Grace Cottage Hospital’s Governance

Grace Cottage Hospital opened its doors in 1949 through the dedicated support of the surrounding community. Currently Vermont’s smallest hospital, with just 19 beds, Grace Cottage is literally a community hospital – volunteers (about 200) from the community outnumber the paid staff (approximately 160). Volunteers provide a myriad of essential services, from grounds keeping to weekend emergency room admissions, strategic planning to fundraising, plus many other activities.

The point person for volunteers at Grace Cottage is the Assistant to the Hospital Administrator, who can be reached at (802) 365-7920 x 129 or admin@otishealthcarecenter.org or PO Box 216, Townshend VT 05353

The following is a sampling of volunteer opportunities available at Grace Cottage Hospital:

* Clerical Support
* Courier Service
* Dietary Department
* Flea Market Parking Donation Collection
* Gardens & Grounds
* Grace Cottage Hospital Auxiliary & Fair Day
* Grace Cottage Foundation Board of Directors
* Heins Community Care Home
* OHCC/Grace Cottage Hospital Board of Trustees
* Pastoral Care
* Receptionists
* Special Events

Public Meeting Schedule:

Grace Cottage Hospital’s volunteer Board of Trustees meets once a month at the hospital; various committees of the Board also meet regularly; the trustees also hold an annual all-day retreat for the purposes of education and planning. Members of the public are encouraged to contact a Trustee with any questions, comments or concerns they may have.

The trustees views themselves as community representatives responsible for the effective management of the Otis Health Care Center and Grace Cottage Hospital, working to meet the healthcare needs of the people living in, working in and visiting the towns of southeastern Vermont.

The hospital’s strategic planning is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. Trustees seek the input of others in the community as they come into daily contact with people within the hospital’s geographic service area. Various public meetings are held annually in a further effort to solicit public input into the hospital’s strategic planning process. Announcements for these meetings are published in the local press, via flyers posted in prominent locations, and on this website.

Contact Information:

The Board of Trustees selects and appoints an Administrator/Chief Executive Officer, who can be reached at (802) 365-7357 or admin@otishealthcarecenter.org or PO Box 216, Townshend VT 05353.

A copy of the hospital’s Annual Report is available to the public from Grace Cottage Foundation, at (802) 365-9109 or info@gracecottage.org or PO Box 1, Townshend VT 05353.