CVMC Ramps up Recruitment and Retention Initiatives
Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) today announced several initiatives underway to address the national pandemic-driven labor shortage.
Berlin, Vt. – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) today announced several initiatives underway to address the national pandemic-driven labor shortage that is particularly affecting health systems as increased Covid-19 cases and higher acuity drive demand for care.
“In health care, people are at the heart of everything we do. Adequate staffing is essential to provide the best possible care and service,” said CVMC President and COO Anna Tempesta Noonan. “Nationally and locally we were seeing labor shortages even before the pandemic began. Covid has accelerated the demands on health care systems.”
With changes in pay scales, sign-on bonuses and the launch of innovative professional educational tracks, the region’s largest employer hopes to entice a wide range of job seekers to join its ranks.
As of September 20, CVMC has raised its wage floor to $15/hr. This means that all CVMC employees now make at least $15/hr, coupled with differentials for evening, night and weekend shifts, paid time off and a generous benefits package. Current employees will see the wage bump retroactively applied to their paychecks. Additionally, applicants hired into certain positions ranging from food service workers, environmental service technicians to nurses, will also receive one-time sign-on bonuses.
“We deeply value our employees” said Noonan. “Our move to increasing our minimum wage, offering a very competitive benefits package and professional advancement through our educational programming tracks are essential to ensuring that CVMC is an employer of choice for this area.”
CVMC’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program saw its first 13 students complete the 11-month program in June. The second cohort is currently underway. This accelerated program is one of several career advancement initiatives where employees can enroll in tuition-free certificate and degree programs while working at CVMC. Other programs underway furnish education for Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNA) and Medical Assistants (MA). Paired with existing tuition reimbursement and loan repayment programs, CVMC staff have the ability to move from entry-level positions to professional nursing positions within the organization.
CVMC also plans to shore up its ranks by working to launch a program to recruit health care workers through the federal government’s temporary nonimmigrant worker program (EB-3). This program grants temporary visas to international health care workers for a three-year commitment to CVMC.
“The people who make up our health care team are what makes CVMC a special place. Working together, we provide high quality, affordable care to the Central Vermont community,” said Noonan, a Barre native, who began her own health care career as a nursing assistant at Central Vermont Hospital. “We want CVMC to be a place where team members grow, thrive and stay, now and for generations to come.”
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About Central Vermont Medical Center
Central Vermont Medical Center is the not-for-profit primary health care provider for 66,000 people who live and work in the 26 communities of Central Vermont. We provide 24-hour emergency care, with a full spectrum of inpatient (licensed for 122 beds) and outpatient services along with our 153-bed skilled nursing facility Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing. Our professional staff includes over 200 physicians and 70 advanced practice providers representing 25 medical specialties.
Central Vermont Medical Center is a member of The University of Vermont Health Network, an integrated system established to deliver high-quality academic medicine to every community we serve.
For more information, visit www.UVMHealth.org/CVMC.