VPCH Visitor Policy
Effective Date: March 1, 2022
At VPCH, we recognize that family members and loved ones are valued members of the health care team and play a key role in supporting the wellbeing of those receiving mental health care and services. As we continue to manage the impact of COVID-19, we are continuing to adjust our visitation practices to protect the health and wellbeing of patients, families, staff, and our community. Although efforts will be made to facilitate unscheduled visits, at this time VPCH is continuing to request that all visits be scheduled in advance with a member of your family/friend/loved one’s treatment team (802-828-3300). This helps us ensure before your travel and arrival that you will be permitted access based on current COVID-19 screening guidance, that you plan to be visiting at a time that safe visitation can be facilitated, and also that your family/friend/loved one is amenable to having a visit.
Population(s) Served: Adults
Service Level(s) for Adults: Level 1 involuntary, Non-Level 1 involuntary
The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (VPCH) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of one of Vermont’s most vulnerable populations. Offering a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote and enhance patient recovery, the 25-bed, acute care hospital offers patient areas designed for comfort and safety. Some of the features of the hospital include well designed yards, half basketball court, planting beds, jogging track, labyrinth, and other unique landscaping details. Some interior aesthetics include a library, a greenhouse, a large activity room, and a fitness room. Patients are encouraged to engage in activities and participate in all aspects of prescribed treatment to facilitate recovery. View photos of Vermont Psychiatric Hospital.
Our team of compassionate professionals is dedicated to providing excellent care to the individuals we serve. Our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team focuses on recovery, safety, education, and quality to provide a therapeutic environment for patients and a rewarding workplace for staff. VPCH supports professional staff development through education and training, resource sharing, peer collaboration, identification of national and regional trends as well as maintaining clinical and operational best practices.
“It is so exciting to work with a truly great group of professional people, in a new state-of-the-art building, who all have a common goal – to work toward the good health and well-being of a vulnerable population. Here, at VPCH, we have a work environment that offers a nurse opportunities to build therapeutic relationships, work as part of an interdisciplinary team to form a plan for each patient that will ultimately help them successfully live in the community, become educated about mental health and then educate others, and to grow as a person by letting go of our prejudices and biases. The system of care for those that deal with mental illness is changing in Vermont and the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital is a great place to work and to become a part of this change” - Grace, RN, PN2, Charge
Our mission, vision and values reflect our commitment to excellent care and treatment with respect to individual life goals and challenges, striving to promote education and collaboration with our community and people we serve.
OUR MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Our Mission: The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital provides excellent care and treatment in a recovery-oriented, safe and respectful environment which promotes empowerment, hope and quality of life for the individuals it serves.
Our Vision: The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital will be a center for excellence in the provision of mental health treatment and recovery as well as a site for education and collaboration with the community and the individuals it serves.
Our Values: The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital respects individuals and their life goals and empathizes with the challenges of achieving empowerment even in an involuntary setting. The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital encourages individual rights and responsibilities toward the attainment of personal goals and actively partners in their achievements. We believe in the individual’s ability to recover from life crises.
Our patients are treated with the highest respect as individuals and members of our community supported by a recovery focused model of care. Patients and employees alike, respect, identify with, and behave in accordance to SAMHSA’S 2011 working definition of recovery: “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, are enabled to live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. To learn more about SAMHSA please visit their website, (http://www.samhsa.gov)
“At VPCH nurses play a significant role in patient care. On a daily basis we are required to provide the team with our various clinical findings; this input helps the team make collaborative decisions regarding patient care. We serve as advocates for our patients and work together with team members to make sure our patient's needs are met. For me, working in a small 25 bed hospital feels like a community. Here at VPCH, our nursing judgment is valued and our clinical opinion required, ensuring the provision of quality care for our patients. Being able to practice in a facility as progressive and patient-focused as VPCH has given me the resources to learn from every experience and further improve the quality of care I am able to offer to my patients” Colleen, RN, PN2
Quality Initiatives
To help the public find information about the quality of health care provided in Vermont, the state’s hospitals are required by law to publish annual reports containing information about quality of care, hospital infection rates, patient safety, nurse staffing levels, financial health, costs for services, and other hospital characteristics. The complete text of V.S.A. Title 18 Chapter 221 Section 09405b can be found on Vermont Legislative Website.
View information relative to Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital performance, please visit the Advisory Committee page here
Meeting Agendas, Minutes and the Dashboard - For meeting agendas, minutes and the dashboard please visit the following Advisory Committee page click here
Documents
- Visitor Handbook (2019-2020)
- Workplace Violence Prevention Program and Appendices (2018)
- CON Implementation Report (March 13, 2017)
- CON Implementation Report (February 23, 2016)
- The Joint Commission Official Accreditation Report (July 2016)
Reports
- Quality of Care Report (2022)