Kathryn Czaplinski
/ Categories: NEWS, 2024

SVMC's Tom Dee Selected as VT Chamber's Citizen of the Year

Montpelier, VT (April 2, 2024) – The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has selected Thomas A. Dee, President and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) as the 2024 Citizen of the Year. He was selected for the award for his outstanding contributions to southern Vermont, particularly his impactful efforts in health care and community development. The award will be presented at a celebratory event on Thursday, August 1, at the Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College in Bennington.

The award is presented annually by the Vermont Chamber to honor an outstanding Vermonter who has made major contributions to the betterment of Vermont; has been distinguished through outstanding service to their community and region; and typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideals of Vermont citizenship. 

“Tom has put heart and soul into improving the quality of health care – and the quality of life - in southern Vermont, while also taking visionary steps to ensure that excellent health care will be sustainable in the decades to come,” stated Kathy Fisher, Chair, SVMC Board of Directors. “And, given Tom’s understanding of the impact of socioeconomic factors on population health, he has also played a vital role in the redevelopment of downtown Bennington.” 

“I’m humbled by this honor and grateful for the attention it brings to SVMC and the community of Bennington, which I call home,” said Tom Dee. “I have always strived to be a good steward of this health care system and, while I consider myself a small part of its more than 100-year history, I understand the crucial role we have in the communities we serve and in the State of Vermont. This has always motivated me to move SVMC forward and support our community, where I can.”

“In his 14-year tenure, Tom Dee’s dedication to SVMC and southwestern Vermont has been pivotal to improving the local economy, and raising the bar for what it means to be a community leader,” stated Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber. “We are proud to award this recognition to Tom Dee and look forward to bringing Vermonters together to celebrate in Bennington.” 

The award dates back to 1964 and previous recipients include Senator Patrick Leahy, Barbara Snelling, Antonio Pomerleau, and Ken Squier. Registration to attend the celebration is now open. For more information, visit the Citizen of the Year event website. 

About Tom Dee 

Thomas A. Dee is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington, VT. Dee has over 33 years of experience as a hospital CEO. Under Dee’s management, the integrated health system has attained twelve consecutive years of positive operating performance and has been recognized with numerous state and national awards for quality of care, community leadership and workplace excellence.

He was recently named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of 110 rural hospital and health system CEOs to know for 2024. This was his fifth time receiving the national recognition. Dee led in the planning and implementation of the affiliation of SVMC with Dartmouth Health, commencing in 2012 with the formation of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Group Practice - a 150 member multi-specialty provider group. In 2023, SVMC became an institutional member of Dartmouth Health.

Before SVMC, Dee worked for Health Alliance in Kingston, NY, an integrated health system of three hospitals. He was president and Chief Executive Officer of the 222-bed Benedictine Hospital for more than 17 years. Dee has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a master's in Healthcare Administration, both from Xavier University in Ohio.

About the Vermont Chamber of Commerce

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to advancing the Vermont economy. Trusted by the businesses that make living, working, and thriving in Vermont possible, we prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state. As the preeminent not-for-profit business organization, we advocate, build community, and provide resources for businesses statewide.

 

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SVMC Creates Virtual Waiting Room to Encourage Distancing

BENNINGTON, VT—May 29, 2020—Starting Monday, many people who need in-person appointments at Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) hospital and clinics will no longer need to use traditional waiting rooms. A virtual system created by the hospital allows patients to call 802-447-5000 when they arrive in the parking lot and receive a text message when their provider is ready to see them.

SVMC's outpatient and inpatient surgeries and diagnostic services, like those for imaging and laboratory work, have resumed with enhanced safety protocols per the directive of Governor Phil Scott. The health system's emergency department, ExpressCare, emergency surgical services, and most of its primary and specialty practices remained open during the pandemic.

"SVHC has provided safe, high-quality care throughout the pandemic." Said Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) president and CEO. "Innovation has been an important part of providing care during these extraordinary times and this new program decreases the number of people in our waiting rooms and allows them to stay the recommended 6 feet apart or more."

In order to use the virtual waiting room, patients must be able to wait in their vehicle and have a charged cell phone with them. They will receive the virtual waiting room telephone number during their appointment-reminder telephone call. Signs outside the building and at the respiratory check-in stations inside the main hospital and medical office building entrances will also include the number to call.

Patients simply call the number when they arrive in the parking lot and wait in their cars. When the provider is ready to see them, they will receive a text message alert to indicate that they should come in.

"We love that we can use the same technology that most people carry with them to help people stay socially distanced," said Gail Balch, RN, who directs information technology at SVMC. "It's through innovations like this one that we are able to resume services safely and ensure patients receive the care they need."

Hospital and clinic staff anticipate that the new program will allow greater distance between people who must use traditional waiting rooms, including those who walked or took public transportation to their appointment and those who do not have a cell phone.

Additional safety protocols indicate that all patients should arrive to the hospital or clinic with their own cloth face covering. Face coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose for the entire duration of patients' visits. Patients should also come alone, unless they absolutely need assistance from a loved one.

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.

Patients with cough or shortness of breath or any two of the following—fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell—should contact their primary care provider or the COVID-19 Informational Hotline at 802-440-8844 before arriving to either their provider’s office or the hospital. For a detailed list of safety protocols, frequently asked questions, visitor guidelines, and COVID-19 information, visit svhealthcare.org.

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