COVID-19 turning anticipated surplus into deficit at Porter Medical Center

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center President Tom Thompson is asking his managers to be frugal during the coming months in an effort to reduce a budget deficit produced in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent email to the PMC community, Thompson noted the organization has seen a $93,000 loss during the first four months of fiscal year 2021. By contrast, Porter officials had been counting on a $413,000 gain at this point He attributed the red ink to the fact that some potential patients continue to post … (read more)

Porter doctors take on leadership roles

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center is adopting a new leadership structure that will invite more physicians input into management of the county’s hospital, nursing home and a dozen affiliated provider practices. It’s a move that Porter administrators belie … (read more)

Porter pursues diversity, inclusion

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center has created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council to help the county’s hospital create a more just, welcoming and responsive place for people of all colors, nationalities and religions to work and receive healt … (read more)

Letter to the editor: Porter steps up against racism

Racism is a public health issue. Black communities and other communities of color have higher rates of newborn death, childhood illness, women dying in pregnancy and childbirth, and shorter lives with higher rates of severe illness. Porter, as a healthcar … (read more)

Porter frontline workers vaccinated

MIDDLEBURY — By the end of this week, Porter Hospital will have given out a combined total of 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to its staff and other frontline healthcare workers, though state and federal authorities have yet to indicate when the vaccine will … (read more)

Porter vaccinates frontline workers

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center continues to dispense COVID-19 vaccines to its frontline health care workers at a brisk pace. By the end of Monday, 307 Porter workers had received their first of two shots. That figure includes 61 Middlebury EMS staff, … (read more)

Porter has begun virus vaccinations

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center administered COVID-19 vaccines to 193 of its frontline workers last week and was expected to inoculate another 150-170 this week, in what has become the first phase of protecting local health care professionals most like … (read more)

Friends raise $10k to help Porter, local eateries

MIDDLEBURY — Jessica Holmes and Amey Ryan have been thinking a lot about the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has been taking on folks working in Middlebury’s dining and health care sectors. Holmes is a Middlebury College professor of economics and member of th … (read more)

Porter seeks 600-plus vaccines for front-line workers

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center has asked for an initial 600-plus doses of COVID-19 vaccine to administer as soon as possible to its front-line health care workers, hospital officials confirmed on Friday. But while Vermont Department of Health (DOH) of … (read more)

Cyberattack puts Porter patient info out of reach

MIDDLEBURY — UVM Health Network, which includes Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, has curtailed some patient services after experiencing a confirmed cyberattack affecting some of its information technology systems last week. Officials said they have im … (read more)

Regulator says no to Porter budget

MIDDLEBURY — In a move that could have dire long-term consequences for Addison County’s nursing home, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMBC) on Tuesday rejected Porter Hospital’s request for a 5.75% increase in its commercial rate as part of its fiscal year … (read more)

Porter elevates Thompson to permanent head

MIDDLEBURY — Tom Thompson, who has been serving as the interim president and chief operating officer of UVM Health Network Porter Medical Center since last February, has been selected as the permanent president/chief operating officer of Porter by the UVM … (read more)

New contract nets nurses 21% raise

MIDDLEBURY — University of Vermont Health Network Porter Medical Center announced on Tuesday it had reached a tentative, three-year agreement with the union representing 130 Porter registered nurses. The deal will increase salaries by 21% over the course … (read more)

Porter officials emphasize support of Helen Porter; will appeal GMCB directive

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Medical Center officials on Friday morning indicated that Helen Porter Nursing & Rehabilitation is not in imminent peril of closing in spite of its ongoing budget shortfalls, but said the facility will be in serious financial trouble g … (read more)

GMCB directive puts Helen Porter at risk

MIDDLEBURY — Porter Hospital officials on Tuesday, Sept. 29, will lobby the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) to reconsider its recommendation to pare back the hospital’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget request because it, in part, subsidizes operations at Helen P … (read more)

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