When the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital emergency room opened 50 years in the past, it was serving about ten sufferers per day. Over the previous 5 a long time well being care wants have modified, and the ER now serves a median of 38 sufferers every day, with some days seeing as much as 50 to 60 sufferers. This dramatic improve in affected person visits has triggered an unlimited pressure on the power and introduced every day challenges for its devoted workers. NVRH decided that the state of affairs was untenable and wanted to be addressed. As such, plans had been developed to increase capability and overhaul the ER. A brand new laboratory and pharmacy had been additionally included within the planning and fund-raising efforts for this “West Wing Venture.”
Union Financial institution noticed this growth as an opportunity to provide again to the neighborhood in a approach that may make a considerable impression. As Emily Hutchison, M.Ed., Director of Philanthropy at NVRH states, “Through the years, Union Financial institution has been very beneficiant to NVRH and our dedication to wellness and well-being. Their funds are actually enjoying a major function to assist meet the altering healthcare wants of the neighborhood.”
Union Financial institution donated to the hospital in assist of the creation of its Most cancers Middle in 2005, renovations to the Birthing Middle in 2016, and Covid reduction in 2020. Throughout the pandemic, Union Financial institution additionally supported the hospital in unconventional methods, together with suspending processing charges for bank card transactions, as a option to cut back overhead throughout that making an attempt time. As Hutchinson explains, “They didn’t even ask, they simply went forward and did that on their very own!”
Different current philanthropic efforts by Union Financial institution embody:
Why is that this growth and renovation such a important want for our neighborhood? As a small rural important entry hospital, NVRH serves all of Caledonia County and parts of Essex County, in addition to sufferers in Northern Vermont and New Hampshire who reside in areas the place smaller medical services merely can’t supply the required companies they want.
Whereas Vermont as a complete is getting old quicker than different states, NVRH additionally serves the oldest inhabitants within the state, together with people whose care wants are extra acute than when the services had been initially constructed. Along with an elevated demand for care, affected person wants are altering, with rising numbers of psychological well being crises requiring specialised companies that the outdated ER wasn’t geared up to offer. With these upgrades, the brand new ER will acquire roughly 4500 sq. toes, rising from 9 rooms to 16 rooms and almost doubling its present dimension.
Now that section one of many West Wing Venture is accomplished—the 4-bed Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Suite within the ER, offering an area to higher meet the wants of these in psychological well being disaster—the hospital is transferring ahead with extra renovations, together with a drastically expanded and improved lab and pharmacy. When development is accomplished, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital can be significantly better geared up to satisfy the healthcare wants of our neighborhood at the moment, and for years to come back.
