EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CORNER
Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Healthcare
By Chris Dougherty, President & CEO

The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday is very special to me. I find incredible inspiration from the life, work, and writings of Dr. King. He even inspired one of my all-time favorite songs (Pride in the Name of Love – by U2). I have tried – and generally failed to emulate his life.

While it’s easy to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. as a leader in the fight for racial and social justice, we should not forget that he also dreamed of health equity for all. And thanks to some very special BMH and community leaders, we are now engaged in doing all we can to improve in this area.
 
In a speech given at the Chicago convention of the Medical Committee for Human Rights in 1966, Dr. King said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” In a nutshell, Dr. King saw health inequality as our nation’s most notorious expression of segregation.
 
As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16th I am encouraged by the fact that issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) are being taken seriously here at BMH and at healthcare institutions across the U.S. But I am also keenly aware that as a nation we still have a long way to go in our efforts to make Dr. King’s dream a reality.
 
We are blessed to live in a community that, while far from perfect, is willing to keep reaching for the ideals championed by Dr. King. We are also blessed to work at a hospital that recognizes the need to explore issues of institutional and unconscious bias, and to take steps to overcome them.
 
Thank you to BMH JEDI Member, Imogene Drakes, for the wonderful presentation she gave today about Dr. King—his work, his life, and the values he stood for. It was nice to see so many BMH team members in attendance!

In everything we do – may we strive to honor the legacy of Dr. King and incorporate the beautiful values he espoused: peace, love, justice, and respect for the dignity of all.
NEW FACES @ BMH - November 2022
NEW FACES @ BMH - December 2022
BMH DEPARTMENT NEWS
Human Resources
BMH Retirement Plan Changes

Beginning January 1, 2023 BMH consolidated its Retirement Plans. The current Money Purchase Pension Plan (a/k/a MPP or 401(a) Plan) will be frozen and will no longer receive employer contributions. All employer contributions/matches will now go into a single plan--BMH's 403(b) plan.

403(b) Plan:
  • All employees are eligible immediately upon hire to make salary contributions on a pre-tax and/or after tax (ROTH) basis.
  • Eligibility for the employer matching contribution has been modified from 2 years of service and 1,000 hours worked per year to 3 months of service with 250 hours worked.
  • The annual hospital contribution has been increased from 5 percent to 6 percent.
  • Employees who meet the requirement of 3 months of service with 250 hours worked and have made a minimum of a 1 percent or 2 percent employee contribution (depending on years of service), are also eligible for an Employer Match (see below).
Please contact Kris Watters, Sr Benefits Administrator, at kwatters@bmhvt.org or x3179 if you have any questions.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
Committee Update

Many of you will recall that BMH’s previous diversity and equity committees were disbanded due to staff turnover. Fortunately, the hospital has convened a new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee (JEDI) that has been meeting since late summer. Much as before, the team’s mission is to help facilitate our organization’s journey toward becoming, as CEO Chris Dougherty would say, a more equitable “hub of hope, health, and healing” for our entire community.
 
The revitalized JEDI committee is comprised of BMH staff members who represent various departments and levels in our hospital. Current JEDI members are: Rebecca Burns, RN, Chris Dougherty, CEO, Imogene Drakes, PhD, Nancy Glasheen, Stella King, Kathleen McGraw, MD, Konstantin von Krusenstiern, and Sarah West.

Their work will encompass the full range of health equity issues. At its heart, this means we’ll be working to provide every person we serve with quality healthcare opportunities that are unimpeded by potential barriers including a person’s unique cultural, racial, financial, gender identity, and other needs.
 
In addition to working to reduce health disparities, the JEDI team will also focus on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the BMH workplace.
 
To help us succeed, we recently contracted with three talented consultants: Dr. Dottie Morris, Dr. Trini Tellez, and Wichie Artu. Drs. Morris and Tellez are veteran consultants on issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. Wichie Artu is a knowledgeable data analyst who also has experience promoting equity. These consultants will partner with the JEDI committee to design programs/pathways that should help BMH make significant and sustainable progress in health equity.
 
Rounding out our team of outside experts is Diana Wahle, who has been a community activist in the Brattleboro area for a number of years and will serve as an advisor.
 
Soon we will begin reaching out to various members of the BMH community for suggestions on how we can achieve our goal of equitable healthcare for all patients regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation/identification, physical, or mental ability.
 
Stay tuned for updates and invitations.
Environmental Services
BMH Wishes a Happy Retirement to Wanda Smith

With a new granddaughter born on Christmas day, Environmental Services Aid Wanda Smith could not have picked a better time to retire. And after 43 years of service at BMH she’s certainly earned it!
 
