ST. JOHNSBURY – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is celebrating 50 years of service to the communities of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom this year, marking five decades of community-based care for individuals and families across Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties.
courtesy photo
Founded in 1976 as Vermont’s first Community Health Center, NCHC was established in response to a critical need for accessible primary care in the region. At the time, much of the Northeast Kingdom was classified as medically underserved, with limited access to healthcare services in many rural communities. Working alongside local community members, NCHC secured one of the state’s first federal health center grants to establish health centers that would serve all patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Its founding executive director, David Reynolds, recently reflected on those early days. “We had no idea if it would succeed, since we had no facilities, no staff, no equipment, no administrative systems,” Reynolds said. “Yet within a year, we opened two physician-staffed health centers in Greensboro and Island Pond, and amazingly a dental clinic in Island Pond as well, one of the first health centers in the nation to include dental care.”
Today, Northern Counties Health Care provides services, including primary care, dental care, home health and hospice, behavioral health and recovery support services. With community health centers in Concord, Danville, Hardwick, Island Pond and St. Johnsbury; dental sites in Hardwick, Island Pond, and Orleans; and Northern Express Care locations in St. Johnsbury and Newport, NCHC provides care close to home.
As Reynolds reflected, “The organization began with a two-member staff, myself and an administrative assistant, and has grown to employ over 300 staff members. It truly is a case of neighbors serving neighbors.”
At the heart of this work are NCHC’s compassionate and dedicated employees. Their commitment, expertise, and deep connection to the communities they serve define who we are as an organization.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the vision and dedication of those who built this organization, and especially the extraordinary employees who bring our mission to life each and every day,” said Chris Towne, CEO of Northern Counties Health Care. “We are grateful for the trust our communities have placed in us for 50 years, and we look forward to continuing to serve the Northeast Kingdom for generations to come.”
Northern Counties Health Care is a nonprofit rural health network providing primary care, dental care, home health and hospice, behavioral health, and recovery services throughout Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
