RRMC’s Ongoing Commitment to High-Quality Pediatric Care

At Rutland Regional Medical Center, our commitment to children and families isn’t changing. What is changing is how we deliver care so that every child receives the right care, in the right place, at the right time. This transition is about strengthening pediatric care, not reducing it, and families can continue to count on RRMC to provide safe, high-quality care close to home.

Across the country and right here in Rutland, the number of children who need to stay in the hospital overnight has dropped dramatically. Most young patients today receive excellent care through our Emergency Department, outpatient clinics, or short observation stays without the need for prolonged hospitalization. In the past year, RRMC had about 250 pediatric stays. Nearly two-thirds of those children went home within one day, and about half the time there were no patients in our pediatric beds at all. Maintaining a full inpatient pediatric unit that is rarely used is not the best way to serve families or our broader community.

That is why we are proposing to transition away from maintaining inpatient pediatric beds and instead focus our staff and resources where they are most needed, ensuring care remains, accessible, affordable and of the highest quality. What’s most important for families to know is that pediatric care at RRMC continues. Our Emergency Department, which has been nationally recognized with the Pediatric Readiness Innovator Award, will keep providing 24/7 emergency and short stay care for pediatric patients. Several of our emergency rooms are prioritized for children, ensuring that young patients receive care in a setting designed for their needs.

We will continue caring for adolescents who meet specific criteria in other inpatient units, and our outpatient and surgical services will remain available for routine and same-day pediatric procedures. For children needing more specialized or extended treatment, RRMC will transfer patients to regional partners such as the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) and are working to include Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as well under pediatric patient transfer agreements. In some cases, utilizing expanded critical care transport options, UVMMC will be responsible for providing transport for emergent pediatric patients through the UVM Health Critical Care Transport Team. 

This change is data-driven and is in response to increasing healthcare costs and the evolving needs of our community. By adapting how we deliver care, we can make better use of resources, reduce reliance on temporary staffing, and maintain high-quality, sustainable services for all patients. The staffing efficiencies will allow us to realize cost savings by limiting the need for expensive temporary staff, helping to stabilize our workforce and conserve resources. We deeply value our team and the expertise they bring to RRMC. As part of this transition, we are committed to providing other opportunities for all affected staff based on their skills and interests.

Our approach aligns with Vermont’s healthcare goals of regional collaboration, efficiency, and sustainability. It ensures local families can continue to access the best pediatric care right here at home, while avoiding costly, underutilized services. We will keep working closely with organizations like Community Health and the Visiting Nurse Association, to coordinate safe discharges and provide strong follow-up care. Our care coordination and social work teams remain dedicated to helping families navigate care after leaving the hospital.

We understand that change in healthcare evokes strong emotions, especially when it involves the care of children. Yet in today’s environment of decreased health care funding, we must continue to modernize to meet evolving community needs. As healthcare evolves, so too must we. By focusing our resources where they will have the greatest impact, we are ensuring that children and families in our community continue to receive the exceptional care they deserve today and for generations to come.

Questions? Check out the FAQs about Pediatric Care at Rutland Regional.