Respiratory Illnesses
We can all benefit from taking deep, calming breaths during this holiday season and winter, as we continue to be vigilant with our virus-fighting strategies, facing what has been labeled the Tri-demic or Triple-demic: COVID-19, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and the flu. We are still seeing quite a few cases of COVID-19 variants in our community, and many infants with RSV. Please be sure to get your flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine/boosters; wash your hands frequently; and consider resumption of mask-wearing when in crowded public places – you’re not just protecting yourself, but your loved ones as well, especially infants, immune-compromised individuals, and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to viruses.
Legislative Breakfast
On Tuesday, December 6th, we held our annual Legislative Breakfast, our first in-person breakfast since 2019. Members of the Windham County delegation, including Representatives Mollie Burke, Leslie Goldman, Emily Long, Kelly Pajala, Laura Sibilia, and Senators Wendy Harrison and Nader Hashim, asked many insightful questions and were quite interested in the responses from our Leadership Team. It was a wonderful opportunity for an animated dialogue, and our delegation is very aware of the challenges faced by Grace Cottage. We feel confident that they will represent us well in Montpelier during the upcoming legislative session.
Meanwhile, Becca Balint of Brattleboro, who is Vermont’s first female Congresswoman, also knows Grace Cottage very well (from her years as a member of Windham County’s delegation). We know that we’ll be on her radar screen as she votes on any and all Federal legislation that could have an impact on a small, rural, independent hospital such as this.
Emergency Department Expansion/Giving Tuesday
Thanks to our very supportive community, we exceeded our Giving Tuesday 2022 goal. 90 donors from 9 different states (CT, FL, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, SC, and VT), making gifts ranging from $15 to $20,000, contributed a total of $71,523.42! Three contributors made their first-ever gift to Grace Cottage.
The Emergency Department Expansion project is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 3rd – what a wonderful way to start the new year! The Emergency Department will remain open 24 hours a day and there will be designated parking for ED and outpatient visitors.
Fundraising for this critical project has been taking place since Hospital Fair Day in August of 2021, and we’ve successfully raised $627,000 towards the project. The total project cost estimate is now up to $650,000, due to the ever- increasing cost of materials and labor, but we’re confident that we’ll reach this revised goal. This is a very exciting and much-needed expansion (click here for details), as our Emergency Department continues to see more patients. The technology available in our Emergency Department, especially with our recent link to Dartmouth Health’s TeleEd service is, quite frankly, astonishing for a rural hospital of our small size, and we have our donors to thank for this. And we never take for granted the professionalism, compassion, and capabilities of our stellar Emergency Department providers.
Healthcare Services
As some of you may know, I’ve experienced a medical issue during the past two months that gave me the opportunity to become a “Secret Shopper” at Grace Cottage’s Emergency Department and at Dartmouth Health. My care at Grace Cottage has been exemplary throughout (there’s no place like Grace Cottage), and I was also in excellent hands at Dartmouth Health. It’s great to be back at work and I’m well on the road to making a full recovery. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me and my family; we are all so fortunate to live in such a wonderfully supportive and caring community.
In closing, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!
Doug DiVello, President & CEO
Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital
