According to Kelly McCue, RN, MSN, nurse navigator and administrator for the BMH Comprehensive Breast Care program, the grant will be used to support accommodation of patients with disabilities and improve accessibility to mammograms and other breast imaging services.

The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Comprehensive Breast Care Program provides integration of all aspects of breast care in a friendly, professional manner assuring national standards of quality care are met. BMH cancer services locally include surgery, medical oncology, chemotherapy, physical therapy, dietary counseling and survivorship programs, while available imaging technology includes digital mammography, ultrasound, bone densitometry, CT scanning and stereotactic biopsy. BMH also offers Breast MRI technology and genetic counseling and evaluation services to patients who may be at high risk for breast cancer. To schedule an appointment with the BMH Comprehensive Breast Care Program, contact Kelly McCue, RN, MSN at 802-251-8437.

Since 1982, Komen has played a critical role in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer – transforming how the world talks about and treats this disease and helping to turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. The organization has invested almost $2 billion towards ending breast cancer through groundbreaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 50 countries.

STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehab) is a national certification program developed by Massachusetts-based Oncology Rehab Partners, leading experts in the field of survivorship care. The program provides hospitals and health care providers with the tools and training needed to minimize the side effects of cancer treatment.

The hospital expects to begin offering the service to patients in late May. “Having the BMH Rehab and Oncology Departments collaborating to become the first STAR certified facility in the state of Vermont is very exciting. We hope to improve survivorship care for our oncology patients and enhance quality of life for survivors.” said Director of Rehab Services Eileen Casey.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced today that the fourth annual Touch a Truck event held on Saturday, September 8 raised approximately $30,000 to help with providing medical services to the community.

Over 1,000 children, parents and grandparents visited the BMH parking lot to get an up close and personal look at more than 60 vehicles, including a limousine, fire trucks, a race car, semi-trucks, and motorcycles. Every vehicle owner was on hand volunteering their time guiding children as they sat in the vehicles and learned about their operation.

“The enthusiasm of the drivers and businesses who support this event is what makes it successful every year,” says Ellen Smith, executive director of development and community relations at BMH. “Their patience with the children and willingness to give a day of their time is heartwarming. We thank them all.”

BMH also used the event to announce the launch of its new “Daddyviews” Blogger Contest. The hospital is seeking 4-6 fathers in the area to take turns contributing a new blog post each month about how connecting with their child contributes to the family’s overall health and happiness. Winners will also receive a free, Sony “Bloggie” HD Camera. Contest details can be found at www.daddyviews.com.

Area stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses have generously contributed products and services to help raise funds for cancer care services at BMH. The donated items have been combined into spring-themed packages which will be auctioned off the night of the gala.

Tickets to an upcoming Neil Diamond concert at TD Garden highlight the “Spring Fling” package, courtesy of TD Bank. Cycling enthusiasts may enjoy the “Spring Excursion” package, which includes services at Burrows Specialized Sports and West Hill Shop, plus a two-night stay at the Wildflower Inn and free registration in the Tour de Heifer farm-to-farm bicycle tour. BMH President and CEO Steven R. Gordon and his wife Sharon are contributing a one-week stay at their vacation home in Chatham, Massachusetts for a “Spring Break on the Cape” getaway package.

More auction packages will continue to be added as the date of the gala approaches. A full list is available by visiting bmhvt.org and clicking on the Giving From The Heart graphic. The “Showers to Flowers” auction is sponsored by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee.

Tickets are on sale now for the Giving From The Heart Gala, which starts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 at the All Souls UU Church in West Brattleboro. They can be purchased in advance at bmhvt.org or by calling the BMH Development & Community Relations office at 802-257-8314. The All Souls UU Church is located at 29 South Street in West Brattleboro, Vermont. Visit ascvt.org for directions.

During this year’s festivities, BMH will honor Chuck Cummings for his charitable support to the hospital and other area nonprofits. Cummings is a retired partner from the Brattleboro law firm Kristensen Cummings Phillips & Carroll. In addition to serving on the hospital board, he has been a trustee for Thompson House, Rescue Inc. and the Winston Prouty Center, among other community organizations. The gala will also feature a cash bar and hardy hors d’oeuvres provided by North End Butchers, with music for dancing by The Tom Foolery Band.

