Donating to Help Our Patients

Why I Give

It didn’t take Jodie Lanning, LMHC long to fall in love with her job at The University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) when she started in 2008. One of her biggest thrills is helping her patients every step of the way on their journey to better mental health.

“Often times, you see someone when they first come in and they’re kind of at their lowest,” Lanning noted. “But as you work with them, see them improve and get discharged, whether it’s 5 days or 60 days, it’s a great feeling. It’s a rewarding process to develop a positive relationship with them and make sure they are connected to the resources they need once they leave the hospital.”

Her role involves discharge planning and case management. That includes assessing what a patient’s needs are going to be after he or she gets the care they need at CVPH. Lanning also works closely with psychiatrists and the nursing team while the patient is in the hospital and meets with family members. That means that she gets a firsthand look at the need that’s out there for patients and their families.

“Many of my patients are homeless. They don’t have a lot of money and lack transportation. I don’t think people understand how significant homelessness is here in Clinton County, because it’s not always immediately visible.”

“So I’m trying to make sure they’re connected as much as possible when they leave CVPH so that they can get their basic needs met,” Lanning continued. “But on top of that, it’s also important to make sure they are following up with their mental health needs.”

Lanning pointed out that The Foundation of CVPH plays a significant role in ensuring those basic needs are met.

“A lot of our patients come to the unit and they don’t have clothes. So The Foundation helps pay for sweat pants, t-shirts, underwear, bras and socks. Little things like that make a big difference,” Lanning said.

The Adult Psychiatry unit also receives a mini-grant every year to help patients who can’t afford their medications at the outpatient pharmacy.

“We might have one discharge, for example, who has a $75 co-pay. But, the patient doesn’t have any money to pay for that. So, we’re able to pull it out from that mini-grant, and that patient is able to leave the hospital with the medications he or she needs to stay on track with their mental health.”

Lanning said that is one of the reasons she gives back to The Foundation every year. She sees the difference those donations make with her patients and her colleagues every day.

“We’re family. We support one another. We take care of each other,” she offered.

As for anyone wondering if they can really make a difference with a $1 or $2 donation per paycheck, Lanning had a quick answer for that.

“As I have my coffee in my hand, how often do you spend $2 a day on a coffee or a soda. If you can go without something like that once every two weeks, that’s your donation. I think that could be an easy thing to do that most people won’t really miss. And in the end, you’re helping others out with that simple sacrifice.”

Employees can join the cause by donating online, filling out an I Give pledge card and turning it into The Foundation office at 75 Beekman Street in Plattsburgh, dropping the pledge card in interoffice mail to The Foundation of CVPH or scanning the filled out card and emailing it to kkalman@cvph.org. There are also a variety of ways that members of the public can give. Click here to learn more.