SPONSORED CONTENT
Porter Medical Center has been laser-focused the past several weeks on extraordinary efforts to care for our community, and to keep our staff healthy and prepared for the potential surge in COVID-19 cases. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted us to develop new ways of delivering care, such as restricting patient and resident visitation and temporarily halting all elective surgeries. We opened a drive-through test site on March 16, greatly expanded our telemedicine capabilities and doubled our number of negative-pressure rooms.  We have taken these actions, and more, to help us limit virus exposure, conserve personal protective equipment (PPE), steward financial resources, and protect our patients, staff and community. 
We have begun an email newsletter to keep you informed, help you connect with our staff and even make a difference if you are inspired. You will read personal letters from our medical providers and staff, see uplifting photos taken on campus and throughout our community, and have an opportunity to post your own message of support for our staff.  You can access links to recent Porter media coverage, as well as trusted Coronavirus information and advice.  Any financial support you give us through our COVID-19 Response Fund will help us buy the PPE to protect our staff and telemedicine equipment to serve our patients and residents at Helen Porter.
In this time of challenge, we still witness many moments of grace in our daily relationships and in our vocation.  We have received countless expressions of gratitude and support from our community that have been truly inspiring. These gestures are what ground and sustain our team as we provide compassionate care for our patients, one person at a time. Porter has cared for the people in our communities for almost 100 years—through both good and challenging times—and we are still here for you, just as you have been there for us. 
Thank you for your resilience in these uncertain times and please continue to follow along with our efforts by signing up to receive our newsletter from our website.
    To your health, 
Tom Thompson
Interim President & COO 
UVMHN Porter Medical Center