Dartmouth Health to End Tele-ICU and Tele-ED Services, Impacting Vermont Rural Hospitals

Dartmouth Health plans to close its Tele-ICU and Tele-ED services, citing costs that cannot be covered at current scale without external aid. The shutdown will affect five Vermont hospitals, including Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center. These programs have allowed rural facilities to access specialists from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, reducing mortality, ICU stays, and patient transfers.

The network reported a $63.5 million operating deficit, prompting the reevaluation of the telehealth model. Audra Burns, a spokesperson, said the system will work with affected hospitals to secure alternatives. Grace Cottage’s chief medical officer noted the loss will be a “huge letdown,” though the hospital may shift to the South Dakota-based provider Avel eCare for emergency coverage.