BMH and Retreat Healthcare to Hold Annual Public Meeting on the Community Health Assessment and Community Report Card

On Thursday, September 14, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) and Retreat Healthcare (RH) are holding a public meeting to update area residents about activities related to the Community Health Needs Assessment published on January 1, 2005, and the Community Report Cards both institutions have placed on their respective websites. The meeting will be held in the Education Center at Retreat Healthcare, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

The community assessment was conducted in collaboration with BMH, Retreat Healthcare and other community members. It identified and prioritized the health needs of residents in the greater Brattleboro area. Copies of the final report are available at the meeting or on line at bmhvt.org, (click on news) or at retreathealthcare.org/about us.

The Community Report Card, which is required of all 14 hospitals in the state by the Vermont legislature (Act 53) in 2003, was published and up on line June 1, 2006. Information in the Community Report Cards includes various quality indicators, safety reports, and financial information.

The meeting will be moderated by Peter Albert, LICSW Director of PrimariLink and External Relations at Retreat Healthcare.

In addition to updates about various activities relating to the community health priorities, BMH CEO Barry Beeman and Greg Miller, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Retreat Healthcare, will update the public about new programs and activities at their facilities. Both hospitals will also have written information about their services and programs.

Under Act 53 all Vermont acute care hospitals are required to conduct a health needs assessment every four years and update the assessment every two years. The update is due March 1, 2007.

For more information, contact Prudence MacKinney, BMH VP of Professional Services at 257-8367; or Julia Sorensen, Retreat Healthcare, Manager of Outreach and Education at 258-3719.