Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Southwestern Vermont Health Care is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive community of ca
re within our organization. We commit to the idea of building a care community that explicitly recognizes the value of human diversity. We aim to demonstrate our inherent, unwavering value of and respect for the rich spectrum of human differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, disability and religion.
We affirm that each of us shares responsibility for creating and maintaining an environment of mutual respect and support. We understand that diversity fosters innovation and creates a welcoming environment for our patients, colleagues and community. We will strive to ensure the value of diversity is upheld in everything that we do for our colleagues, patients, families, visitors, the broader community, and all who contribute to the achievement of our mission. We support the availability of educational opportunities to create a culturally competent work force and a healing environment that demonstrates respect for the individuality of employees, patients, and visitors.
SVMC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, with over 45 members, collaborates across the health system to ensure an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all.
- Standardization of patient demographic data collection
- Creation of mandatory training for all employees regarding the impact of bias in health care settings
- Coffee and Conversations: quarterly opportunities for SVMC staff to gather for a timely presentation regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care, followed by open dialogue
- Review and revision of policies and procedures to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for staff and patients
- Review and revision of event reporting process
A working group of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Community Outreach Task Force is committed encouraging action and facilitating accountability to reduce modifiable health disparities using interventions that are effective, scalable, data-driven, and culturally humble. The Community Outreach Task Force provided strategic direction for SVMC’s 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, a process which identified health disparities in the SVMC community rooted in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and gender expression. The Task Force is implementing community-based projects to eliminate the disparities identified by the assessment process, and to ensure health equity.
You have the right to complain about any aspect of your care or discharge to SVMC and state and federal agencies without fear of reprisal. You, a family member, or significant other can initiate this process. If your concern cannot be resolved by your physician or the nursing staff, you may contact a hospital representative in the office of:
- Patient Advocate
802-440-4054
- Privacy Officer
802-447-5592
- Chief Nursing Officer
802-447-5004
- President and CEO
802-447-5236
All are located at 100 Hospital Drive, Bennington, VT 05201