Normalizing loss and what may help: The do’s and don’ts of grief
By Marty Machia, RN Loss is not just something we see at the end of life. Loss is everywhere and all around us all the time. This doesn’t always need to be a sad thing, though we often attach that connotation to it. Sometimes, loss can be heart shattering. Other...
Giving thanks and expressing gratitude for our resilient team
What does resilience look like? Look no further. It’s illustrated in these images — the obscured faces of heroes who’ve stepped up every day of this pandemic to continue the essential work that supports and protects our colleagues and communities. Our #HomeCare, #Hospice and #PalliativeCare Month photo celebration is possible...
Nov. 19 is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Nov. 19 is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day. “The aim is to raise awareness about children’s bereavement in an effort to normalize the experience of loss and grief,” Bereavement Care Coordinator Ally Parker explains. “Sometimes, with the best of intentions, we try to minimize a child’s grieving process by encouraging...
Hospice workers spend Veterans Day surprising locals who served
Join our colleagues Sara Faucher, an Army veteran, and Tara Graham, executive director of our Hospice program, as they make the rounds showing gratitude to veterans in our care. #HappyVeteransDay #ThankYouForYourService
Taking stock of essential workers: Meet Barbara, our supply specialist
Since joining our team in April 2017, Barbara Swiatlowski has carefully kept our ducks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in a row. As Home Health & Hospice’s supply specialist, she has always been foundational to the work our team does. Her organization and behind-the-scenes daily tasks, especially in this time...
Pandemic, cyberattack no match for dedicated home health staffer
A pandemic and cyberattack notwithstanding, Adult Home Health Team Assistant Barbara Martin continues linking those in our care with their clinicians. While few days qualify as “typical” anymore, as Barbara’s mask and unoccupied surroundings illustrate, “My typical day is answering phone calls from patients, clinicians and doctors’ offices and transferring...
Teams unite to offer broad support throughout COVID-19 pandemic
Working quietly behind the scenes, members of our Spiritual Care, Hospice and Bereavement teams have been supporting patients, families and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In observance of Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we salute their compassionate work and share this look at some of what they’ve done,...
Collaboration and #democracy in action as client casts first ballot
Helping clients and families meet important personal goals is an essential facet of hospice care. On Election Day, volunteers and staff rallied to support clients and family members determined to exercise the right to vote. In one exceptional case, a client who’d never before voted wanted very much to cast...
Update on now-confirmed cyberattack
The University of Vermont Health Network is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont Department of Public Safety to investigate a now-confirmed cyberattack that has affected some of our systems. We expect that it will take some time to restore and we are working as quickly as...
Home visits, care continue uninterrupted during outages
UVM Health Network is currently experiencing electronic system outages that affect access to the MyChart patient portal and patient wait times. We urge patients utilizing the Special Services Transportation Agency (SSTA) in the Burlington area to call ahead to confirm UVM Health Network appointments to prevent unnecessary travel and/or delays....