Resources

Since 2022, VPQHC has partnered with emergency departments across Vermont to strengthen care for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Annually, 90 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners provide approximately 400 exams in 16 hospitals across Vermont. National data reveals that 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men experience contact sexual violence, and in Vermont, 156,000 women and 103,000 men have experienced contact sexual violence in their lifetimes. Rural sexual assault survivors face isolation, lack of anonymity, and limited community resources, and are less likely to report assault or seek support services. Part of the HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program, the SANE Care Collaborative & Innovation Network (2024-2027) is a 3-year initiative focused on expanding capacity for SANE services, enhancing quality of care within SANE programs, and increasing collaboration and innovation among rural hospitals in Vermont. Resources and reports related to the SANE Care Collaborative & Innovation Network can be found below.

Improving suicide care requires strong systems, shared accountability, and seamless transitions across care settings, especially during moments of elevated risk. Through the 2025 Suicide Care in Healthcare Quality Improvement Initiative , Vermont healthcare and community partners are working together to strengthen suicide care pathways using evidence-informed practices, data, and quality improvement methods. Facilitated by the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care and funded by the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Mental Health, the initiative supports teams in improving continuity of care, particularly during transitions from emergency departments to community-based services. The work underway in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom offers a strong example of this approach in action. Building on long-standing partnerships, local hospital and community organizations came together to formalize a Safe Transitions Team focused on coordinated, sustainable suicide care. The story below highlights how collaboration, data, and flexibility helped strengthen care transitions and improve support for individuals at risk.

Telehealth Resource Guide: Tools and Guidance for Managing Suicide Risk in Telehealth Settings This resource guide is designed to support mental health clinicians providing telehealth services focused on suicide prevention and treatment. It offers evidence-based guidelines, practical tools, and best practices for delivering high-quality, safe, and effective care in a virtual environment.* When viewed digitally, the guide is interactive and includes clickable links for quick access to referenced materials.

Act 9 of 2025, An act relating to preventing workplace violence in hospitals, requires hospitals to develop and implement comprehensive security plans to prevent workplace violence. This toolkit is intended to help hospitals comply with Act 9. It contains resources to support hospital security plan development teams in assessing compliance and filling any gaps identified. The toolkit is designed to assist hospitals in improving workplace safety and managing aggressive behaviors. 

Sept. 1, 2025 At VPQHC, we're focused on turning awareness into action through the intersection of healthcare, quality improvement, and suicide care. Suicide touches every corner of our communities, regardless of age, background, or geography. But hope is real. Help is available. Healing is possible. This month, we honor those we've lost, uplift survivors, and continue to dedicate ourselves to building systems that protect, support, and empower people in crisis. The VPQHC team is leading this important work through a multi-layered, compassionate approach to suicide care and response. We’re working alongside healthcare partners across the state to strengthen prevention, intervention, and healing efforts in real time. This work is rooted in our mission to reduce harm and save lives by advancing data-driven solutions that improve healthcare quality in Vermont. Some key initiatives underway include: Vermont Suicide Prevention in the Emergency Department Quality Improvement Initiative Our hospitals are often the first point of contact during a mental health crisis. Through this initiative, we’re enhancing suicide screening protocols, strengthening safety planning, and ensuring follow-up care is compassionate and effective. Vermont Postvention Pilot Program After a suicide loss, the ripples of grief can be overwhelming. Our Postvention Pilot Program supported both communities and healthcare providers in responding with compassion and structure. By addressing the trauma of loss head-on, we reduced the risk of additional suicides and helped survivors begin to heal. 2025 Suicide Care in Health Care Collaborative Launching this year, the Collaborative brings together healthcare systems across the state to build safer, more responsive care environments for individuals at risk of suicide. A key part of this effort is equipping staff with evidence-based training programs, including: · Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) · Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) · Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) · Stanley Brown Safety Planning Intervention (SB-SPI) · Trauma Responsive Care (TRC) By uniting providers in a shared mission and providing access to training opportunities, we're creating a more consistent and compassionate safety net for Vermonters in crisis. Vermont Consultation & Psychiatry Access Program VTCPAP improves access to high quality, evidence-based mental health care for children and perinatal patients in Vermont. To achieve this mission, VTCPAP offers suicide-specific trainings to medical and mental health providers, collaborates with statewide partners to promote resources and strengthen impact, and provides real-time consultation when suicide-related concerns arise. To enhance this support, VTCPAP has developed a dedicated Suicide Care webpage with up-to-date tools and information for providers and caregivers. What You Can Do While these systemic efforts are vital, each of us has a role to play in suicide prevention. That might mean checking in on a friend, reducing the stigma by talking openly about mental health, or learning how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference, you just have to care. We want to highlight and acknowledge Suicide Prevention Month, but the work doesn’t end on September 30. Please join us in making a lifelong commitment to stand together to create a Vermont where every person feels seen, supported, and safe. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available. Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. For more resources, trainings, and educational opportunities, see the list below: For training opportunities and resources: Center for Health and Learning For getting involved, resources, and real stories: FacingSuicideVT For real stories, resources, and getting involved: American Foundation of Suicide Prevention-VT (AFSP) Facing Suicide VT Events Calendar: Upcoming Suicide Prevention Events/Training For Resources, Initiatives and training opportunities: Vermont Program for Quality in Healthcare  Together, we can save lives, through awareness, action, and connection. #SuicidePrevention #988Lifeline #MentalHealthMatters #VPQHC

