Hospital Safety Scores

You can look up the safety rating for a particular hospital or for all the hospitals in a certain city or an entire state at:  http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/

Hospitals are given a grade, such as “A” “B” or “C” and you can also see the detailed breakdown for each category contributing to the overall score. For example, one category is: Surgery Patients Received Appropriate Treatment to Prevent Blood Clots at the Right Time.


BMH Hires New Finance Director

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital official announced they have hired Bob Rovella to be the new Director of Finance.

Rovella joins BMH after serving as Director of Finance at Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre, Vermont. Previously, he has held similar positions at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts and Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire. Rovella has an MBA from the UMASS Isenberg School of Business and a BS in Accounting and Business Administration from Connecticut State University.


AARP Safe Driving Class for Senior Citizens, August 24

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and AARP are co-sponsoring a Driver Safety program on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Brew Barry Conference Room.

This driver’s refresher course is for people ages 55 and over and is designed to provide awareness of aging as it affects driving. The class covers normal physical changes associated with aging, provides practical techniques to compensate and review “rules of the road” with an emphasis on defensive driving practices.

Space is limited to 20 participants. The cost is $12.00 for AARP members with a membership card & $14.00 for non-AARP members. Call 802-251-8425 to register in advance. Fee covers materials only. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.


Free Time and Less Supervision During the Summer Can Be Exciting and Dangerous for Youth

Prescription drugs are so commonly used that some mistakenly believe they are harmless. These medications in your home may be easily accessible to youth, who often have a misperception that misusing medications is a safe way to get high. Many prescription medications, especially pain relievers and stimulants, can be extremely dangerous when used improperly, such as in combination with other drugs and/or alcohol. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA), more free time and less adult supervision can make the summertime an exciting time for many young people, but it can also increase the likelihood of exposure to dangers and substance use.


Calling All Truckers! 5th Annual Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Touch a Truck Event

Plans for the 5th Annual Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Touch a Truck event are underway. And we would love for you to participate.

This fun event annually brings over 50 vehicles to the BMH parking lot for kids (and many adults) to look at, climb on and explore. Fire trucks, police cruisers, motorcycles, backhoes, dump trucks, school buses and many, many more converge for a few hours. Last year it is estimated that over 800 children attended.


Free Diabetes Screening at the Brattleboro Farmers Market

The Brattleboro Farmers Market hosts the Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic Saturday, July 20th, for a free blood glucose/diabetes screening from 9am to 11:30am.

Now in season at the market: tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, blueberries, beans and peas, fresh basil, new potatoes, greens and broccoli…

Harvest Health Coupons are in for EBT customers! Double your money up to $10 at the market!

For more information, please call 802-254-8885.

– Brattleboro Farmers Market


Sole Revival

Indulge your sprit and nourish your soles!
MFTP is offering a end of summer foot soak clinic.
Mondays in August (beginning August 12th) 2-5pm

Come try our half hour foot soak treatment featuring a relaxing foot bath scented with organic essential oils, herbs and salts, followed by a fragrant exfoliating foot scrub, and ending with a blissful foot massage.

Nourish, Detox, Soothe, Balance…Your feet will thank you.

One treatment – $40
Save and buy 3 treatments – $35

Call or email for more details and to schedule an appointment – info@medicineforthepeople.org 802-387-3028


Free Wild and Medicinal Plant Walk at the Brattleboro Farmers Market

Free Plant walks at the Brattleboro Farmer’s Market: Saturday July 20th, Aug. 3rd & 24th at 11am

The Brattleboro Farmers Market is open 9 to 2 outdoors on Rte 9 and SUMMER is hitting it’s stride! Peaches, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, beans and glorious delights of all shapes and flavors are in. Harvest Health Coupons are in: EBT customers, double your money up to $10 while supplies last! 802-254-8885

Join botanist, herbalist and naturalist Heidy Adams on a walk at the Brattleboro Saturday market. We’ll be exploring traditional uses of the native and introduced plants growing in the field, wooded areas and down by the river. There are over 40 plants to discuss!

For all ages! Anyone interested in learning more about the uses of wild local plants are welcome.


Psychosynthesis Training and Counseling

The field of psychosynthesis is a transpersonal psychology that works with the natural tendency to seek meaning and purpose in life, thus integrating both psychological and spiritual development. On Sunday, July 14th, the Synthesis Center is offering a free introduction to psychosynthesis at 6:30 p.m. in Brattleboro. The program includes a brief presentation on the principles of psychosynthesis, along with some experiential exercises and an overview of upcoming training opportunities.


