Supporters overflow Gateway Center, rally for North Country Hospital

NEWPORT — North Country Hospital and the local community is forcefully rejecting a consultant’s report that recommended drastic changes to its operations, sparking a heated community response.

Over 200 residents packed the Gateway Center Thursday night to voice their concerns over a consultant’s recommendations that could dramatically alter services at North Country Hospital. The proposed changes have sparked fears about the future of critical healthcare services in the community.

Tom Frank, President and CEO at North Country Hospital, strongly criticized these suggestions.

“When you make the recommendation of no OB services, when you make the recommendation of no orthopedics services, when you make the recommendation of turning our ED into a 16-hour urgent care and to turn our in-patient beds into mental health beds, that’s basically saying close the hospital,” Frank told the crowd.

Hospital board chair Louise Bonvechio echoed Frank’s sentiments, emphatically telling the crowd that they would not be closing. “Keeping North Country Hospital open will mean sacrifices, and we will need your support,” Bonvechio said.

In a letter put out last week to Jenney Samuelson, Secretary of Human Services, Frank highlighted NCH’s unique status as Vermont’s only critical access hospital meeting all federal requirements, citing its distance from other facilities and high percentage of local inpatient discharges.

“Ninety-two percent of inpatient discharges are those from our immediate service area, the highest percentage in the state. We take care of our own,” Frank wrote.

Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) representative David Murman defended the report on Thursday, citing the hospital’s deficit in fiscal year 2023. “It was one of the hospitals that had one of the most concerning trajectories,” Murman said.

However, Frank countered that NCH has over 220 days of cash on hand and is financially stable despite challenges, including a failed electronic medical record implementation.

Community members expressed both fear and anger over potential loss of local healthcare services.

Frank emphasized that the consultant’s recommendations failed to consider the area’s rural nature and the principles of healthcare equity outlined in state legislation. The Northeast Kingdom covers 21 percent of Vermont’s land mass, where many residents lack transportation options.

As the largest local employer with over 600 staff, NCH contributes an estimated $61 million annually to the local economy. Frank warned that the recommendations “would decimate this entire community.”

Some attendees called for Governor Phil Scott to intervene, either by rescinding the report or disbanding the GMCB entirely.

The report also addressed broader issues affecting rural healthcare, including housing shortages, staffing challenges, and limited mental health services. However, hospital officials argued these objectives are largely out of their control.

As the debate continues, NCH maintains its stance on remaining a vital part of the community.

“North Country Hospital is a strong and viable organization that focuses on taking care of our patients and community. We take care of our own, and North Country Hospital has no plans of going anywhere,” Frank concluded.

In a show of continued support for North Country Hospital, a community trip to Montpelier has been organized for October 18. A chartered bus will transport supporters to the State House for a press conference featuring Newport Mayor Linda Joy Sullivan and NCH CEO Tom Frank, among others.

The hospital has reserved a 53-seat bus for the event, with spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are required to arrive at the hospital parking lot no later than 8:45 a.m., with an expected return time of 2:30 p.m. Community members interested in joining the trip are encouraged to email [email protected] to secure a spot.