Summary of Strategic Initiatives at SVMC

SVHC achieves openness, inclusiveness, and meaningful public participation in our strategic planning, decision-making and identification of community needs through a number of channels.

SVMC Safety and Quality Committee — SVMC's committment to involving the communities we serve extends to our safety and quality committee. Despite discussing difficult and highly confidential matters, SVMC is proud to have community member on this vital committee, which oversees quality improvement and safety at our hospital.

Working with Community Organizations — Southwestern Vermont Health Care is proud to work with a variety of local organizations who share our vision of healthier communities. We are active in the Southshire Substance Abuse Coalition, the Bennington County School to Workforce Partnership, and Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center. We also lead or participate in a wide range of support groups in our service area.

In addition, SVHC was instrumental in forming Healthy Community Partnerships in each of four sectors of our service area. We convened community members from the health care, social services, education, local government, and civic organizations and worked together to do periodic community needs assessments. These assessments included interviews, focus groups, household surveys, as well as a survey and synopsis of existing health data. The partnerships prioritize issues, develop projects, and pool resources and/or pursue grants to execute projects and initiatives to meet those identified community needs. While at one time we were the convener and de-facto chairs of these partnerships, they are now mature with their own leadership and SVHC acts as a supportive partner. Ongoing dialogue with these organizations continues to inform our planning.

Regional Advisory Boards (RABS) — SVHC recruited RABS with a two-fold purpose, to assist SVHC in fundraising and to be advisors on needs in their communities. As we approach a critical fundraising effort to support a project to modernize the hospital, the role of the RABS has been focused more directly on fundraising. Nevertheless, they are at least an informal channel for our staff and Trustees to learn about the needs of the community.

Regular communication with identified opinion leaders — SVHC has compiled a roster of opinion leaders across our service area and engage in regular contact through a series of four informational updates each year. Opinion leaders are encouraged to bring comments and concerns to our Community Relations staff and/or our Board of Trustees.

Public meetings — SVHC has periodically announced public meetings for the purpose of garnering input on community needs and/or its strategic plan. Unfortunately, despite putting considerable resources into publicizing such meetings, attendance is typically sparse.

Participation on local boards and civic groups — A number of SVHC’s leadership team participate on local economic and business development boards and civic clubs. While not a formal channel to our strategic planning process, knowledge of the community gained form this participation is brought to the planning table.

Consumers interested in learning about opportunities to participate in processes contributing to strategic planning and/or community needs assessment can do so by contacting Kevin Robinson, Communications Director, via the channels below.

Phone: 447-5003
Fax: 802-440-4031
E-mail: svhcweb@phin.org
Mailing : Kevin Robinson
              Community Relations
              Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
              100 Hospital Drive
              Bennington, VT 05201

 

Acting on Community Need
In 2004, SVMC commissioned Market Street Research to conduct a community needs assessment of its complete service area. This study included all parts of its service area and was designed to focus on both the general health and the specific health care needs of the populace SVMC serves. This study was updated in 2007. These community needs are common across Vermont and change little over time. Download the full 2004 Community Needs Assessment.

The study indicated needs in three key areas:

• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs)
• Chronic disease screening

The committee charged with strategic planning at SVHC continues to use this information as a touchstone for planning the health system's activity to meet community need.

Nutrition and Physical Activity: SVHC continues to support a variety of programs through our Wellness Connection to help people learn to cook healthier food, exercise more and generally live a healthier lifestyle.

Substance abuse: SVMC supports one of the strongest Tobacco Cessation program in the state. In 2009,  more than 1400 people were referred to us for service. Of that 1400, 344 people used our service to help to quit tobacco.

SVMC also partners with the community or the state to support the following programs to make our communities healthier:

• Flu Vaccine Clinics with the Vermont Department of Health  
• AARP Safe Driving Courses
• Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions Workshops with the Vermont Blueprint  
• Trek for Health with the Vermont Blueprint  
• Health fairs and screenings
• CPR courses
• Exercise and fitness classes

The public may obtain a copy or summary of SVHC's strategic plan, its one- and four-year capital expenditure plans, and a depreciation schedule for existing facilities by contacting Marketing and Planning at 802-447-5019.

For more information on our SVHC benefit to the communities it serves, read our 2008 Community Benefit Report.