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Northern Counties Health Care Partners with NVRH to Expand Pharmacy Access

February 20, 2026 by Lane Freeto

Northern Counties is proud to partner with Senator Peter Welch and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital to help address the growing pharmacy desert in Caledonia County. Thanks to $1.4 million in new federal funding secured by Senator Welch, new pharmacy services are coming to the Northeast Kingdom—strengthening access to medications and supporting the health of our communities.

At Northern Counties Health Care, we are committed to working alongside NVRH and our community partners to bring accessible, patient-centered pharmacy services back to Hardwick, St. Johnsbury, and the broader Northeast Kingdom region.

View the full press release issued by Senator Welch’s office here.

February is American Heart Month

February 2, 2026 by Lane Freeto

Jeri Wohlberg, FNP, Medical Director, Northern Counties Health Care

February is American Heart Month, when we raise awareness about heart health, specifically heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States and can largely be prevented through healthy lifestyle. Research shows that regular exercise, a heart healthy diet, managing high blood pressure and avoiding smoking are important building blocks for health. Other focuses of American Heart month are: National Wear Red Day, CPR training, and resource sharing. Let’s break each of these down a little further.

Regular exercise: Aim for 150 minutes of exercise weekly. This is ideally 30 minutes daily, but even 10 minutes can make a difference. Start out slowly and increase time and intensity as you are able. Try to get a mixture of cardio and strength training. Make it fun by going with friends or listening to music. Walking counts!
Heart healthy diet: Increase fruits and vegetables in your diet, aiming for 5-7 servings daily. Limit saturated fats (like full fat dairy products and red meat) and limit salt. Eat more whole grains (brown rice, quinoa) and less processed foods (many packaged foods). Completely avoid empty calories like sugar sweetened beverages. The Mediterranean and DASH diets are good places to start.
Manage medical issues: See your primary care provider on a regular basis to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease, and nearly half of US adults have high blood pressure.
Smoking: Smoking contributes to cardiovascular disease. There are resources to help you quit at 802QUITS
National Wear Red Day: Wear red the first Friday in February to raise awareness about women’s heart health. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women!
CPR training: CPR saves lives. Become certified to learn this lifesaving skill

Lifestyle change can be hard, but there are programs to help support you! My Healthy Vermont workshops offer education and support around diabetes and high blood pressure management, healthy eating, adding exercise to your daily routine, and quitting smoking.

Check them out here: My Healthy Vermont

Northern Counties Health Care Expands Dental Services with New Equipment

January 5, 2026 by Lane Freeto

Northern Counties Health Care Expands Dental Services with New Equipment

St. Johnsbury, VT – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is excited to announce that
Northern Counties Dental Center (NCDC) has received funding from Northeast Delta Dental to
enhance dental services with new state-of-the-art equipment. NCDC has purchased a new
compressor unit and, with this funding, updated a suction unit and 2D panoramic x-ray, while a
new autoclave will be shared across all three NCHC dental sites, supporting high-quality care
throughout the organization.

As the largest of NCHC’s three dental sites, NCDC serves more than 6,300 patients annually
from Hardwick and surrounding communities across four Vermont counties. With increasing
demand for accessible, affordable dental care—including services provided on a Sliding Fee
Scale—these upgrades will allow NCHC to continue providing efficient, safe, and high-quality
care to patients at all its dental locations.

The new equipment will support more streamlined procedures, enhanced patient experience,
and accurate diagnostic capabilities. The panoramic x-ray will allow for detailed imaging to
support treatment planning, while the upgraded suction system improves comfort and efficiency
during procedures. The shared autoclave will ensure all three NCHC dental sites have reliable
sterilization capacity, strengthening overall patient care across the organization.

Melissa Moffatt, Dental Program Manager, remarked, “These upgrades will make a real
difference for our patients. The new panoramic x-ray and suction system will allow our dental
team to provide care more efficiently and comfortably, while ensuring accurate diagnosis and
treatment planning. We’re excited to enhance the experience for everyone who walks through
our doors and continue serving our community at the highest standard.”

