SVMC Receives Top National Award
The American Hospital Association (AHA) announced on Tuesday, January 19, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington has been chosen as the 2020 recipient of the Rural Hospital Leadership Award. The award recognizes small or rural hospital leaders who guide their hospital and community through transformational change on the road to health care reform. They display outstanding leadership, responsiveness to their community’s health needs and demonstrate a collaborative community process that has led to measurable outcomes. The award will be presented at the AHA’s 34th Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, which will be held virtually February 17 and 18.
Like many rural health systems across the country, SVMC serves a patient population that is experiencing increased rates of chronic illness associated with advanced aging. One of SVMC’s strategies was to use its nursing workforce as part of a transitional care model oriented at keeping older adults out of the hospital, reducing readmissions and delivering the right care in the right setting. An additional inspiration for the SVMC team led by Chief Nursing Officer Pamela Duchene was to deepen its partnership with OneCare Vermont, an all-payer accountable care organization aimed at lowering overall health care costs while aligning more effectively with high-quality outcomes. SVMC saw the launch of this organization as well in line with the goals of their own transitional care model.
Under the expanded model, transitional care nurses partner with primary care providers to help patients navigate the system, identifying and closing gaps in care. Particular focus is given to linking with local home care agencies, skilled nursing facilities and other community care partners. Nurses spend time in multiple care settings, including medical practices and in patient homes, and communicate through a variety of approaches to help make this commitment to continuity of care a reality, including through telemedicine. The approach has helped to address many of the social determinants of health that contribute to chronic illness in rural Vermont and neighboring Eastern New York. This includes mismanagement of medications, unsafe and unsanitary conditions at home and lack of financial resources.
In 2020, Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), parent organization of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, ranked fourth out of 3,282 hospitals nationwide in value of care, according to the Lown Institute Hospitals Index. SVHC also saw decreased readmissions, prompt identification of issues and improved patient satisfaction.
In a statement released to The Eastwick Press, SVHC President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Dee said “This prestigious national recognition from the American Hospital Association is a tremendous honor. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is fortunate to have an incredibly talented staff committed to innovative population health programs focused on helping our community while providing excellent outcomes. This determination is what makes us one of the best small, rural health system in the country.”