Health

Putney Family Healthcare, a BMH Physician Group member, is undergoing renovations to expand its 79 Main Street facility. Practice officials state that this expansion is in response to a growing demand for medical care in the service area, which includes Putney, Dummerston, Westminster and Saxtons River.

GPI Construction began work on the expansion in November, which will create four additional exam rooms as well as increase office space for administrative staff. BMH Director of Plant Services Rob Prohaska is working with Joe Fortier of GPI to manage the project, which is expected to be completed March 1, 2015.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced that its Director of Emergency Services, Brian Richardson, has been elected Co-Chair of the Vermont Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (VTHEPC) Committee.

Richardson joins Co-Chair Chris Lackney of in Townshend and Secretary John Berino from in Burlington as leaders of the VTHEPC committee, which is comprised of emergency preparedness coordinators from 14 participating Vermont hospitals and the state department of health.

I ran across a recent discovery.com article about King Tut’s virtual reconstruction. Using 2,000 computerized tomography (CT) scans of the pharaoh’s body to conduct a “virtual autopsy” an image is “built” that shows Tutankhamun naked except for wearing a loincloth.Looking directly into the “camera,” he looks as if he is posing for the picture.

The reconstructed photo shows him standing holding a cane to support his club foot. At first, I thought something was odd about the image. Tutankhamun’s damaged foot is his left foot, but contrary to my expectation he is holding the cane in his right hand.

The Annual Meeting of the Southern Vermont Health Services Corporation and its subsidiary, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) held on November 14, 2014 featured special guests, key topics, and various recognitions.

Keynote speaker , Founding Member, Vermont Green Mountain Care Board and Adjunct Professor, Dept. Community & Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, discussed the evolution of the US health care delivery system and the population health approach to improving the health of communities.

I just got notice that, unfortunately Hotel Pharmacy will no longer be a part of my insurance prescription network. I’ve been a customer there for 8 years and now need to find a new pharmacy. Does anyone know if there are any other pharmacies in town that offer delivery service?

BMH Physician Group announces the addition of Nancy J. Redfield, RN, MS, ARNP, BC to its Post-Acute Care Services.

Redfield will work with Eric Pofcher, MD to provide direct care for patients from the time of discharge from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, or another acute care facility, to admission at a skilled nursing facility. Their duties include managing medical problems in post-acute medical episode recovery, stabilizing chronic conditions and supporting decisions for individualized end-of-life care.

BMH Physician Group announced that Amanda J. Hepler, MD and Jeff Meckling, PA-C, have joined and are accepting patients.

A graduate of Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Dr. Hepler served her family medicine residency at Latrobe Family Medicine in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

BarreWorks is a fitness class offered at HotWheelz Studio (www.hotwheelzcycle.com) in Putney (13 Kimball Hill) on Thursdays at 6 am.  Not a dance class, not a Pilates class, not a yoga class…but Barre specifically works on lengthening muscles, developing core strength, and improving flexibility and posture. 

A fast-paced 45-minute class encompasses all major muscle groups and is adaptable to all fitness levels. Barre is a natural complement to running, cycling and other cardio-intensive activities. The results are amazing; come check it out for yourself!

Medicare Facts & Medicare Fraud

Presenter: Kelly McElheny,
Community of Vermont Elders – C.O.V.E./SMP
Southern VT Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
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SMP (formerly “Senior Medicare Patrol”) is a program that exists in all 50 states and is funded by the  to empower seniors to protect themselves against Medicare errors, fraud or abuse. Since 2003, C.O.V.E. has been the sponsoring agency, administering the federal grant. Anita Hoy <> is the Director who also covers the territory north of Rte. 4 / White River Junction, while Kelly McElheny covers the southern part of the state.

On November 10, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will be offering a free educational program titled “High School Sports Injuries: Prevention, Treatment and Care,” featuring Physician Assistants Maureen Mahoney, PA-C, and Wayne Temmen, PA-C. They will be presenting information that parents, teachers, coaches and athletes should know about sports injuries, including recognition of an injury and proper treatment so students may recover safely and quickly.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced the hiring of Erinna Cooper, RN as Director of the Birthing Center, effective October 20.