“This funding represents an important step forward in our commitment to accessible, high-quality dental care,” said Jesse Dimick, Director of FQHC Operations of NCHC. “By investing in
state-of-the-art equipment and expanding capacity across our dental sites, we can better meet
the needs of thousands of patients in our region and will ensure that every individual can benefit
from high-quality dental care”.

Radon Test Kits Available

January 18, 2023 by Scott Tetreault

January is Radon Awareness Month. Thanks to the Vermont Department of Health, Northern Counties Health Care is distributing FREE radon test kits to residents of the NEK at our primary care practices – Concord Health Center, Danville Health Center, Hardwick Area Health Center, Island Pond Health & Dental Center, and St. Johnsbury Community Health Center.

Did you know radon can cause lung cancer? Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color, taste or smell. Radon enters your home through soil or water and can build up to high levels inside your home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who do not smoke. If you smoke or used to smoke, your risk of getting lung cancer from radon is especially high.

The Northeast Kingdom’s bedrock geology is associated with higher levels of radon, which means you could have high levels of radon in your home. How do you know how if you do? Testing is the only way to know. Pick up a free test kit today from one of the sites listed above.

Learn more about radon in your home at www.healthvermont.gov/radon.

Plans for Caplan’s Building Announced

November 11, 2022 by Scott Tetreault

Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward to make use of the Caplan’s building to better serve the community.

The organization purchased the Caplan’s building in October 2021, and since that time, NCHC has been considering the best way to utilize the building as part of its efforts to help build thriving and healthy communities. That plan has now been formed.

NCHC, following the appropriate town and state permitting processes, will relocate the Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury practice from its current location, on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Railroad Street, to the Caplan’s Building. In addition, a portion of the building will be renovated for future community use.

Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury opened in November 2020, through a partnership with NCHC and NVRH. The number of patients seeking walk-in care at the location has increased, and a new space is needed to meet the demand for services now and in the future.

“Caplan’s is an ideal space for Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury,” said Dan Sherman, NCHC Director of Primary Care. “Being downtown provides a convenient walk-in option for people seeking care. The Caplan’s building allows us to stay downtown and provides the additional space needed to continue providing high-quality care, with an improved patient and staff experience.”

“Vermont’s downtowns are special, and we are thrilled that the Caplan’s building will serve St. Johnsbury for years to come,” said Michael Costa, NCHC CEO. “We are grateful to play a small part in the efforts already underway to make sure downtown St. Johnsbury is a vibrant destination for our residents and visitors alike.”

NCHC plans to incorporate the building’s history in the redesign, and will also permanently recognize and remember Gary Ely as part of this project.

Beyond medical space, the building will retain some space for future community needs.

“We want to learn and grow with our community, and keeping some of the building open provides us with a platform to collaborate with our community,” said Chris Towne, NCHC Chief Strategy Officer. “We plan to convene a small group to explore other community-focused initiatives for approximately 900 square feet of the renovated space.”

NCHC is currently finalizing the design and engineering for the building and will then work through the necessary permitting steps. Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury will open in the new location during the summer of 2023.

Northern Express Care Coming Soon to Downtown Newport

March 4, 2022 by Scott Tetreault

North Country Hospital (NCH) and Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) are pleased to announce a partnership to bring Northern Express Care to downtown Newport. Once opened, the location will provide convenient, walk-in primary care access to the community.

Northern Express Care currently operates at two Northeast Kingdom locations—in Downtown St. Johnsbury and at Corner Medical in Lyndonville. Northern Express Care began through a collaborative relationship between NCHC and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.

“The Northern Express Care model has expanded access to primary care services in Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury, and we are proud to partner with the North Country Hospital team to bring express care to Newport,” said Michael Costa, Chief Executive Officer of NCHC. “Northern Counties is committed to building thriving and healthy communities throughout the Northeast Kingdom, and we are thrilled to become a part of downtown Newport.”