Trisko Earns Associate’s Degree

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced that Christine Trisko earned her Associate of Science degree from Community College of Vermont this past May. Trisko is the Scheduling Coordinator for the Radiology Department.

BMH Director of Radiology Marcy Rushford says the degree improves Trisko’s skills and knowledge and makes her a more rounded employee. BMH supports the personal and professional development of employees by offering a tuition reimbursement program.


BMH Center for Cardiovascular Health Welcomes Phaedra McDonough, APRN

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced that Phaedra McDonough, APRN has joined the medical staff at the BMH Center for Cardiovascular Health and is now accepting patients.

McDonough has eight years’ experience working in the Cardiology Unit at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene as well as previous experience in the Intensive Care Unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She is a Cardiac Device Specialist with board certification from the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners.


Brattleboro Internal Medicine Introduces New Office Manager

Brattleboro Internal Medicine, a member of BMH Physician Group, announced it has hired Eilidh Pederson, MPH as its new Office Manager.

Pederson will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the practice, providing the infrastructure to support services offered by the six primary care practitioners, Richard Burtis, MD, Thomas W. Lewis, MD, Laura Metsch, MD, Andrea Galasso, DO, Anne Cloutier, PA and Roxanne Karter, APRN.


Marijuana Diabetes and Obesity Health Benefits

New cannabis research indicate that cannabis compounds may help in controlling blood sugar, yet health trends occur despite the fact that marijuana users take in more calories.

The most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers. Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level. Current marijuana users showed fasting insulin levels that were 16% lower than those of former or never users, along with a 17% reduction in another measure of insulin resistance as well.


Denny Rivers Named BMH 2013 Employee of the Year

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital named Denny Rivers, MLT, its 2013 Employee of the Year during an employee appreciation event held May 16.

A member of the Laboratory Services secretarial staff since 1995, Rivers was nominated for the award in recognition of her problem-solving abilities, among other qualities. She holds a Medical Laboratory Technician certification from University of Vermont, which her peers say makes her a fast worker and thinker while guiding patients.


BMH New Moms Network Announces Programs for May and June

The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Birthing Center announced the May and June program schedule for its New Moms Network, which meets every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the BMH Exercise Room.

Chris Ellis, RD, presents “Starting Solids: Making Your Own Baby Food” on May 15. Ellis is a staff nutritionist at the Brattleboro Food Coop and part of the Early Education Services organization. On May 22, Dawn Kersula, RN, IBCLC, presents “The Advice I Would Give Someone Else About Birth.” Kersula is a perinatal specialist and lead lactation consultant at BMH. She is also president of the Vermont Lactation Association. The final Wednesday of the month, May 29, is an open session.


“Gaining Health, Losing Weight” Program in Putney

Interested in cultivating an educated & positive relationship to your body and food?

Want to empower yourself to work with your metabolism, lifestyle choices, and food to increase your health & vitality? 

This 4-week program (May 30th-June27th) is a support group for people wanting lose weight in a sustainable, healthy, and educated way. Gain greater health and lose weight through nutrition, herbs, lifestyle modification, and yoga. 


Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Announces Delivery of First-Rate Cancer Rehab Services to Survivors – Earns STAR Program® Certification

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announced today that it has earned its STAR Program® Certification from the Massachusetts-based Oncology Rehab Partners, leading experts in the field of survivorship care. BMH is leading the way in offering excellent cancer rehabilitation services to its patients by becoming the first STAR Program Certified in Vermont.

The STAR program, which stands for Survivorship Training And Rehabilitation, is a national certification program that provides hospitals with the tools and training needed to minimize the debilitating side effects of cancer treatment. The clinicians that have completed the STAR certification course coordinate care to provide treatment tailored to the specific needs of cancer patients who may be experiencing musculoskeletal pain, limb swelling, general weakness, balance issues, fatigue, difficulty swallowing or other debilitating side effects caused by cancer treatments.


BMH Hosts Talk on Caring for Family Members with Dementia, May 20

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will offer a free public talk entitled, “When A Loved One Has Dementia…” in the Brew Barry Conference Room on Monday, May 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Led by Michelle Rowland, RN, LISCW, the talk will cover expected stages of dementia and available support and treatments for patients in the community. The talk will also address how families, friends and caregivers can find support and relief.