Looking back over my posts from the previous year, I noticed that the many of the news items that ended up on my blog reported good things happening Addison County. The Open Door Clinic shows the community's commitment to the health of uninsured and underinsured patients. Recently reported health statistics attest to the fact that Addison is one of the healthiest counties in one of the healthiest states.
Despite the high rankings, Addison County still faces important health challenges and looming economic uncertainties. Smoking rates remain high and binge drinking continues to be a problem throughout the state. Addiction care is sorely lacking throughout the region, with patients seeking abuse treatment having to travel many miles to find services. Another challenge, in addition to lifestyle choices and access to care, are various financial barriers. For example, a promising palliative care program begun by a team of family physicians in Addison County to better meet the needs of a patients requiring palliative care who did not qualify for Hospice was recently eliminated due to lack of financial support. This story highlights the fact that even a relatively prosperous rural community still faces a great deal of financial uncertainty that can become a barrier to care.
The Blueprint for Vermont medical home model promises to help communities to provide quality health care while controlling rising costs. While these programs are still in their initial stages, I am hopeful that in a small and relatively low-bureaucracy state like Vermont that these improvements can be expanded to reach communities like Addison County and many other even needier counties in the state.
However I am sure any progress will be met with many difficulties and unanticipated setbacks. Thinking back on Vermont's tremendously successful universal vaccination program, it would have been difficult to anticipate the vocal and impassioned anti-vaccine movement that has taken firm hold in Vermont. Hopefully state lawmakers can learn from these experiences and work to craft laws in ways that do not create push-back, but rather unite communities in protecting the health of their citizens.
Despite the high rankings, Addison County still faces important health challenges and looming economic uncertainties. Smoking rates remain high and binge drinking continues to be a problem throughout the state. Addiction care is sorely lacking throughout the region, with patients seeking abuse treatment having to travel many miles to find services. Another challenge, in addition to lifestyle choices and access to care, are various financial barriers. For example, a promising palliative care program begun by a team of family physicians in Addison County to better meet the needs of a patients requiring palliative care who did not qualify for Hospice was recently eliminated due to lack of financial support. This story highlights the fact that even a relatively prosperous rural community still faces a great deal of financial uncertainty that can become a barrier to care.
The Blueprint for Vermont medical home model promises to help communities to provide quality health care while controlling rising costs. While these programs are still in their initial stages, I am hopeful that in a small and relatively low-bureaucracy state like Vermont that these improvements can be expanded to reach communities like Addison County and many other even needier counties in the state.
However I am sure any progress will be met with many difficulties and unanticipated setbacks. Thinking back on Vermont's tremendously successful universal vaccination program, it would have been difficult to anticipate the vocal and impassioned anti-vaccine movement that has taken firm hold in Vermont. Hopefully state lawmakers can learn from these experiences and work to craft laws in ways that do not create push-back, but rather unite communities in protecting the health of their citizens.
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