BMH delivers urban health care in a rural setting, always with patients in mind

BY MAKAYLA-COURTNEY MCGEENEY Vermont News & Media correspondent

BRATTLEBORO — Living in a rural community can have its challenges when it comes to accessing a truly broad range of health care services. But, with the presence of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, you know you’re in the right hands.

The licensed, modern, wellequipped 61-bed facility first opened in 1904 through a generous $100,000 donation from the Thomas Thompson Trust. Today the hospital offers inpatient and outpatient health care services including general surgery, a birthing center, a wound healing program, emergency services, orthopaedics and sports medicine—plus cancer, breast care, and cardiac programs, an OB-GYN and midwifery practice, surgical podiatry, and six primary health care practices.

“BMH is really a mission-driven health care organization that always puts the needs of patients and families first,” said Christopher Dougherty, president and chief executive officer. “We are proud of the role we play in Vermont’s ongoing health care reform initiatives, which aim to provide the communities we serve with greater value by improving the health of every person who lives here.”

Patients can feel confident that the care they receive is professional, compassionate, and respectful. They can also depend on BMH’s state-of-the-art technologies including 3D mammography, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (offered through the hospital’s Center for Wound Healing), and robot-assisted surgery for total hip and knee replacement provided by BMH Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

The availability of medically advanced care, combined with the comfort and convenience of being close to home, makes BMH a precious community resource. That’s true for cancer patients who come to BMH to receive on-site chemotherapy treatments. It’s also true for the region’s growing families who in 2022 welcomed nearly 300 newborns at BMH’s highly-regarded Birthing Center.

Patients looking for comprehensive services from an accredited hospital laboratory will find them at BMH. They will also find a robust cardiology department, a radiology department that offers low-dose lung cancer screening—even a new orthopaedic technology (called iovera™) that uses advanced cold therapy to relieve arthritic pain.

“We have so much to offer our community,” added Dougherty. “BMH has—and always will—work very hard to ensure that our patients have access to the evolving preventive, diagnostic, and treatment approaches coming out of largely urban areas.”

While the hospital is based in Brattleboro, it serves patients across the tri-state region of southeastern Vermont, southwestern New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. A patient from Greenfield, Mass., recently shared his gratitude for the staff and BMH’s Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine program.

“BMH is the best medical practice I’ve ever visited. Staff is efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable,” he said.

If you’re looking for a new provider, a specialist, or patient-driven health care, BMH is the answer. The hospital proudly honors the region’s rich diversity and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of every person in the community. Learn more at bmhvt.org.