Ashley Miller, pediatrician and owner of South Royalton Health Center - The Doctor is in for Kids in the Middle of the Night
I am originally from southern NH, moved to VT in 2004 and never looked back. I left a large multispecialty practice affiliated with an academic medical center in 2014, where I often had never seen the patient or family I was providing care for while on call, or in the office, to be able to provide more connected care to a smaller group of patients at South Royalton Health Center. Now, as a small business owner I am thrilled with my choice. At SRHC we work very hard to embody the patient-centered medical home, we feel strongly that it improves the health of our children and their communities, which is why I am highlighting why Vermont needs to invest in primary care now. Click to read more.
Katie Marvin, M.D., FAAP, Stowe Family Practice, "A day in family medicine, 8am-5pm:"
(just to be clear, these are not actual patients, just a common representation of a typical day, clearly with respect to HIPAA and patient privacy):
1). A 4-day old baby boy, to check on his weight, color (jaundice) and how the family is doing. We’ll see him and mom back in a few weeks.
2). A 12-year old with a broken foot. We take some x-rays and get her in a walking boot. One week follow up. Click here for the full story
The Power of Primary Care - Fay Homan, M.D., Little Rivers Health Care
Little Rivers Healthcare in northeastern Vermont serves a cluster of remote towns that exemplify the Vermont adage that “you can’t get there from here.” These are small, economically stressed towns that have been hit hard by the opiate crisis. People from more populated areas might be surprised at the scope of healthcare that is provided at Little Rivers: complete health care from birth to geriatrics, including complex chronic medical problems and mental health. You can get all your prenatal care here and have your delivery with your family doctor. Skin biopsies, ultrasounds, joint injections, and substance abuse treatment are all part of our usual office days. My husband even had his chainsaw injury stitched up here last summer. Click to read more
This commentary is by Judy K. Orton, M.D., whose practice is at Green Mountain Pediatrics in Bennington.
"I was planning on working into my late 60s but will likely call it quits in five years, as will the practice I have built. I sincerely hope that the state will make a financial commitment to sustain primary care, so that Vermont patients and their families will have independent practices available to help them live their healthiest lives."
I have been a solo, independent pediatrician for 32 years at Green Mountain Pediatrics, located in Bennington. I have always strived to use best practices with some healthy common sense in the care of my kids.
I love being a part of these children’s growth and maturity, helping their families navigate parenthood. I am into a second generation, taking care of my “kids’” kids. There is a certain satisfaction and pride when they attend school, college, take a job, celebrating the next generation when they call and say they are pregnant and ask if I would be the pediatrician for the new baby. Click here to read the full VTDigger Commentary.