heart attack."
Approximately one heart attack patient per month is transferred to Fletcher Allen from the Copley service area annually. "While we don't want any one to have a heart attack," said Dr. Kaeding, "I feel confident that the teamwork developed by the EMS system, Fletcher Allen and Copley gives these patients an excellent chance to survive and return to normal activities."
About Copley Hospital Copley Hospital is the essential health care resource in the Lamoille County area, governed by patient-centered values and supported by the community. Over the years Copley has developed a standard of clinical excellence and an array of services rare for a small, rural community hospital. Copley also actively promotes wellness, providing an extensive calendar of community education opportunities.  In 2007, Copley was named EMS Hospital of the Year. The hospital provides more than one million dollars in charity care annually.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
About Vermont's EMS Vermont's Emergency Medical Services System (EMS) is composed of approximately 180 licensed First Response and Ambulance services staffed by 3,000 certified EMS providers. These pre-hospital emergency care providers include First Responders/Emergency Care Attendants, EMT Basics, EMT Intermediates and Paramedics. The Vermont Office of EMS and Injury Prevention is the state office responsible for EMS regulation and system development. The EMS Office licenses EMS organizations, provides ambulance inspections, administers certification exams for EMS providers and is active in system development and injury prevention programs. The majority of the EMS providers are volunteers.
  ]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/copley_hospital_and_fletcher_allen_to_develop_new_heart.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_national_environmental_award.html
Immediate (June 23, 2008) Mike NobleMarketing & Communications802-847-2886

BURLINGTON VT – Fletcher Allen is one of 50 health care organizations nationwide to receive a Partners for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth, an organization that seeks to advance environmental excellence in health care.
The Partners for Change Award recognizes organizations for a demonstrated commitment to environmental practices and sustainability. The Award is presented to those organizations that are working to improve and expand upon their programs to eliminate mercury, reduce waste and prevent pollution.
“This award recognizes the hard work of our staff to provide the highest quality health care while minimizing our impact on the environment.” said Angie Marano, chief operating officer.  “I am extremely proud of our efforts to achieve environmental sustainability and thank the many employees who make our success possible.”
Fletcher Allen participates in a number of environmental initiatives including composting, seeking out environmentally-friendly products for use in maintaining and cleaning its facilities, selecting sustainable food choices, and dozens of other initiatives.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
  ]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_receives_national_environmental_award.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/fletcher_allen_names_vice_president_of_finance.html
Immediate (Tuesday, May 27, 2008) Mike NobleMarketing & Communications(802) 847-2886   
BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen announced today that it has named Sophia Holder to the position of vice president, Finance/Controller, effective mid-June.  The appointment was made following a national search.
Holder, 35, comes to Fletcher Allen from Partners HealthCare System, Inc. Since joining Partners in 1997, she has served in many system-wide financial positions, and most recently served as the controller at Faulkner Hospital in Boston for the past two years.
Partners HealthCare is an integrated health care system founded in 1994 by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to the two founding academic medical centers, the system includes primary care and specialty physicians, community hospitals, specialty facilities, community health centers, and other health-related entities.
Prior to her role at Partners, Holder was employed by Price Waterhouse Coopers in Boston as a senior associate serving organizations that included health care and academic institutions.
“I am very pleased that Sophia has accepted this position,” said Roger Deshaies, chief financial officer, Fletcher Allen. “Her broad experience in health care finance will be a valuable asset to the Finance Department and to the organization.”
“I welcome the opportunity to join Fletcher Allen,” said Holder.  “This is a dynamic organization that will offer interesting challenges in the years ahead.  I think it will be very rewarding to be a part of this team.”
Holder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the National Association of Black Accountants.
Holder, her husband, Charles, and their young son, Charles, Jr., plan to move to the Burlington area this summer.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center.  Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment.  Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region.
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Immediate (May 22, 2008)       Maria McClellan          Marketing & Communications(802) 847-2886

BURLINGTON, VT - Kathryn Battillo has been named Foundation executive director and vice president of Development at Fletcher Allen Health Care following a national search. She will begin her new role at Fletcher Allen effective August 1.
