YCQM Feb. 10, 2019

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>> Announcer: FROM WCAX, THIS IS
"YOU CAN QUOTE ME.">> Darren: GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
I'M DARREN PERRON.
RIGHT NOW ON "YOU CAN QUOTE ME,"
GETTING KIDS VACCINATED AGAINST
THE CANCER CAUSING HPV VIRUS.
A VIRGINIA HOSPITAL IS ONE IN
THE BEST IN THE NATION FOR ITS
VACCINATION RATES.
ALSO, REACHING DRUG USERS DURING
MOMENTS OF CRISIS.
SEE HOW THE STATE'S LARGEST
HOSPITAL IS TRYING TO FIND A FIX
TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
PLUS, THE JAY PEAK TELL-ALL.
THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN THIS
MORNING.
A NEW BOOK EXPLORES THE
EVOLUTION OF JAY PEAK AND THE
AREA AROUND IT IN THE NORTHEAST
KINGDOM.
UNTIL THE 1950s, THE JAY PEAK
REGION WAS A WOODED COMMUNITY
FEW VISITED.
THAT'S CHANGED NOW AS MORE THAN
650,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE JAY
AREA EVERY YEAR.
THE BOOK ALSO LOOKS AT JAY'S
DARKER SIDE, THE SO-CALLED
KINGDOM CON, THE LARGEST FRAUD
CASE IN VERMONT'S HISTORY.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BOOK, I
AM JOINED NOW BY THE BOOK'S
AUTHOR, SCOTT WHEELER.
GOOD MORNING.
>> Wheeler: THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION.
>> Darren: THIS IS THE BOOK
HERE, JAY PEAK, VOICES FROM THE
MOUNTAIN.
WHY DID YOU WRITE IT?
>> Wheeler: I GREW UP SKIING AT
JAY, BUT ALSO AS THE PUBLISHER
OF THE VERMONT OF NORTHLAND
JOURNAL, I HAVE WRITTEN
IMMENSELY ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN.
IT WAS MEANT TO BE WRITTEN ABOUT
TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THEN THE EB-5
DEBACLE OCCURRED, SO I HAD TO
BACK IT UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
I COULDN'T WRITE THE BOOK THE
SAME WAY I WAS PLANNING BEFORE
THE SCANDAL.
SO --
>> Darren: AND WE'LL GET TO THAT
IN A MOMENT, BUT YOU TALK TO
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO
REALLY, YOU KNOW, GET THIS UNDER
WAY.
WHO DID YOU TALK TO?
>> Wheeler: WELL, IT'S KIND OF
LIKE WHO I DIDN'T TALK TO, BUT
SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING
PEOPLE WAS ANDY PEPPIN, IN HIS
90s.
HE'S THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBER
OF THE ORIGINAL JAY PEAK BOARD
OF DIRECTORS, AND HE GOES WAY
BACK TO 1955 WHEN HAROLD HAYNES
AND A GROUP OF OTHER NORTH TROY
MEN CAME TO HIS LAW OFFICE AND
THEY CAME UP -- THEY HAD THIS
IDEA TO BUILD THIS SKI AREA.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE A RESORT.
IT WAS MEANT TO BE A SKI AREA
THAT WAS A BIT BIGGER THAN THE
REST AND AT FIRST, AT FIRST ANDY
THOUGHT THEY WERE CRAZY, AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE DID.
BUT ANDY DECIDED TO JOIN THEM
AND FAST FORWARD, 1956, THEY
OPENED.
THERE'S A BIG STORY IN BETWEEN,
BUT THE REAL -- ONE PERSON WHO
REALLY DROVE THAT MOUNTAIN WAS
WALTER FOGER.
HE WAS A GERMAN SOLDIER DURING
THE WAR, SKI TROOPER, AND HE WAS
A PROFESSIONAL SKIER, AND HE
CAME HERE AND HE SAW THAT THE
MOUNTAIN WAS LOCATED IN JAY NEXT
TO TROY AND NORTH TROY.
HE THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE TROY, NEW
YORK, SO HE THOUGHT HE WAS
LANDING IN AN URBAN AREA AND HE
ENDED UP IN FORESTED VERMONT.
HE STAYED THERE LIKE 13 YEARS,
AND WHILE THESE -- THE LOCALS
WANTED JUST A -- THEY THOUGHT
THEY WERE BUILDING JUST THIS
LOCAL SKI MOUNTAIN, HE HAD A
VISION AND HE DROVE THAT
MOUNTAIN FORWARD.
>> Darren: LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT.
YOU MENTION HOW WOODED AND
UNPOPULATED THAT AREA IS EVEN
STILL TODAY.
>> Wheeler: RIGHT.
>> Darren: MINUS THE VISITORS,
BUT BACK THEN, HOLY SMOKES, WERE
FOLKS RELUCTANT TO SEE THIS
GOING IN?
>> Wheeler: WELL, YOU KNOW, BACK
THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST -- YOU
KNOW, IT WAS A LIVE AND LET LIVE
AREA AND PEOPLE JUST KIND OF
WATCHED IT STARTING TO TAKE
SHAPE.
YOU STILL HAD SOME REAL HILL
PEOPLE UP THERE, LIKE THE BELL
FAMILY.
THEY WERE REAL HILL PEOPLE AND
THEY WERE LIKE, EVERYBODY TALKS
ABOUT WHEN THE CARS STARTED
GOING UP.
THEY WERE LIKE ASTONISHED.
THEY WOULD GO OUT AND WAVE TO
EVERYBODY, AND THERE WERE SOME
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A
FEW PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT THE
MOUNTAIN ALL CARVED UP, BUT FOR
THE MOST PART, PEOPLE WERE JUST
HAPPY TO SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
COMING.