Brian Nall, Chief Executive Officer of NCH, said, “Northern Express Care – Newport is an exciting opportunity for our community. People will have expanded access to immediate care, with no appointment needed, regardless of their ability to pay. This will certainly help meet a need we are seeing in our service area.” Brian continued, “Northern Counties provides an ideal partner for this addition to downtown Newport. Their experience, mission, and collaborative efforts will certainly help provide an additional option to patients for urgent non-emergency room healthcare needs.”

Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer at NCHC added, “Northern Counties will be forming an excellent team of care providers to operate Northern Express Care – Newport, and will be open into the evening hours and on Saturdays. Our team will provide walk-in care for things like minor illnesses or injuries including, sprains, bumps and bruises, allergies, respiratory illnesses, and vaccinations, and can help connect people with a regular primary care provider.”

This is not the first endeavor between these two organizations. In 2016, NCH partnered with NCHC to open the Orleans Dental Center.

Northern Express Care-Newport is expected to open sometime this summer and will be located in the former UPS store at 137 Main Street.

Northern Counties Health Care Invests in St. Johnsbury with Purchase of Caplan’s Building

October 21, 2021 by Scott Tetreault

Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) has purchased the former Caplan’s Army Store building in downtown St. Johnsbury, making another investment in the communities it serves.

Michael Costa, NCHC CEO, stated, “We believe in downtown St. Johnsbury, which looks and feels more vibrant each and every day. This investment will put Northern Counties in a better position to respond to community needs in the future. Northern Counties truly believes that prosperous downtowns, villages, and communities help people stay healthy and thrive, which is why our organization is investing in projects throughout the NEK.”

The organization has not yet decided how to use the 3,500 square foot building. NCHC Chief Strategy Officer Chris Towne said, “NCHC’s Board of Directors and management team will seek community input prior to determining how to use this space. We will examine the local needs and be strategic in our ultimate plan for the building. In the meantime, there may be creative ways for other groups or organizations to use the space on a short term basis.” Aside from some minor work to prep the space for future uses, NCHC expects to seek input and finalize a plan in 2022.

Michael Costa said, “The Caplan’s building has been an iconic space in St. Johnsbury for 75 years, and we hope to use the space in service of our community for at least the next 75 years.”

Grant Opportunities Available!

April 20, 2021 by Casey Legge

Northern Counties Health Care remains a dedicated partner in working to build healthy and thriving communities. In our continued efforts to support community based population health in our local communities, NCHC shares that funding is now available for the towns of St. Johnsbury and Island Pond through RiseVT and its Amplify Grant program. RiseVT is the lead prevention program for OneCare Vermont, helping make the healthy choice, the easy choice in communities throughout the state.

Funding proposals are being accepted now through May ^15thwhich will provide support to local projects that focus on key health and wellness priorities, like promoting walkable communities, supporting nutrition education, increasing opportunities for physical activity, improving stress management, enhancing support for breastfeeding, or supporting tobacco-free environments.

Led by Jen Grant, RiseVT Community Health Lead at NCHC, and in partnership with the Accountable Health Community at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, known as NEK Prosper!, community members are encouraged to seek out and expand opportunities for everyone to get active, eat well, and enjoy local connection in our Northeast Kingdom communities.

“When opportunities for good nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness, and community connection are built into our environments, we can help Vermonters manage and prevent chronic illness down the road.” said Michael Costa, CEO of NCHC.

Prevention doesn’t just happen in a healthcare provider’s office—in fact as much as 80% of a patient’s health and wellness can be determined by factors outside of the clinical setting, also known as the social determinants of health. Social determinants of health include health behaviors, social and economic factors, and the physical environments where they live, work, learn, and play.

To learn more about RiseVT and the Amplify Grants visit https://risevt.org/amplify-grant/