News

Have Fun on the Slopes, Not Accidents

| Graceful Health

By Dr. Kimona Alin, Medical Director, Grace Cottage Emergency Department

I love skiing. Anyone who knows me, knows that’s true. There’s nothing I like better than putting on my skiis and helmet and heading down the slopes on a beautiful bluebird day.  

You do wear a helmet when you ski or snowboard, don’t you? As much as I love skiing, I also know it can be dangerous. I work in the Emergency Department at Grace Cottage Hospital, so I see what can happen. I’d like to share some information about the most common injuries and some tips for preventing them.

Let’s start with head injuries…

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Grace Cottage Provides a Safe Place for Victims of Sexual Assault

| Graceful Health

by Christine Morris, RN, Pediatric/Adult SANE and Lisa May, RN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Grace Cottage Hospital

Sexual assault has been much in the news lately, and it’s more common than most people realize.
On average, there are over 380,000 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the U.S. Over 60,000 of these attacks involve children under the age of 12. Also, it’s a common misconception that only women fall victim to sexual assault. According to the Department of Justice, 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male.

These statistics are frightening. Even more concerning is that these numbers only reflect those that have the courage and support to seek help following an attack. Not knowing where to go, plus feelings of fear, guilt and shame, as well as the stigma associated with rape often prevent victims from receiving necessary medical attention and emotional support.

Grace Cottage Hospital has two registered nurses on staff who are specially trained by the Vermont Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program to provide confidential, compassionate care and emotional support for patients during an extremely traumatic, frightening time.

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Healthy Cooking on a Tight Budget

| Videos

In this cooking class, West River Community Project volunteer Cindy Leszczak and Grace Cottage Hospital Health Coach Liz Harrison present insights on how to approach cooking so that it is nutritious, affordable, and easy. First Liz shares a recipe for black bean brownies – a desert that is actually healthy! Then Cindy talks about “intentional left-overs” – in this case, using pre-roasted chickens for easy meals later in the week: chicken salad, stir fry, fajitas and soup!

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Healthcare Matters – Ep. 5 Preparing for the Holidays

| News, Videos
Healthcare Matters - Preparing for the Holidays

Marty Cohn hosts episode five of Grace Cottage Hospital’s Healthcare Matters, discussing ways to be good to your mind, body, and spirit throughout December and into the winter, with guests Deb Brown, Diabetes Educator and Caroline Chase, Behavioral Health Counselor. Both are members of Grace Cottage’s Community Health Team that offers free services to area residents.

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Nurse Practitioners: Providing Personalized Care, Improving Accessibility

| Graceful Health

By Louise McDevitt, Nurse Practitioner, Grace Cottage Family Health   

National Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 12-18, is a good time to highlight the unique role that Nurse Practitioners have played in the evolution of today’s health care system, helping to focus the system on self-care and prevention as well as on treating disease. 

The education of a Nurse Practitioner starts with the same training that every Registered Nurse acquires. In fact, only those who have passed the RN certification and have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can apply for an Advanced Nurse Practitioner program. NPs must have at least a master’s degree, plus 500 hours of clinical training, before they can sit for NP certification. Many NPs have a doctorate, as well as advanced education and clinical training. Like physicians, they have yearly continuing education requirements in order to refresh and advance their skills.

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“Giving Tuesday” at Grace Cottage Hospital

| News

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, a worldwide day of philanthropy during the season of gratitude. Grace Cottage Hospital asks its friends and neighbors to participate in its Giving Tuesday campaign on November 28th and help fund a highly desirable piece of equipment for its Emergency Department – a noninvasive ventilator. The price of the desired ICU-grade unit is $14,000. Thanks to three jump-starting contributions totaling $7,500, the campaign goal is set at $6,500.

For patients with acute respiratory distress from conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), or pneumonia, the use of a noninvasive ventilation support system can save lives, reduce fear, and improve the quality and rapidity of care.

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Fall Prevention Program Offered

| News

It’s true that advancing age increases one’s risk of falling, but falling does not have to be a normal part of aging. If you or someone you know has fallen or had an “almost” fall, then Grace Cottage’s Fall Prevention Program may be beneficial.

The Fall Prevention Program begins with an initial assessment to determine one’s risk factors, the issues that are most likely to lead to a fall. Licensed professionals, including a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a pharmacist, gather information about any previous falls, any changes in medication, and potential hazards in the home.

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Need Basic Resources? I Can Help!

| Graceful Health

By Jane Wheeler, Grace Cottage Patient Resource Advocate

It’s getting cold out there. This is the time of year when people stockpile wood, fill their oil or propane tanks, and put extra food in their cupboards and cellars. With winter coming on, everyone has resource challenges that need to be addressed.

Winter also brings on health challenges, as colds and flu go around, and slippery conditions make accidents more likely.

Peace of mind comes with having needed resources in place, and peace of mind is important to your health.

Are you prepared for winter? If you have any questions about how you’ll meet your health and household needs this winter, if you live nearby or are a Grace Cottage patient, I want to talk to you. I work at Grace Cottage in Townshend as part of the Community Health Team, and my job is to help people get the resources they need to live healthy lives.

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