Battillo, 55, comes to Vermont's academic medical center from the Boston area with more than 20 years of fundraising experience at a variety of institutions, including Suffolk University, the Boston Ballet, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Babson College.  Battillo is not a stranger to Vermont, having worked in Alumni Relations at the University of Vermont in the late 80's; she also has a son who graduated from UVM in 2006.
"We are very pleased that Kathryn will be returning to Vermont to lead our fundraising efforts here at Vermont's academic medical center," said Fletcher Allen President and Chief Executive Officer Melinda L. Estes, M.D.  "I believe her track record of success in fundraising for institutions of higher education and health care make her an ideal candidate to promote our philanthropic mission at Fletcher Allen."
The Fletcher Allen Foundation is a partnership with the community that was launched in January, 2008, to enhance philanthropic support for the organization.  Edwin I. Colodny is the chair of the board of the Foundation.  "Kathryn is both a proven leader and successful fundraiser," said Colodny.  "With her energy and experience, I believe Fletcher Allen is now poised to take its fundraising to a new level."
"This is a chance of a lifetime for me to partner with Dr. Estes, Ed Colodny and the Fletcher Allen Foundation to increase private philanthropic support to help the organization achieve its vision of becoming a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region," said Battillo.  "My family and I have strong ties to Vermont, and it is a dream come true to move back to this beautiful state to undertake such a challenging and exciting fundraising position at the state's academic medical center."
Since 2002, Battillo has served as vice president for advancement at Suffolk University where she launched the university's largest capital campaign -- $75 million - to coincide with the university's centennial in the fall of 2006.  A year and a half into the public phase, the campaign has raised $52.7 million, which is approximately 70 percent of goal.  In addition to overseeing fundraising, Battillo also oversaw alumni relations, operations and research, and communications at Suffolk, successfully reorganizing and building the staff, which grew from 21 to 51 over a five-year period.
Prior to joining Suffolk University, Battillo held a variety of leadership positions in fundraising, including chief development officer at the Boston Ballet, where she increased private support by 100 percent, helping the organization balance its overall budget for the two years she was present - a critical accomplishment for the Ballet.
She also served as director of development at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1999 to 2000, where she created the first-ever major gifts team, and built a staff of nine that partnered with the physicians to raise money for their treatment and research centers.
In addition, her background also includes serving as principal gifts officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and serving as associate director of Alumni Relations at the University of Vermont from 1985 to 1987.  She also spent five years as associate director of Alumni Relations at Simmons College in Boston, from 1980 to 1985.
Battillo received a bachelor of arts in Psychology from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, MA, in 1975, and received her master's in Library Science in 1979 from Simmons College in Boston.
A native of Boston, Battillo will be relocating to Vermont with her husband, Tom, and her son, Michael, who is in the process of completing his master's in business administration at Suffolk University through an online program.
About the Fletcher Allen Foundation The Fletcher Allen Foundation is a partnership with the community that was launched in January, 2008, to enhance philanthropic support for the organization.  In addition to Ed Colodny, the Foundation board includes Nancy Binter, M.D., Brian Boardman, David Coates, Lois McClure, Holly Miller, Marc Monheimer, David Schneider, M.D., Roger Stone, Betty Woods, and Glen Wright.
About Fletcher Allen Fletcher Allen, together with its partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center.  Its mission is to improve the health of the communities it serves by integrating patient care, education, and research in a caring environment.
Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center, offering advanced care to the approximately 1,000,000 people of Vermont and northern New York including a Level I Trauma Center, the Vermont Children's Hospital, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center -- one of 39 in the nation.  Fletcher Allen also has state-of-the-art care for people with heart disease and many other illnesses.In its community hospital role, Fletcher Allen serves approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties and provides primary care services at nine Vermont sites.  With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services across Vermont and upstate New York, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. With approximately 6,700 employees, Fletcher Allen ranks as the second largest employer in the state.
  ]]> Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/executive_director_of_fletcher_allen_foundation_named.html http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/level_1_trauma_center_re-verification.html Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news_room/press_releases/level_1_trauma_center_re-verification.html