Casey Legge

Vermont is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, but our doors are still open and we are still committed to seeing our patients.

Please let us know if you are at higher risk of COVID-19 due to exposure, travel, or illness. This may include travel outside of the state or symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, congestion, headache, or quarantine due to exposure to a household member with COVID-19.

Northern Counties Health Care has Respiratory Care Clinics with enhanced air filtration systems at all of our Health Centers in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and for the safety of all of our staff, friends, family and fellow community members.

If you have any questions about your care with Northern Counties Health Care, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

St. Johnsbury, VT (November 28, 2020)– Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) are pleased to announce the grand opening of Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury on Monday, November 30, 2020. Located at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Railroad Street, Northern Express Care will provide immediate, walk-in primary care access to community members requiring care.

“With no appointment necessary, Northern Express Care will provide community members and visitors with the care they need, when they need it, and regardless of their ability to pay,” said Michael Costa, Chief Executive Officer of NCHC. “Community partnerships are a real strength of the Northeast Kingdom, and we are proud to partner with the outstanding team at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) to expand access to health care services in our region.”

Shawn Tester, Chief Executive Officer of NVRH, said “NVRH is dedicated to improving the health of our communities, and Northern Express Care will provide people with both immediate care and the ability to establish a relationship with a primary care provider in the area, creating a pathway towards better health and wellness.” Tester added, “NVRH is proud to partner with NCHC to provide expanded hours to meet the needs of the community.”

Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer at NCHC added, “We have put together an excellent team of care providers to operate Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury. Community members should expect Northern Express Care to be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. providing a convenient health care option for individuals seeking assistance with minor illnesses or injuries including sprains, bumps and bruises, allergies, respiratory illnesses, and vaccinations.”

NCHC encompasses six community health centers, three dental centers, and a certified home health care & hospice division providing a full spectrum of quality, affordable, and compassionate health care services to patients of all ages, throughout the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. For more information, visit www.nchcvt.org. NCHC is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number H80CS00632. This information or content and conclusion are those of the author and should not be constructed on the official or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Pictured: Northern Express Care providers Ben Tipton, Physician Assistant and Allison Ebrahimi Gold, Nurse Practitioner standing in front of Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury.

On November 9^th, Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) had an employee at the Hardwick Area Health Center test positive for COVID-19. This was the first employee to test positive since the pandemic began. The employee began quarantine immediately, and Northern Counties contacted the Vermont Department of Health. Together, the Vermont Department of Health and NCHC identified six patients that will be contacted by the State as part of routine contact tracing. NCHC Medical staff called these patients last night to explain the situation.

“Being honest and transparent is essential to maintaining the trust between a health care organization and its patients and communities,” said Dr. Sarah Morgan, Medical Director of NCHC and a physician at the Hardwick Area Health Center. “We are committed to providing our communities with access to care during the pandemic while being forthright about COVID’s impact on our team and services.”

The Hardwick Area Health Center remains open and patient visits continue. “Patient safety is our first priority,” said Michael Costa, CEO of Northern Counties Health Care. “Northern Counties has taken extraordinary steps to promote safety while maintaining access to care, including offering COVID-19 tests to any staff member at any time for any reason.” Costa added, “we found this case because the employee asked for a test and got one despite having no symptoms: it is a case of vigilance and planning paying off.”

Northern Counties will continue to work with the Vermont Department of Health to make sure any affected community members and employees get the testing and care they need. Updates will be offered to the public on an as needed basis via our website, www.nchcvt.org, and our Facebook page. Any patient with questions should call their local health center.

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We’re here to help you fight against the flu.  Please join us at one of our influenza vaccinations clinics!

Did you know that Northern Counties Health Care has Health Centers throughout the Northeast Kingdom? Please see the full listing out NCHC’s Flu Clinics below.

Danville Health Center’s Flu Clinics

Please call 802-684-2275 today to schedule to get your flu vaccine!
October 15: 2:00— 4:30PM
October 22: 2:00—7:00PM
October 29: 2:00—4:30PM

Concord Health Center’s Drive-Through Flu Clinic

Call to schedule 802-695-2512 and walk-ins are welcome, the clinic will be hosted at the Concord Health Center Parking Lot
October 23: 8:00—12:00PM

Concord Health Center & Sid’s Pantry’s Flu Clinic

Call to schedule 802-695-2512 and walk-ins are welcome! Sid’s Pantry 173 School Street Concord, VT
October 17: 10:00—12:00PM

Hardwick Area Health Center’s Flu Clinics

Please call 802-472-3300 to schedule! Clinics will be offered:
Wednesdays: 8:00—12:00PM
Fridays: 12:00—4:00PM

Island Pond Health & Dental Center’s Drive-Through Flu Clinics

Please call 802-723-4300 today to schedule to get your flu vaccine!
October 12:11:00—4:30PM
October 21: 4:30—6:30PM

St. Johnsbury Community Health Center’s Flu Clinics

Walk-ins are welcome or call 802-748-5041 to schedule!
Every Monday — Friday 8:00—4:30PM

Don’t forget to wear a short sleeved shirt when you come to the clinic and please wear a face covering.

St. Johnsbury, VT (September 25, 2020) – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) are pleased to announce the creation of a new partnership, Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury. Northern Express Care will be a walk-in health center open to anyone who requires convenient primary care services. Located at the corner of Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue in downtown St. Johnsbury, Northern Express Care will offer evening and weekend hours, no appointment necessary, to provide community members with the care they need, when they need it.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, our partner and neighbor, to be able to expand access to health care services, decrease wait times, and provide compassionate care to those who need it,” said Christopher Towne, Chief Strategy Officer for Northern Counties. “Renovations to our location in downtown St. Johnsbury begin today, and we look forward to offering care at Northern Express Care this coming winter.”

“Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is proud to collaborate on this new opportunity to provide comprehensive care to anyone in the community,” said NVRH Chief Executive Officer Shawn Tester. “While both organizations offer primary care services, this project aims to help reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and encourage more people in the community to seek the care they need.”

Northern Express Care will provide a convenient way for individuals seeking assistance with minor illnesses or injuries the same comprehensive and compassionate care that one would normally receive at their primary care provider’s office. In addition, Northern Express Care can help patients establish a relationship with a primary care provider in the area, creating another pathway towards better health and wellness.

Michael Costa, Chief Executive Officer of NCHC, said “the strength of our community, and the Northeast Kingdom as a whole, is our ability to work together. I am grateful to NVRH for their partnership and excited to offer one more way that Northern Counties Health Care, as a Federally Qualified Health Center, can care for our patients and neighbors regardless of their ability to pay.”

St. Johnsbury’s Northern Express Care project received all necessary State and municipal approvals to begin construction on the building at 1 Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury following a meeting of the St. Johnsbury Development Review Board on September 24, 2020.

Northern Counties Health Care encompasses five community health centers, three dental centers, and a certified home health care & hospice division providing a full spectrum of quality, affordable, and compassionate health care services to patients of all ages, throughout the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. For more information, visit www.nchcvt.org. NCHC is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number H80CS00632. This information or content and conclusion are those of the author and should not be constructed on the official or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.