News

Community Health Teams and Their Maturing Impact on Chronic Illness

| Graceful Health

By Bill Monahan, RN, Grace Cottage Outreach Coordinator

Blueprint for Health? Community Health Team (CHT)?

What are these, and how can they help you for free?

The Vermont Blueprint for Health was conceived in 2003 during Governor Douglas’s administration and implemented in 2010. The goal of Blueprint is better coordination of patient care for individuals, better health for the whole community, and reduced health care costs.

This nationally recognized, multi-faceted program includes a system of Community Health Teams (CHTs). There are fourteen CHTs in the state of Vermont, all subsidized by private insurers, Medicare, and grants, so that their services are offered to the community free of charge. Each team adapts its services to the needs of its particular service area.

When a primary care provider identifies that a patients needs additional support, beyond what can be provided during an office visit, that provider can refer the patient to the CHT, thus connecting patients to additional resources.

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Best Hand Wins at October 10th Poker Walk

| News

The Grace Cottage Rehabilitation Department is celebrating National Physical Therapy Month by hosting its 20th Annual Poker Walk on Wednesday, October 10th. This free, fun, two-mile walk/run is held each […]

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Staying Fit Beyond the Summer

| Graceful Health

By Cheryl Shaw, Grace Cottage Hospital Health Coach

Summer is a natural time for outdoor sports, exercise, and activities. Now, as autumn arrives, you may find yourself challenged to keep up the workout routine you established during warmer, “longer-day” months.

For most healthy adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of both. Of course, in order to determine the best level for you, have a consultation with your provider first.

Once you know what type of activity is best for you, how will you keep your routine going when days are shorter, the weather is darker and cooler, and the pull toward seasonal comfort foods kicks in?

The best solution is to prepare and think ahead.  Here are some tips. Maybe one or more of these will work for you:

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Health Benefits of Yoga

| Graceful Health

By Crystal Mansfield, Director of Grace Cottage Rehabilitation Services, Wellness Programs, and Certified Yoga Instructor

September is National Yoga Month. What are the benefits of practicing yoga on a regular basis? If you answered relaxation and stress relief, you are correct. But yoga is so much more than that.

I started practicing yoga more than 30 years ago. The benefits were so varied and profound that in 2001, I decided to become certified to teach yoga so I could share these benefits with others.

Most people already know that yoga is a great way to relax and reduce stress. Did you know that yoga originated thousands of years ago as a preparation for meditation practice? The ancient yogis realized that, in order to meditate for great lengths of time, they first had to learn to be still.

Whether you practice yoga for its spiritual or its physical benefits, anyone who practices regularly will experience a difference both on and off the mat.

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