Justin Harris, a registered nurse, has joined Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital as nurse manager of the Emergency Department.
Justin Harris, a registered nurse, has joined Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital as nurse manager of the Emergency Department.

Chronic Pain Self-Management WorkshopWill Start Next Month

Randolph — A free workshop for people who have been living with chronic pain for more than three to six months will meet Wednesdays June 7-July 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Gifford Conference Center. The class will not meet on July 5.

The six-week Healthier Living Workshop is offered by Gifford Health Care and Vermont Blueprint for Health. It covers techniques for dealing with common problems related to chronic pain, such as frustration, fatigue, isolation and poor sleep.

The classes also cover exercises for improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, and tips for talking with family, friends and health care professionals about pain.

Chronic pain conditions include musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, post-surgical pain that lasts beyond six months, neuropathic pain and post-stroke pain.

The workshop also can benefit people with persistent headache, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, and those who experience severe muscular pain from conditions such as multiple sclerosis, according to a news release from Gifford.

To register, or for more information, call 802-728-7714.

White River Junction VAHonored For Sustainability

White River Junction — White River Junction VA Medical Center has received the Partner for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth, a Virginia-based nonprofit that promotes environmental sustainability in health care.

The award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon programs to eliminate mercury, reduce and recycle waste, source products sustainably, and more, according to a news release from the medical center. Winning facilities must demonstrate that they recycle at least 15 percent of their total waste, have reduced regulated medical waste, are on track to eliminate mercury, and have developed successful sustainability programs in a number of areas.

The environmental management staff, along with all the employees at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, value environmental stewardship, which is “evidenced by an astounding solid waste recycling level consistently at 70 percent or greater,” the release said.

In addition, the facility has transitioned to all-electric service vehicles for use around campus, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by several tons per year. A program to compost waste from the medical center’s food services is under development.

Lebanon Man is Nurse ManagerAt APD Emergency Department

Lebanon — Justin Harris, a registered nurse who lives in Lebanon, has joined Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital as nurse manager of the Emergency Department.

As nurse manager, Harris is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and clinical operations of the department and the Emergency Responsiveness Program, according to an APD news release. He also supervises the work of the Emergency Department’s nursing staff, including registered nurses, paramedics and health unit coordinators.

His addition to the Emergency Department and “his leadership for our team has already been positive,” said Beverley Rankin, APD’s chief nursing officer, who supervises Harris. “I expect this positive impact to continue and look forward to supporting Justin in his new role.”

Prior to APD, Harris was lead clinical care specialist with Dartmouth-Hitchock’s ImagineCare. He had previously worked for three years as RN unit supervisor at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Harris also is the co-creator of Nursebuzz, an online nursing resource and community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University.

— Compiled by Aimee Caruso