Smith started at the hospital in 1980 when her department was called “Housekeeping” and the team worked just one shift per day (7:00 am to 3:30 pm). That’s a big contrast to the faster pace and quicker turn-arounds we take for granted today.
 
“Now we run three shifts a day with 24-hour coverage,” said Smith. “Someone’s always available, and of course the emphasis on infection control has really gotten big.”
 
In November of 2009 Smith was recognized as BMH Employee of the Month, and in 2014 she was recognized as BMH Employee of the Year. Her commitment to patients and families, along with her reputation for a smile and a kind word, gained her frequent mention in publicly reported CMS patient satisfaction surveys.
 
With her retirement now in full view, Smith says the thing she will miss the most about BMH is her colleagues. “Some have become like a second family to me,” she said.
 
Thank you, Wanda, from all of us at BMH. You have enriched us in these past four-plus decades, and we will miss your steady presence and kind spirit.
Quality Department
CMS Continual Survey/Next Patient Readiness 101
by Travis Kumph, Director, Quality and Patient Safety

Please do your part to ensure BMH is always next patient/survey ready!

1. Do not prop open the doors! Although propping doors open is often done with good intentions, this is a violation of fire code that creates a fire-safety issue and will result in a citation. If you see that a door is propped, please un-prop it immediately and notify staff in that area.

2. Are you responsible for any policies at BMH?
Be sure to check and see when they were last reviewed/updated. CMS expects policies to be reviewed/updated every 2-3 years at minimum…even if no changes are needed other than changing the last review date.

3. Safeguard protected health information at all times!
Consider how patient health information (PHI) or electronic patient health information (EPHI) is displayed/available. Documents, computer screens, white boards, etc., should NOT be available/visible in public spaces or to staff who do not need access to that information.
Center for Wound Healing
Welcome, Steven!

We would like to give a warm welcome to Steven Smith, who recently assumed the role of Practice Director in BMH's Center for Wound Healing/Wound Center.

Steven has taken over for Katie Lutz, who served in the Wound Center since 2018 and has recently taken a promotion within the Healogics organization (our Wound Center is managed jointly through a partnership between Healogics and BMH).

At BMH, Steven will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Center, partnering with our Brattleboro General Surgery and Podiatry physicians and promoting the services of the Wound Center throughout the community.

Prior to joining BMH, Steven served in several leadership roles in residential mental/behavioral health facilities. Please join us in welcoming Steven and in thanking Katie for her service to the Wound Center.
Financial Services
Lorin Young, new Director of Patient Financial Services

Lorin Young has accepted the position of Director, Patient Financial Services effective January 1, 2023. Lorin will oversee the facility/professional billing office, credit & collections, patient access, and Health Information Management (HIM).

Lorin holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from the Marlboro Graduate School in Marlboro, VT. She has currently been serving as our Manager of Patient Access.

Prior to this held positions as the Director of Physician Practice for North Star Health and the Director of HIM/Chief Privacy Officer for the Brattleboro Retreat. Lorin brings valuable experience to BMH and we are very fortunate for her leadership.

Congratulations, Lorin, on your new role!
Birthing Center
New Graduate!

Congratulations to Gracie Kavanah! Gracie recently graduated from University of Southern Maine with a Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education. Gracie is a nurse in BMH's Birthing Center and has been at BMH for nearly 15 months.

Way to go, Gracie!
Compliance/Privacy
HIPAA Reminders
by Meredith Burt, RN, Compliance Officer and Director, Privacy
Staffing Update

Allison Geissler has accepted the role of Risk/Compliance Coordinator! Allison joined the BMH team several months ago and has been working for the hospital's Dietary/Nutrition Department. The Risk/Compliance Coordinator role offers Allison the opportunity to utilize valuable skills she obtained as a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney in new and exciting ways. We are excited to welcome Allison to the Quality Department Team!
Outpatient Lab
Happy New Year from the Lab
Written in bacteria!
Nutrition Services
The Nutrition Services Department wishes to thank everyone who contributed to their recent sock collection. 612 pairs of socks were donated to Groundworks Collaborative to disburse among their many programs. That's an impressive number of socks!
REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
THANK YOU!
Give Blood!
To make an appointment to give blood at the locations below, click here.
Support the BMH Oncology Dept. by Supporting BUHS Hockey!
The BUHS Boys & Girls Hockey Teams are hosting "Pink the Rink" on Wednesday, January 25 at Nelson Withington Skating Rink. Proceeds raised that evening from on-site activities as well as online donations will support the BMH Oncology Department.
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