Cooper has 10 years of OB/Maternal-Child health experience at Cheshire Medical Center. From 2010 to 2013, she served as the Permanent Charge Nurse of the OB unit. A role which put her in charge in managing clinical and support staff for patient care activities, among other duties. 

“OB is Erinna’s passion, and becoming the Director of the Birthing Center brings together her experience and enthusiasm,” said Mary Urquhart, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services at BMH. “We’re looking forward to her joining the team.”

From VPR today:

“A Vermonter has recently returned from West Africa and entered voluntary quarantine. The individual is not currently showing symptoms of Ebola, and will be monitored for 21 days, according to Gov. Peter Shumlin”

And that’s all they know for the moment.

with Thomas Garbarino, Lic.Ac, M.Ac.

You are your best healer! Come learn how each and everyone of us is born with the innate gift to heal ourselves. In this half-day intensive, you will experience simple and profound ways to awaken your body’s innate healing ability while deepening your capacity to relax and enjoy your life more completely. Participants will leave with a renewed and empowered sense of health and well-being. All are welcome; no experience required.

The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” is planned for Friday, October 24,  2014 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

This month’s presentation will be given by Kelly McElheny, Southern VT Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Community of Vermont Elders – SMP Program.

The Vermont Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program is a federally-funded volunteer and education program designed to help protect Medicare beneficiaries from becoming the victim of healthcare fraud, error or abuse. The SMP message “Protect. Detect. Report.”, is delivered through the support of volunteers throughout Vermont. This program is helpful to those just turning 65, already on Medicare or caregivers and families.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the recertification of its by the (AACVPR). BMH was recognized for its commitment to improving the quality of life by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms,) recover faster and improve their quality of life. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling, and support for patients and their families.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced Frederick R. Harrison has been hired as Program Director for the BMH Center for Wound Healing. 

Harrison’s responsibilities include oversight and operation of the Center in conjunction with BMH’s partner, , to promote healing of complex wounds in place of amputation, maintaining quality of life for patients. He will also coordinate outreach and marketing with providers in the service area, stretching west from Bennington, east from Keene, and north from Lebanon, New Hampshire.

(WSD) and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announce an agreement to collaborate on the construction and operation of a 500 kilo-Watt solar power array on land owned by Winstanley Enterprises. The electricity generated by this array will serve the main BMH hospital building, and generate significant savings for BMH over the twenty-year term of the agreement.

This project is part of an initiative to bring solar power and utility savings to schools, municipalities and hospitals in the Windham and Windsor County region. WSD, a joint venture partnership between of Concord MA, of Waterbury VT and Powersmith Farm, Inc. of Guilford, VT, hopes to develop up to five 500kW net-metered solar arrays on individual lots in the North Springfield Industrial Park.

QiGong for Healing and Living Fully
 with Thomas Garbarino, L.Ac, M.Ac.


You are your best healer! Come learn how each and everyone of us is born with the innate gift to heal ourselves. In this half-day intensive, you will experience simple and profound ways to awaken your body’s innate healing ability while deepening your capacity to relax and enjoy your life more completely. Participants will leave with a renewed and empowered sense of health and well-being. All are welcome; no experience required.

The office is pleased to welcome back certified physician assistant Wayne Temmen, PA-C, to their team.

Wayne Temmen has more than 30 years of experience in the diagnosis and care of orthopaedic patients under the supervision of orthopaedic surgeons. His background includes surgical assistance for general orthopaedic surgery, assistance with total joint replacements and arthroscopy, and follow-up care for surgical patients.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital has been selected by the Vermont AARP Driver Safety Program as the 2014 Host of the Year.

According to David Peters, the Vermont State program coordinator, BMH “has hosted our classes for 20 years and the staff has always provided a level of support and cooperation that is exceptional. I hope that, working together, we have been able to have an impact upon highway safety in Vermont.”

The award will be presented at AARP’s Annual State Meeting on October 29, 2014, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph.