NEWPORT — Every year at North Country Hospital, nurses nominate their peers for one of four special awards. This year awards were given to Kim Blanchard for customer service, Angela Coblentz for professional growth, Chelsea Hamel for community, and Marie Dumas for quality. These accolades were all revealed at the nurses week dinner on May… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — It’s been a busy week at the hospital, as visiting kindergartners and first graders have been getting their favorite stuffed animals weighed and immunized at the Teddy Bear Clinic. Nearly 400 students from 15 schools in the two local supervisory unions marched proudly with their buddies into North Country Hospital. Multiple stations provided… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Last week during Infant Immunization Week, the Vermont Department of Health made its way around the state to 25 pediatric practices, recognizing them for the work they have done to increase child immunization rates. North Country Pediatrics in Newport excelled for the second year by making sure as many patients as possible received… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — A group of fifth graders at Newport City Elementary School had some hands-on experience in North Country Hospital’s Education Department. The students were able to practice procedures for donning and doffing, sterile glove application, as well as touring through various clinical departments throughout the hospital. North Country Hospital is able to host students… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Patients, families, as well as North Country Hospital staff, all appreciate local hospital volunteers throughout the year. Between nearly 50 volunteers performing various jobs throughout the organization, a total of 8,000 hours have been logged over the last 12 months. On April 8, the group was recognized for their dedication and many hours… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital announced that its Board of Trustees has appointed Brian Nall as the next Chief Executive Officer. Nall currently serves as President and CEO at HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, Illinois. He has 24 years of healthcare experience, including 12 years of CEO experience at two rural hospitals in Idaho… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — A few raindrops didn’t deter the spirits of 29 enthusiastic golf teams at Orleans Country Club this past Sunday. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and players, North Country Hospital continues to provide between 15 and 20 new healthcare education scholarships each year. This year student teams from North Country Union High School… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — To celebrate the nurses at North Country Hospital, during National Nurses Week, their VP of Patient Care Services, and Chief Nursing Officer, Avril Cochran, hosted a dinner at the Eastside Restaurant. Guests enjoyed a wonderful buffet, outdoor games in the beautiful sunshine, and the announcement of this year’s Nursing Excellence Awards recipients. Cochran,… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — This year marks year 12 that North Country Hospital has supported the week-long, healthcare job shadowing program MedQuest. High school sophomores from northeastern and central Vermont apply for an opportunity to participate in a structured educational program where they learn about job-shadowing health professionals, acquire basic medical skills, explore career and educational goals,… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Tick-borne illnesses have increased in Vermont, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Vermont had 6,161 cases of illness caused by tick-borne diseases between 2004 and 2016. In total, 99 percent of all reported tick-borne diseases are caused by the blacklegged tick, the state Department of Health says. According… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Each year North Country Hospital provides a small gift to each member of the Medical Staff, honoring them for Doctor’s Day. This year the Medical Staff Executive Committee suggested that instead of a gift an equal amount of money could be contributed to the med staff fund. The fund in turn gives back… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital Board of Trustees has named Chief Operating Officer, Tom Frank, as the interim CEO of North Country Hospital effective April 1, 2018, replacing long-time CEO Claudio Fort. Fort is leaving to fill the position of CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center. Chairman of the North Country Hospital Board of Trustees,… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — For kids who like to ride ATVs, North Country Hospital will be hosting a free ½ day classroom training course sponsored by VASA on Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. – noon in the downstairs Meeting Room. This free course which teaches safe and responsible ATV operation is a requirement for all Vermont… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital was recently named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This is the second year the hospital has received this recognition. “This achievement is very gratifying and validates our daily commitment to providing the best healthcare possible to… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Six nurse residents recently presented their oral projects and graduated from North Country Hospital’s program, developed last year by nursing leadership. This is the second class that has gone through the rigorous, eight-month residency, where graduates work with a preceptor in their respective departments, get to work with other clinical areas as well… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — In the four years that Avril Cochran has worked at North Country Hospital, she has been advocating for a more robust chaplaincy program, having come from Copley Hospital, where they have a full-time chaplain. Her predecessor, Sheryl Washburn Carter, started the program, to include growing the number of on-call chaplains visiting North Country… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital was among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. The campaign has added more than 400,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide. North… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Over 59,000 children visit an emergency room for medicine poisoning every year. That’s one child every nine minutes. Sales for over-the-counter medications went from $5.5 billion in 1980 to $30.8 billion in 2014. As these numbers explode this means that children are increasingly exposed to prescription drugs and equally dangerous over-the-counter medications. Beth… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — The pharmacy professionals at North Country Hospital were recently presented with the Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS) 2017 Best Practices Award as well as being named 2017 Site of the Year Award for the East Region. Comprehensive Pharmacy Services is a national independent pharmacy service provider for 700+ client facilities across the United States.… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital is proud to recognize National Health IT Week from October 2-6, 2017. This week is set aside to spotlight information technology’s important role in improving healthcare. National Health IT Week is an awareness week offering all healthcare stakeholders an opportunity to unite under one banner, expressing the benefits that health… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Most wired hospitals use technology to partner with patients on their health, and this is the second consecutive year that North Country Hospital has been named a “Most Wired” hospital. In 2016, the hospital received the accolade in the “Small and Rural” category as a frontrunner among smaller community hospitals. This year North… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital’s Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory has been granted an additional three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic. This latest accreditation awarded to North Country Hospital demonstrates the facility’s ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography. Echocardiography is used to… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Four nurses working at North Country Hospital were nominated by their peers and recently received excellence awards in the following categories: Commitment to Professional Growth: Dawn Flood-Dunn, House Supervisor While working as House Supervisor, Flood-Dunn is utilized in all nursing departments. She has continued to keep her clinical knowledge base up to date… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital, Safe Kids VT, and Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association held a half-day classroom training to teach local youth the importance of safe riding and following the rules when riding ATV’s. Trained instructors from VASA conducted the four-hour training. The students even enjoyed a visit from local Game Wardens Jenna Reed, Jason… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Every two weeks a child is killed in a TV, furniture or appliance tip-over incident. Every 30 minutes, or less than the length of a Sesame Street episode, a child visits the Emergency Room due to a TV or piece of furniture falling onto them. North Country Hospital understands the severity of this… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — Getting your annual mammogram screening has been the key method for detecting breast cancer. 3D mammography, like that found at North Country Hospital and many facilities around the country, has improved mammography’s ability to detect breast cancers earlier, improving chances for survival. A new Vermont law that has just gone into effect mandates… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). MRI is a noninvasive medical test that utilizes magnetic fields to produce anatomical images of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and… Keep Reading
ORLEANS — Northern Counties Health Care recently announced the expansion of their dental program in collaborative partnership with North Country Hospital and the Village of Orleans. Once operational, the new Orleans Dental Center will employ a dentist, hygienist, dental assistant, receptionist and office supervisor. The practice will have two Operatories and two hygiene rooms, and… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital now has a certified Pediatric Ultrasound technologist on staff. North Country Hospital Ultrasound Technologist, Bonnie Castonguay has earned a Pediatric Sonography specialty certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). The ARDMS is the governing organization for Ultrasound Imaging in the United States and represents the highest standards… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital hosted its annual “Teddy Bear Clinic” last Thursday and Friday. Kindergarten classes from Orleans, Irasburg, Glover, Newport, Derby, St. Paul’s and United Christian Academy brought their favorite stuffed animals in for a routine checkup. This program, designed to familiarize children with the hospital and staff, is in its 29th year.… Keep Reading
NEWPORT — North Country Hospital, Safe Kids Vermont and VASA, Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association, held a half day classroom training on April 23 to teach local youth the importance of safe riding and following the rules when riding ATVs. Trained instructors from VASA conducted the four-hour training, and students even enjoyed a visit from local… Keep Reading