Open. Ready. Safe.

Leaders from every corner of Southwestern Vermont Health Care have prepared their teams to treat patients safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about the advancements we've made to ensure safety and get the information you need to resume your care.

We are open. Types of care provided include:

• Emergency care for patients with chest pain, trouble walking, slurred speech, shortness of breath, or potential broken bones.
• ExpressCare for other time-sensitive issues, without an appointment.
• The Respiratory Evaluation Center (REC) for all patients who have respiratory symptoms that do not require emergency care. Patients access the Center with a referral from a primary care provider or by calling 802-440-4077.
• Primary and specialty care, both in person and via telemedicine, for those with chronic conditions, new concerns, and the need for screenings and preventive care.
• Blood tests, imaging studies, and sleep studies through the Lab, Imaging, and Sleep Lab departments.
• Prenatal care and deliveries.
• Both outpatient procedures and those requiring an overnight stay.

SVMC is ready and safe. SVMC has implemented many changes to ensure that its departments and teams are prepared to provide safe care for all. Changes to care include:

• Whenever possible, patients will be prescreened over the phone prior to their visit.
• Patients may be accompanied only when medically necessary.
• To improve social distancing in waiting rooms, a virtual waiting room allows patients to call 802-447-5000 when they arrive in the parking lot, wait in their cars, and receive a text message when their appointment is ready.
• Patients are asked to wear their own face covering, if they have one. Patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering SVMC and its practices. Those with symptoms will be given a medical-grade procedure mask and be taken to the REC. Those with neither a mask nor symptoms will be given a cloth mask to borrow. All face coverings should be worn for the duration of the visit.
• Waiting areas have been arranged to allow 6 feet between chairs and are disinfected hourly. Exam rooms are thoroughly cleaned between patients.
• Guidelines that restrict visitor access remain in place.
• Additional safety procedures, including COVID-19 testing and ongoing monitoring, are in place for outpatient surgeries.

We've never stopped being there for patients.

Even as elective surgical procedures were suspended in early March, SVHC continued to provide safe, high-quality care for patients requiring urgent and emergent surgical interventions. The health system’s emergency department, ExpressCare, and most of its primary and specialty care practices consistently remained open during the pandemic. Many practices continued to see patients through enhanced telemedicine appointments. And, the hospital’s Women's and Children’s Department welcomed more than 40 babies in May. Elective outpatient procedures resumed May 7.

How to resume your care.

• For questions about how to resume or initiate elective care, call your primary care provider or the specialist directly.
• For a list of providers, visit svhealthcare.org/physician-directory.
• If you would like to reschedule a procedure that was canceled, call 802-447-5541.

NATIONAL AND STATE RESOURCES: 

CDC.gov

Vermont Department of Health

New York Department of Health

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

IN THIS SECTION: 

COVID Home

Hotline and Other Numbers

FAQs

Vaccine Info

How Does it Spread? 

What's my Risk? 

Handling COVID Stress

What if I Have Symptoms? 

Testing

Visitor Guidance

MORE INFORMATION: 

Using Telemedicine

Open, Ready, Safe

Making Essential Trips

Masks 101

Pick-Up and Delivery Services

Physical Fitness

Housecleaning

COVID-19 Scams