North Country Hospital

North Country Hospital & Health center had its origin in May of 1919  a committee of Newport citizens drafted the Articles of Association and registered the Newport Hospital Association with the State of Vermont. In May of 1922, ground was broken on Longview Street in Newport for the Orleans County Memorial Hospital. For Several years following, interested persons in the community banded together in a tireless effort to raise money for the construction of the hospital which was so vital to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

The Orleans County Memorial Hospital opened its door on July 1, 1924, and for 49 years served its community faithfully. The hospital originally had 24 beds. A nursing school originated with the hospital and during its tenure graduated 40 registered nurses from the surrounding area. The third floor of the hospital served as living quarters for these students. The school was closed in the early 1940's, and ten years later the third floor was renovated to add more patient care rooms.

In spite of continuous efforts of expansion and renovation, in the late 1960's it became obvious that the hospital could no longer sufficiently provide for the ever-growing demands for modern health care. Ground was broken for North Country Hospital and Health Center on a 30-acre site on Prouty Drive in 1971 and officially opened its doors on January 5, 1974.

Throughout the history of the Hospital, the Auxiliary has given generously in volunteer services and in fund-raising efforts. At present, the hospital has an active medical staff of 26 physicians with specialties in anesthesiology, family medicine, general surgery, vascular/thoracic surgery, ophthalmology, radiology, pathology, orthopedics, neurology, and occupational medicine. It employs over 300 employees in a variety of tasks from dietitian to nurse, and housekeeper to technologist. Our hospital serves 20 communities in the two-county area with a population base of approxtimately 25,000 residents. Additionally, North Country Hospital provides care to the many area visitors, summer vacationers, skiers, and other sportsmen that visit our area.

Today, North Country Hospital and Health Center, Inc. is a member of North Country Health Systems, Inc., a community-focused integrated health care delivery system. The award-winning Wellness Center supports and promotes community well being with its many programs for all ages and interests of the service area. Derby Green Nursing Home, another integrated member of the system, is a 23-bed nursing facility providing high quality elder care with dignity and compassion. This integrated system reflects the mission of the original founders of the Newport Hospital Association which was to provide "excellent health care close to home".

The hospital itself is located in Newport, Vermont, which is the county seat for Orleans County. The major industry for the area is dairy farming with light industry and tourism being major contributors to the economic stability of the area. Newport is located in a picturesque setting of Vermont on Lake Memphremagog, a 26-mile long lake that connects Newport with Magog, Quebec. Recreation activities occur year-round.