SVMC Selected For National Multi-Hospital Cooperation To Raise Colon Cancer Screening Rates

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — The American Cancer Society (ACS) has selected Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), as a Hospital Systems Capacity Building (HSCB) Community of Practice (COP) site to increase colorectal cancer screening rates.
 
The HSCB COP initiative is three year project including 20 hospitals and their community partners nationwide. 
 
According to a press release, the aim of the project is to bring well-performing health systems together to share tools, resources, and capacity-building assistance and to solidify evidence-based methods to improve community health.
 
“I am thrilled to embark on this journey with SVMC over the next three years. I have witnessed the great work they already do around Colorectal Cancer Screening, so it came as no surprise they were recognized," said Amy Deavitt, cancer control strategic partnerships manager for the American Cancer Society, Inc., Northeast Region. “We look forward to increasing our communities' awareness around Colorectal Cancer Screening."
 
The Vermont Department of Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer, ACS, and professionals from multiple SVMC departments served as partners in SVMC's previous work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and will remain on the team throughout this COP project.
 
“Partnership has always been one SVMC's greatest strengths," said Charlene Ives, medical director of SVMC's Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center. “This project will allow us to broaden our engagement with our current partners and other health systems in the collaborative to increase our colorectal cancer screening rates."  
 
Nine of the 20 hospitals, including SVMC, will be working on increasing rates of colorectal cancer screening. The remainder are working to increase rates of HPV vaccination or to improve breast health equity.
 
In a letter notifying hospital leadership of the opportunity, Meg Fischer, the director or Hospital Systems Capacity Building, identified SVMC as “one of the most promising sites for this work across the country."  
 
HSCB is administered by ACS and is a project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The project is funded through the Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support. At the end of the three year project, the group aims to deliver evidence-based cancer-prevention and screening interventions that can be replicated by other hospitals to improve outcomes.

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Readsboro Gets Connected to High-Speed Fiber Internet

READSBORO, Vt. — Readsboro is now connected to high-speed Internet service for the first time with the help of DVFiber.
 
One Gig speeds are available now for 160 Readsboro households and businesses, and all remaining on-grid locations will be connected in the next few months. Customers interested in getting connected can check availability at www.dvfiber.net and begin the process of signing up. 
 
The Town of Readsboro, through its support of DVFiber, is offering a $50 discount on the first month of service to all Readsboro customers who sign up by Nov. 1.
 
"It's been very exciting to see the ongoing fiber construction this summer in Readsboro," said Omar Smith, a member of both the Readsboro Select Board and DVFiber Governing Board. "Finally, after many years of pushing on privately owned providers plus seeking support and direction from local, state, and federal sources, an actual high-speed network is being built and is available to the whole town, not just the more densely populated areas."
 
After months of planning and engineering, DVFiber began constructing its new, 21st-century fiber optic network in 2022, focusing first on Readsboro where most households and businesses have lacked adequate Internet service for a long time. A small group of customers was connected in December of 2022 to test the network and to assure that future customers could expect excellent service. This service will soon be available throughout Readsboro.
 
"Our Governing Board is very pleased to see our Readsboro neighbors getting connected to enjoy the benefits of world-class high- speed Internet services," said Steven John, Chair of the DVFiber Governing Board. "We look forward to doing the same for all remaining unserved or underserved locations in our district. Our universal service plan and mission is to ensure digital equity for all."
 
The Deerfield Valley Communications Union District (DVCUD, dba DVFiber) is a community-owned, professionally managed and operated special-purpose municipality for the purpose of providing affordable, reliable, and fast Internet service to all households and businesses in its 24 member towns. Historically, small rural communities were left behind by commercial providers as being too expensive to warrant investment of private capital. DVFiber and other communications union districts are Vermont's solution to this long-standing problem.
 
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