Regulators Give SVMC’s Renal Dialysis Unit High Marks

BENNINGTON, VT—March 30, 2021—The Renal Dialysis Unit at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has earned two distinctions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a deficiency-free survey and a five-star rating.

“We see our patients three times a week and develop strong bonds with them,” said Ruth Rudnick, the manager of the department. “That makes it really rewarding to do the important work necessary to ensure the care they receive is the best it can be.”

Last week, the department underwent a rigorous 3-day survey and licensure review, including patient interviews, staff interviews, records reviews, and more. The survey happens once every 3 years. The regulator granted the SVMC Renal Dialysis Department deficiency-free status, the highest given.

The CMS Stars Program, which requires a separate review, is designed to help patients understand differences in the quality of services being provided by different dialysis centers. SVMC’s Renal Dialysis Department received five stars on their recent review. The score includes ratings for both clinical quality and patient experience.

“We are deeply proud of all that this hardworking team has accomplished for their patients,” said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVMC’s chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services. “They have a long history of constant improvement on behalf of patients, which adds up over years to unparalleled excellence.”

The Renal Dialysis Department is made up of 17 staff members. Together, they offer dialysis care to approximately 45 patients over 6 days each week.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. SVMC ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. It has also received the highest marks possible from the Leapfrog Group. 

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.