Noonan: 2025 CVMC health care highlights

December 22, 2025  |  By Anna Tempesta Noonan

The close of a year is a time of reflection. For 57 years, Central Vermont Medical Center has stood as a trusted partner in health care, serving generations of families with compassion and commitment. That history is a source of pride—and a reminder of the responsibility we carry to ensure access to high-quality care for everyone in our region.

This past year has brought its challenges; through it all, our mission has remained clear: to provide the best possible care for our patients, residents at Woodridge, and our central Vermont community. Our team is more than dedicated health care professionals; we are your neighbors, friends, and family members. I am grateful every day for their commitment and dedication to excellence. I am also grateful for your support of CVMC.

Reflecting on 2025, I wanted to highlight a few programs and initiatives that we realized this year:

• Ceribell Pilot for Seizure Detection: CVMC launched a pilot of Ceribell, an AI-enabled headband that detects seizures in intensive care and emergency department settings. In its first two weeks of use, 22 patients were monitored using this innovative technology, enabling rapid treatment for critical cases and preventing unnecessary transfers to tertiary care settings. This innovative technology pilot was funded by a $50,000 UVMH Clinical Innovation Grant. If it continues to prove successful, it will become a permanent addition to our care model.

• Cancer Care Enhancements: In May, we launched the use of a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator in our National Life Cancer Treatment Center. This technology is part of UVM Health’s multi-year technology upgrade. The machine delivers radiation with pinpoint accuracy in rapid treatments that just take 10 minutes a day for patients. We also celebrated our Branches of Hope Fund, which provides dollars to cancer patients and their families to meet a range of personal needs. Patient needs range widely from medical equipment, utility bills, groceries and gas, dental work, automotive repair, rent/mortgage, prescriptions, childcare, travel, medical transportation, and so much more.

• Expansion of OB/GYN Services: CVMC has expanded its OB/GYN program to include four certified nurse midwives, providing 24/7 coverage for low-risk pregnancies and physician-supervised care for moderate-risk cases. This growth reflects a two-year effort to respond to community feedback by enhancing our collaborative, sustainable model for reproductive health for our community. Our expanded services include access to surgical gynecology, menopause care, and integrated mental health support, addressing the unique needs of patients across all reproductive life stages. These changes strengthen continuity of care and reinforce CVMC’s commitment to improving outcomes and our patient experience in rural Vermont.

• Collaboration with Central Vermont Prevention Coalition: Through the Refocus on Alcohol Dependence program and integrated screening initiatives, CVMC and CVPC advanced substance use disorder treatment and prevention. Over the past year, CVMC primary care offices conducted more than 3000 alcohol use disorder screenings and provided evidence-based medications at ten times the national average.

• Workforce Development: In 2025, CVMC continued its commitment to growing the health care workforce by supporting education and training programs. We proudly graduated 21 individuals from nursing, medical assistant, and allied health programs, helping to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled professionals for our community.

• Publication of CVMC health needs and improvement plan: CVMC completed and published the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, outlining priority health needs and strategies to address them. These documents serve as a roadmap for collaborative action to improve health outcomes in central Vermont.

Looking ahead, we know the healthcare landscape will continue to shift across our state. At CVMC, we are committed to adapting and innovating to meet those changing needs, while maintaining our role as a trusted health care provider. That means focusing on sustainability, supporting our workforce, and investing in programs and services that meet the needs of our community today—and for generations to come.

On behalf of all of us at CVMC, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your trust and support. Together, we have weathered challenges and celebrated successes, and together, we will build a stronger, more resilient future for central Vermonters.

As this year comes to a close, I wish you and your loved ones peace, health, and hope in the year ahead. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Anna Tempesta Noonan is president and chief operating officer at the University of Vermont Health – Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.