FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christopher Towne
Northern Counties Health Care
165 Sherman Drive
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-9405 x1538
St. Johnsbury, VT – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is proud to announce that the St. Johnsbury Community Health Center has been designated as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This designation reflects the Center’s commitment to ensuring that older adults receive the highest quality care, tailored to meet their needs and improve their overall well-being.
Chris Towne, Interim CEO of Northern Counties Health Care, commented on the importance of this milestone: “Achieving this designation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff at St. Johnsbury Community Health Center. It demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and quality of life for older adults in our region, ensuring that age-friendly care remains a cornerstone of our mission to support healthy communities.”
The Age-Friendly Health System initiative, developed by IHI in partnership with the John A. Hartford Foundation, American Hospital Association, and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, emphasizes evidence-based care for older adults based on the 4Ms Framework:
What Matters: Understand and act on what matters most to the patient.
• Medication: Use age-friendly medication practices to optimize health and avoid unnecessary harm.
• Mentation: Assess and manage mental health and cognitive function, including depression, delirium, and dementia.
• Mobility: Ensure that patients maintain mobility to function independently and prevent falls or injury.
This comprehensive approach ensures that health systems address the most critical elements of care for older adults, promoting well-being, independence, and dignity.
Nicole Haff, RN, Practice Manager of St. Johnsbury Community Health Center, also expressed her excitement about the achievement: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Age-Friendly Health System designation. Our team has embraced the 4Ms Framework, ensuring that every aspect of care is centered on what matters most to our older patients. This recognition reflects our commitment to meeting the unique needs of older adults in our community.”
Northern Counties Health Care remains dedicated to delivering accessible, high-quality care across the Northeast Kingdom. The Age-Friendly Health System designation at St. Johnsbury Community Health Center reinforces the organization’s vision of providing patient-centered care that enhances the lives of all individuals, including older adults.
For more information about the Age-Friendly Health System initiative or the St. Johnsbury Community Health Center, please call Nicole Haff at 802-748-5041.
Northern Counties Health Care is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality health care to the residents of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The organization operates seven community centers, including two walk-in primary care clinics, three dental centers, and a certified home health & hospice division, all committed to serving nearly one-third of the region’s residents. For more information about Northern Counties Health Care and its services, visit NCHCVT.org.