Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

26/12/2025

Congratulations to our CEO Tom Dee, who was honored last week for his support of nurses and nursing recognition.

Tom was named an Extraordinary DAISY Champion. The honor was bestowed on Dee from the DAISY Foundation, which is an international organization that recognizes exceptional nurses and leaders who support compassionate nursing.
The recognition came with a special video message from Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation

“In 26 years of DAISY, you are the first hospital CEO to be named a DAISY Champion,” Barnes said in her message to Dee. “Your support of your nurses is clearly demonstrated through your commitment to Magnet Excellence, and that speaks volumes to your deep appreciation to your nurses’ value and vital contribution to the community. You are indeed a DAISY Champion.”

Tom retires from SVMC in mid-January after 16 years.

A well-deserved honor. Thank you, Tom!

23/12/2025

Some scenes of the season at SVMC! From ugly sweaters to employee meals, our teams found moments to celebrate this festive time of year.

Wishing all a wonderful and healthy holiday and a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate.

Special thanks to those SVMC staff who will be working through the holiday, ensuring we continue to provide care to our community.

20/12/2025

We’re thrilled to share that Healing Harvest, a food pantry program that started at Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, is now available in Bennington.

Thanks to donations made to the SVRCC Patient Resource Fund, the team at Dartmouth Cancer Center Bennington can now provide healthy groceries to patients experiencing food insecurity.

As Caryn Packard, administrative director of our Bennington center said: “While we support our patients through treatment, we don’t want their healing impacted by lack of access to basic needs. Bringing Healing Harvest locally is another way we can provide wraparound support for our patients and their families.”

Pictured are Caryn, Nutritionist Kristin Irace, RD, LDN and Oncology Social Worker Elizabeth Fredland, LICSW, with patient food bags from Healing Harvest.

19/12/2025

A good reminder on when to visit the ED or head to ExpressCare in Bennington.

Please note special holiday hours for our walk-in clinic: ExpressCare will be closing at 4 pm on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Christmas Day. Otherwise, you can access ExpressCare seven days a week from 8 am - 6 pm.

🩺 Emergency department (ED) visits are up, and so are wait times. If your illness or condition is not life-threatening but needs prompt action, consider visiting your hospital’s nearest express or urgent care.

Most walk-in centers are designed for immediate, non-emergency care. But when you visit a hospital-linked center, your attending medical provider will likely be able to consult your medical records and share what they find with your provider.

For life-threatening conditions like chest pain, broken bones, or a serious head injury, go to the closest ED. If you need urgent help, call 9-1-1.

Save or share this infographic (or the article linked below) as a handy reference.

18/12/2025

Do you have a deep desire to help others, provide passionate care and make a positive impact on patient lives? If so join our Nursing team at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, a five-time Magnet® Center for Nursing Excellence.

We have openings in our Emergency Department, Medical Surgical Unit and Women’s and Children Unit. Outpatient Service areas are available as well, in Endoscopy, Oncology, Renal, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Operating Room and Primary Care.

Positions vary in clinical areas. We're looking for RNs LPN/CMAs and LNAs.

SVMC offers continuing education tuition reimbursement, clinical advancement opportunities, RN Pipeline Pathway Program, loan forgiveness for new graduates, sign on retention bonuses and lots more!

Look at available positions at the link: https://bit.ly/4hH3WCk

18/12/2025

18/12/2025

As we continue to celebrate SVMC’s sixth Magnet® Recognition for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program, we asked our nursing and practice site teams to share a few snapshots. These are the faces of Magnet® at SVMC. Each person pictured helps us provide exceptional care to our community and made achieving this prestigious distinction possible.

While we don’t have photos of all 311 nurses who provide care at our main campus and practice sites, this is a great representation of many of those incredible teams.

Congratulations and thank you to every nurse at SVMC!

15/12/2025

In this season of giving, we want to highlight one very special gift in 2025 that made investment in the latest technology possible.

Don and Nancy Kendall, of Mack Molding, helped fund a cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanner at our Bennington hospital this year, providing diagnostic capabilities typically found only at academic centers.

SVMC is now one of the few hospitals in Vermont to offer cardiac CT, giving local patients a non-invasive option that provides clinicians with a real-time view of the heart, valves, arteries, and more.

Having cardiac CT is another way we can keep patients closer to home for exceptional healthcare.

Dr. Scott Rogge, Medical Director of SVMC Cardiology explains it best: “This is a huge boost to our diagnostic capabilities. Cardiac CT provides a real-time view of what’s happening and enables us to develop more informed treatment plans. Thank you to Don and Nancy for their incredible investment in our community and health system.”

Thank you, Nancy and Don for all your support.

When you’re part of SVMC, you’re part of a community with heart!

12/12/2025

Help us congratulate two SVMC nurses recently honored with the DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses.

Rayana Lane, MSN, RN, a nurse on SVMC’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and Jessica DeLeon, RN a nurse on SVMC’s 2 West, were individually presented with DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses.

Rayana was nominated by the spouse of a patient who was unexpectedly rushed to ICU with sepsis.

“Through those first scariest of days, Rayana Lane was the nurse who never left,” the nominator wrote. “She became our calm, the one who kept focused on the positive changes that were slowly occurring, the face I looked to for hope! Rayana never faltered, never wavered in her positivity. She went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and my husband was attended to continuously”

The patient made a full recovery and the nominator noted they were forever grateful for the care received at SVMC.

Jessica was nominated by a 76-year-old patient who explained they have been in hospitals several times but never came across a nurse so conscientious.

“She went over and above her call of duty as far as me and my family. She makes you want to get well,” the nominator wrote. “It's almost like she puts herself in the patient’s place.”

Congrats to both nurses and thank you for all you do! DAISY Foundation

10/12/2025

Our deepest thanks to the Manchester, VT team from Dometic who put together comfort baskets for the patients at the Dartmouth Cancer Center Bennington.

Pictured are members of our cancer center team with the gorgeous baskets.

We're so grateful for support from wonderful local partners and businesses!

09/12/2025

Welcome to our newest providers!

Kelly A. Cole, APRN, Express Care, Kavi Patel, MD, Pathology and Brion M. Winston, MD, Cardiovascular Medicine. Grateful to have you in our SVMC community.

We recently welcomed 84 new providers at various hospitals and clinics around the Dartmouth Health system. These providers span 40 healthcare disciplines and practices across nine Dartmouth Health locations. Some new providers will see patients at multiple Dartmouth Health facilities. See the full list at the link in the comments.

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital | Cheshire Medical Center | Dartmouth Cancer Center | Dartmouth Health Children's | Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord | Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester | Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua | Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center | Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center | New London Hospital | Southwestern Vermont Medical Center | Valley Regional Hospital

09/12/2025

Grateful for the visit from our state commissioners and the open conversation about challenges and opportunities.

The 90-minute session focused on questions and concerns about healthcare in Vermont, as well as on some positive news despite rising health insurance and other costs.