In recognition of Healthcare Career Awareness month, we’re spotlighting Heather Boucher, Senior Director of Quality, Risk and Compliance at Grace Cottage Hospital. Read on for more about Heather’s career trajectory, what inspired her to work in health care, and what a day-in-the-life looks like for a Hospital Quality Director. Can you tell us a little about your background and what first inspired you to work in health care? I actually started my career in the laboratory because I’ve always loved the sciences and enjoyed the problem-solving side of diagnostics. Working in the lab gave me a strong foundation in accuracy, data, and understanding how every detail can impact patient care. From there, I transitioned into infection prevention, which gave me a broader view of patient and staff safety and how systems protect both. That experience really opened the door to my current work in quality, where I can combine my scientific background, my eye for detail, and my commitment to safety to make sure patients receive the best care possible. What first inspired me to stay in healthcare is knowing that whether I was in the lab, infection prevention, or quality, the work I do behind the scenes directly supports patients and the teams who care for them. How did you find your way into the role of Hospital Quality Director, and what has the journey been like so far? My path into the Quality Director role has been very much a progression of building on each stage of my career. I started out as a medical laboratory scientist, which gave me a strong scientific and analytical foundation and taught me the importance of accuracy and detail in healthcare. From there, I moved into infection prevention, which broadened my focus to patient and staff safety at a systems level. That naturally led me to quality, first as an assistant, then into utilization review, and eventually into the quality manager role. Each step added new skills—whether it was learning regulatory requirements, working directly with providers, or leading improvement projects. Now, as Senior Director of Quality, Risk, and Compliance, I oversee multiple departments, which has been both challenging and rewarding. The journey has taught me how interconnected quality, compliance, and patient safety truly are, and how important it is to engage staff at all levels to create a culture where improvement is part of everyday work. It’s been a growth journey, but one that’s deeply fulfilling because I can see the impact across the entire organization.  What does a “day in the life” look like for you at Grace Cottage? A day in the life here is never the same, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most. On any given day I might be reviewing quality data, following up on regulatory requirements, or meeting with staff about performance improvement projects. I spend time supporting infection prevention and compliance, and I’m often consulting with different departments to help troubleshoot issues or identify opportunities to improve processes. Because I oversee multiple areas, my day is a balance of big-picture strategy and hands-on problem-solving. What ties it all together is that my focus is always on patient safety, staff support, and making sure we’re delivering the best possible care. What’s your favorite memory or proudest moment from your time as a Quality Director? There are many moments I’m proud of, but one that really stands out is building our infection prevention program from the ground up. When I first stepped into that role, we didn’t have a structured program in place, so it was a matter of creating policies, building staff education, and putting systems in place that were both practical and sustainable. What I’m most proud of is that the program not only took root but continues to be effective today — and it’s had a direct impact on patient safety. We’ve maintained an incredibly low rate of hospital-acquired infections, almost zero in fact, which speaks to the commitment of our staff and the strength of the program. Knowing that something I helped build continues to protect patients and support staff every day is very rewarding. Vermont’s health care system is going through big changes. What advice would you give to help ensure quality stays at the center of transformation? My advice is to make sure that quality isn’t treated as an afterthought to change, but as the foundation of it. With Act 167 bringing significant transformation to Vermont hospitals, it’s critical that decisions are made with patient outcomes and safety at the center. That means using data to guide improvements, engaging frontline staff in the process so changes are realistic and sustainable, and keeping communication transparent, so everyone understands the ‘why’ behind new initiatives. If we stay focused on quality as the common thread — ensuring access, safety, and measurable outcomes — the transformation will not only meet regulatory goals, but also truly benefit the communities we serve. What skills, strengths, or perspectives do you think are most valuable in this field? In healthcare quality, I think the most valuable strengths are multitasking, problem-solving, open-mindedness, perseverance, and follow-through. This work often means balancing many priorities at once, so being able to multitask is essential. Problem-solving helps us break down complex issues and find solutions that actually work in practice, while an open mind allows us to see different perspectives and adapt to change. Perseverance is key because improvement isn’t always immediate — it takes determination to keep moving forward when challenges arise. And finally, follow-through is what ensures that good ideas and plans translate into results. Together, these qualities help build lasting improvements in patient care and safety. If someone was considering a career in health care quality, what advice would you give them? My advice for someone considering a career in healthcare quality is to start slow and give yourself a chance to really learn what the field is about. I encourage people interested in healthcare to think about cost-effective two-year programs — like laboratory technician, radiology, or therapy assistant programs. Those paths let you get into the workforce quickly, gain experience, and often continue your education with support from your employer. It’s a great way to get exposure to healthcare quality without committing to a four-year degree right away, only to find out it’s not the right fit. Healthcare isn’t for everyone, but for those who find it rewarding, job security and opportunities for growth are there. From there, curiosity, persistence, and follow-through will carry you far in the healthcare field. Heather Boucher Senior Director of Quality, Risk and Compliance Grace Cottage Hospital

2025 Core Measure Set guide

The Addressing Food Insecurity: Strategies, Stories & Solutions session explored how healthcare settings can identify and respond to food insecurity through practical strategies, partnerships, and patient-centered solutions. It featured Rayna Andrews, nationally recognized food justice advocate and author, alongside Vermont hospital leaders who shared on-the-ground stories and implementation lessons. The session recording and linked resources are available below to support continued learning and action. Feedback from participants: “What I found most valuable was learning about addressing food insecurity and nutrition insecurity and the impact of this within the communities we serve and how to consider this within the work we are already doing.” “Rayna’s knowledge on the topic was excellent.” “I was made aware of how food insecurity can affect many populations and how we can help resolve the issues.”

Exploring Vermont’s Hospital Quality & Patient Safety Landscape