Dr. Erick Lavallee is NOTCH’s new medical director. He is also an associate clinical professor at the University of Vermont, a fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and a diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine.
RICHFORD — With 20 years under his belt as a primary care provider for Northern Tier Center for Health, Dr. Erick Lavallee was recently named Medical Director of the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Former NOTCH Medical Director Dr. Audrey von Lepel enthusiastically passed the baton to Dr. Lavallee to focus her attention on direct patient care at Fairfax Health Center.
Dr. Lavallee hails from Quebec and graduated from McGill University Medical School in 1991. He served for several years as a medical officer in the Canadian Armed Forces before practicing medicine in West Virginia.
When he felt a pull back to his roots in southern Quebec in the early 2000s, his family settled in Sutton, and he found alignment in medical philosophy at NOTCH.
“I spend a lot of time educating patients on diet, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification,” he said. “Armed with practical information and encouragement, patients walk out of their appointments feeling empowered.”
Dr. Lavallee spoke with the Messenger about what sets NOTCH health centers apart from other primary care practices and how he prioritizes wellness in his own life. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Why has NOTCH been the right fit for you?
A: The model that NOTCH offers is a winning combination because there is public involvement from a board of directors, the majority of which must be NOTCH service users and oversight from the Health Resources Services Administration. The philosophy at NOTCH is not about making money on sick people…it is simply about making sick people better in the most cost-effective way possible.
We take a holistic approach to health care and consider the impact social determinants of health have on our patients. We see everybody; no one is excluded from receiving care. We accept most health insurance plans and offer a sliding fee scale to help income-eligible patients without health insurance coverage or with high deductibles pay for NOTCH services.
Q: What are your responsibilities as Medical Director?
A: The Medical Director at NOTCH is a staff physician responsible for the overall clinical direction of the organization’s health and wellness activities. Specific duties include: directing and overseeing all aspects relating to medical providers; providing medical direction for all clinical activities relating to providers; developing, monitoring and improving clinical standards of care through performance benchmarks and goal setting; developing clinical policies and procedures; performing medical provider performance reviews; leading and participating in quality initiatives; and training, mentoring, precepting and supervising medical provider students and new provider hires.
In my role as Medical Director, I am charged with executing NOTCH’s mission “to promote, preserve, and restore the health of persons residing in Northwestern Vermont,” making sure the mission is accomplished at every level, and if it is not, finding out why and resolving it.
Q: What are you looking for when hiring medical staff?
A: We look for people who are properly licensed or will be licensed to practice in Vermont that live locally, grew up here, or have ties to the area. For those intending to return to northwestern Vermont, we help them in the process to facilitate their return.
The advantage of hiring local providers is they know the community and many of our patients. That is a great asset because these providers are not surprised or taken aback by Vermont’s long, harsh winters and locals like to support locals.
A stable, dependable and loyal workforce is a winning combination for NOTCH and the communities it serves.
Q: What makes a good medical provider?
A: It takes curiosity, motivation and consistency to be a good medical provider. Every visit with a patient is like a detective investigation; listening closely to the patient’s story provides important clues. Sometimes there are multiple issues happening simultaneously. It is the provider’s job to figure out what is most important.
Q: What is key to your own healthy lifestyle?
A: I get up early, make my bed, and then do a little workout in the morning with weights.
I make my lunch every day and am proud of that. I eat a mostly plant-based diet because we are discovering now the bacteria that makes a healthy gut will determine how long a person will live. I walk at lunchtime every day. After work, I go home and swim.
Basically, I am looking for anything that has been scientifically proven to improve health and try to combine and layer these habits to achieve a palatable mix of improvements that are sustainable.
Q: Is there anything else you want readers to know about NOTCH?
A: NOTCH is well-positioned for the future and attributes this largely to its dynamic workforce. Teamwork and collaboration with local partners contribute to our vision of improved healthcare delivery and health outcomes. To learn more about NOTCH, visit www.notchvt.org.
This is paid content. Northern Tier Center for Health is part of the Messenger’s Preferred Business Program. To learn more, reach out to hyoung@orourkemediagroup.com.