Proceeds from this year’s gala will support the BMH Oncology department. The hospital provides care to patients experiencing cancer and their families through its outpatient clinic, five days a week. The board-certified staff includes Letha Mills, MD, and James Nickerson, MD, and Agnes Mikijaniec, NP, as well as certified oncology nurses Barbara Evans, RN, Barbara Evans, RN and Gloria Solar, RN. Nurse Navigator Kelly McCue and the Comprehensive Breast Care Program are also part of the hospital’s oncology department.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) has provided health care services for over a hundred years. A 61-bed, not-for-profit, community hospital located in Southeast Vermont, it serves a rural population of about 55,000 people in 22 towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The medical staff includes 137 board-certified physicians, both primary care and many specialists, and its 515 employees enjoy the help of over 150 active volunteers. BMH is accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s leading standards-setting and accrediting organization in health care.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced tickets are on sale now for its annual Giving From The Heart Gala, which starts at 6:30 PM on Saturday, April 21 at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church.

During this year’s festivities, BMH will honor Chuck Cummings for his charitable support of the hospital and other area non-profits. Cummings is a retired partner from the Brattleboro law firm Kristensen Cummings Phillips & Carroll. In addition to serving on the hospital board, he has been a trustee for Thompson House, Rescue Inc. and the Winston Prouty Center, among other community organizations.

The gala will feature a cash bar and hardy hors d’oeuvres provided by North End Butchers, with music for dancing by the Tom Foolery Band. Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee will sponsor a “Showers to Flowers” auction featuring spring-themed packages to bid on.

Proceeds from this year’s gala will support BMH Oncology Services. The hospital provides care to patients experiencing cancer and their families through its outpatient clinic five days a week. The board-certified staff includes Letha Mills, MD, and James Nickerson, MD, and Agnes Mikijaniec, NP, as well as certified oncology nurses Barbara Evans, RN, Barbara Philbrick, RN and Gloria Solar, RN. Nurse Navigator Kelly McCue and the Comprehensive Breast Care Program are also part of the hospital’s oncology department.

Tickets are $75.00 per person and can be purchased in advance (purchase tickets) or by calling the BMH Office of Development & Community Relations at 802-257-8314. The All Souls UU Church is located at 29 South Street in West Brattleboro, Vermont. Visit ascvt.org for directions.

While philanthropy can not solve all of these challenges it is an important piece of the puzzle. In reading the article a number of necessary factors in building philanthropy success were listed.

• A compelling vision
• A top down culture of philanthropy
• Physicians buy in
• Effective volunteer leadership group

BMH has all of these key factors:

• Our vision of a strong community hospital; a hospital that is independent, locally governed, dedicated to community needs and values and provides quality healthcare is a vision that has kept BMH strong and independent for more than 100 years. And is a vision we continue to work to maintain.
• Steve within the first two days of working at BMH made a significant leadership pledge to the hospital. He shared his philosophy of giving and his belief that we at BMH need to give first, show that we value the institution before we can ask anyone else for support.
• Last year just under 80% of our active physicians gave to the annual campaign. Nationally that average is under 25%. Yeah BMH docs!
• And our volunteers are the best…from those who work regularly in the hospital to our board and committee members. The board members set the tone for our development efforts and the development committee and the many volunteer solicitors work to raise the dollars. Each year, the needs increase and every year our solicitors make the calls, write the notes, and ask for the support and our community steps up.

As all of us continue to evaluate our charitable giving and make decisions about allocation of shrinking dollars we look for the return on our investment. At BMH the return is

• A high quality local hospital where you don’t need to travel to get good care
• Well trained, experienced, board certified physicians
• Up to date medical technology
• Strong leadership and good fiscal management

Thank you for the many gifts, many years of giving and your investment in quality care for our community.

Written by: Tracy Boucher

Food insecurity and lack of medical care are two societal problems which frequently occur together. Many low income Vermonters have to make difficult decisions between receiving medical care or paying for necessities such as food. Many of our most vulnerable patients go without needed care, including not seeing a physician when sick and not following up on recommended tests or treatment.

In fiscal year 2010, BMH provided over 1,700 patients with over $1.5 million in free care. Through partnerships with businesses like C&S Wholesale Grocers and the generosity of many in the greater Brattleboro area, BMH is able to lessen human suffering and need, and help patients free up financial resources to use on other necessities such as food.

Thank you, C&S Wholesale Grocers, for partnering again this year to help lessen the burden for those in our community who struggle with the choice of between food and healthcare.

The grant will enable BMH to purchase the kiosks as well as hire local contractors to install them. Use of the kiosks will improve the air quality at the emergency room entrance and other areas where ambulances are needed for patient transport. In addition, the kiosks will lower operating costs for ambulance operators by reducing engine wear and tear.

Without the kiosks, the diesel engines of ambulances must run in order to maintain stable interior temperatures and ensure continual operation of necessary medical equipment. Ambulance engines can remain idling for some time while emergency medical technicians complete paperwork or other tasks related to patient transport.

BMH Director of Plant Services, Rob Prohaska expects the kiosks to be installed some time in September.

For more information, contact Ellen Smith in the marketing and development office at 802-257-8314.