Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive community of care within our organization. We commit to the idea of building a care community that explicitly recognizes the value of human diversity. We aim to demonstrate our inherent, unwavering value of and respect for the rich spectrum of human differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, disability and religion.

Information for patients and families

You have the right to complain about any aspect of your care or discharge to SVMC and state and federal agencies without fear of reprisal. You, a family member, or significant other can initiate this process. If your concern cannot be resolved by your physician or the nursing staff, you may contact a hospital representative in the following offices:

All are located at 100 Hospital Drive, Bennington, VT 05201.

  • We affirm that each of us shares responsibility for creating and maintaining an environment of mutual respect and support.
  • We understand that diversity fosters innovation and creates a welcoming environment for our patients, colleagues and community.
  • We will strive to ensure the value of diversity is upheld in everything that we do for our colleagues, patients, families, visitors, the broader community, and all who contribute to the achievement of our mission.
  • We support the availability of educational opportunities to create a culturally competent work force and a healing environment that demonstrates respect for the individuality of employees, patients, and visitors.

As a member of Dartmouth Health, we support the system’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Learn more about our approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

SVMC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, with over 45 members, collaborates across the health system to ensure an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all.

The Community Outreach Task Force—a working group of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee—is committed to encouraging action and facilitating accountability to reduce modifiable health disparities using interventions that are effective, scalable, data-driven, and culturally humble. 

The Community Outreach Task Force provided strategic direction for SVMC’s 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, a process which identified health disparities in the SVMC community rooted in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and gender expression. The Task Force is implementing community-based projects to eliminate the disparities identified by the assessment process, and to ensure health equity.