Vermont national leader in health care availability

Vermont is a national leader in healthcare provider adequacy, ranking 46th out of 50 for shortage risk, according to a recent report. 

The research team at Florida-based personal injury law firm FHV Legal analyzed data from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for provider adequacy metrics, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) for hospital infrastructure metrics, and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey and ranked U.S. states based on healthcare shortages using seven metrics.

Key Findings:

• Vermont has one of the lowest healthcare shortage scores in the nation (26.79), driven by exceptional specialty coverage.
  
• The state leads with a massive 138% adequacy for emergency medicine physicians and 110% adequacy for OB/GYNs.
  
• Family medicine physician adequacy stands at 103%, and nurse practitioner adequacy is strong at 115%.
  
• While provider numbers are high, Vermont’s infrastructure is more concentrated, with 2.02 hospital beds per 1,000 residents and 21.61 hospitals per 1 million people.
• 21.31% of Vermont residents reported medication or supply shortages in the past 30 days, lower than the U.S. average of 23.29%.

According to the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM), multiple factors like aging population and rising chronic disease rates, difficulty in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, especially in rural areas, uneven provider distribution across states, burnout, and financial pressures are driving healthcare workforce shortages.

…& ranked #1 as winter sports destination

Vermont has been named the #1 winter sports destination in the nation by Travel + Leisure, which cited the state’s diverse outdoor activities, broad range of ski areas, and distinctive cultural attractions when awarding the Green Mountain State its top spot for winter destination travelers.

In its recent ranking of the best U.S. states for winter sports, Travel + Leisure noted Vermont’s breadth of offerings—from alpine and cross-country skiing to snowboarding and other winter-weather recreation—along with its vibrant communities, food, and local character that contribute to a well-rounded winter getaway. The article specifically highlighted several Vermont ski areas, including Magic Mountain, Saskadena Six, Jay Peak, and Stowe.

State wants input on threatened/endangered wildlife plan

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is soliciting input on its draft wildlife action plan, the Journal-Opinion reports. 

The plan identifies threatened and vulnerable species.

“For species that are already listed as threatened or endangered, like Vermont’s lake sturgeon, recommendations are geared to recovering the species’ numbers. For those that are not threatened or endangered but are at risk of becoming so, like the wood turtle, the plan identifies ways to keep populations from veering into decline.”

The draft plan is available on ANR’s website. 

There is a remote hearing tomorrow at 6 p.m. Key elements of the draft plan will be presented via Microsoft Teams phone conference at 802-828-7667, ID # 999-402-398. Public input is open until Feb. 27.

Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest March 28

The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic (PHWC) will hold the  2026 Great Green Mountain Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest March 28 at the Montpelier Grange. 

Local musicians, fans, and friends are invited to celebrate one of Central Vermont’s most beloved music traditions—all to raise funds for free primary and mental health care for uninsured and underinsured neighbors.

This year’s contest will take place Saturday, March 28, from 7–9 PM at the Capital City Grange in Montpelier where local performers will compete to see who can channel their inner Dylan the best. Musicians of all skill levels are encouraged to participate—cover a Dylan classic, put your own spin on it, and help us reach our $5,000 fundraising goal for PHWC. Doors will open at 6 PM for socialization and light refreshments.

Interested in performing? Contact Bronwyn Fryer at bronwyn@bronwynfryer.com. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to Daniel Barlow at daniel@phwcvt.org.