>> Darren: AS THIS MOUNTAIN HAS
GROWN TO WHAT IT IS, HAVE
ATTITUDES CHANGED AT ALL ABOUT
JAY PEAK?
>> Wheeler: WELL, JAY PEAK, AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THEY'VE HAD GREAT LEADERS.
IT STARTED RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING.
THE FIRST GENERAL MANAGER WAS
DON MALLEY, THE FOUNDER OF LIKE
THE DERBY POINT DRIVE-IN THEATER
IN DERBY, HE'S A VAUDEVILLIAN
ACTOR, SO HE WAS THE FIRST ONE.
THEN WALTER BECAME GENERAL
MANAGER AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD
GENERAL MANAGERS WHO REALLY
BELIEVED IN THE REGION.
AND WE DO TODAY.
STEVE WRIGHT, CURRENTLY HEADING
IT UP, GREAT MAN.
HE'S DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB,
HE'S REALLY STABILIZED THE
RESORT.
>> Darren: YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE
BOOK PRETTY -- WELL, A
WORLD-FAMOUS SKI INSTRUCTOR AS
WELL.
>> Wheeler: I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS
THAT I DON'T TALK POLITICS, BUT
I STILL HAVE TO PUT THIS IN.
A WOMAN FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA WHO
WENT ON TO BE KNOWN AS IVANA
TRUMP TAUGHT SKIING FOR A COUPLE
YEARS THERE.
SHE WAS AN ALTERNATE FOR THE
CZECH SKI TEAM, AND SHE USED TO
COME DOWN FROM MONTREAL AND SKI,
AND I HAVE A PHOTO OF HER IN HER
JAY PEAK UNIFORM.
>> Darren: YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT
KIND OF THE MYSTERY UP THERE,
THE SPACE RESEARCH CORPORATION.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> Wheeler: I COULD COME ON
FOR -- I COULD COME ON FOR
SEVERAL SHOWS AND TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS DR. GERALD BULL WAS A
BALLISTICS SCIENTIST.
HE WAS ACTUALLY AT ONE TIME THE
YOUNGEST MAN IN CANADA TO EVER
GET HIS DOCTORATE'S DEGREE, AND
HE HAD A MUNITIONS FACTORY WHERE
HE DID A LOT OF EXPERIMENTING IN
JAY AND HIGH WATER, QUEBEC, AND
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, HE
ENDED UP BEING A -- HE ENDED UP
GOING TO PRISON FOR VIOLATING
THE EMBARGO, SHIPPING ARMS TO
SOUTH AFRICA.
I INTERVIEWED A PERSON WHO HAD
ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE
THAT IT WAS -- THE CIA WAS
INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION, THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT WAS -- THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN IT, AND THEY HUNG
HIM OUT TO DRY.
AND SO HE WENT TO WORK FOR -- HE
WENT TO WORK AS A FREELANCE ARMS
DEALER FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN AND
THEN HE WAS BUILDING THIS
MASSIVE GUN LAID AGAINST THE
MOUNTAIN AND IT WAS THE
DIRECTION THAT THAT MOUNTAIN --
THAT GUN WAS POINTED TO THAT GOT
HIM IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.
ACTUALLY A WORLD OF TROUBLE,
POINTED TOWARDS TEL AVIV, AND
THE ISRAELI MASSOUD WARNED HIM,
STOP, AND HE DIDN'T STOP.
HE WAS ASSASSINATED.
THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT WAS
HE ASSASSINATED BY THE MASSOUD
OR THE CIA?
THE MASSOUD YEARS LATER LAID
CLAIM TO HIS ASSASSINATION, BUT
JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT HAPPENED IN RURAL NORTHEAST
KINGDOM AND DR. BULL PAID
EVERYBODY VERY WELL AND IT'S A
FASCINATING STORY, BUT IT'S A
FASCINATING STORY THAT EVEN A
LOT OF LOCALS, ANYBODY UNDER 50,
A LOT DON'T KNOW IT AND IT'S
BEEN MADE INTO A MAJOR MOTION
MOVIE.
IT'S A -- JUST A CRAZY STORY.
>> Darren: SURE.
I WANT TO GET TO THE FACT THAT
THE BOOK ALSO LOOKS AT THE
KINGDOM CON AND THAT'S -- JAY
PEAK'S OWNER, ARIEL QUIROS, AND
THEN FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE
MOUNTAIN, BILL STENGER, WERE
ACCUSED OF MISUSING MORE THAN
$200 MILLION OF FOREIGN INVESTOR
MONEY OBTAINED THROUGH THE EB-5
VISA PROGRAM.
AS MENTIONED, IT'S VERMONT'S
BIGGEST SCANDAL EVER AND ROCKED
THE KINGDOM.
THERE'S STILL A SCAR FROM THE
SCANDAL WHERE A DEVELOPMENT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
YOU SAID IT DELAYED THE BOOK.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE
SCANDAL?
>> Wheeler: FIRST OF ALL, WHEN
IT BROKE, IT WAS LIKE A KICK IN
THE GUT.
IT WAS A -- YOU KNOW, YOU KIND
OF WONDERED IF THIS WAS TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE, BUT WHEN IT BROKE,
IT WAS LIKE, OHH!
AND IT REALLY WAS, IT WAS TOUGH.
BUT THEN I REGROUPED, I SPOKE TO
BILL STENGER AT LENGTH.
I PERSONALLY DO NOT KNOW ARI, I
DO NOT BELIEVE I'VE EVER SPOKEN
TO HIM, BUT OVER THE YEARS, BILL
STENGER AND I HAVE HAD A GREAT
RELATIONSHIP.
WE STILL DO.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I INTERVIEWED
HIM.
I INTERVIEWED ALSO STEVE WRIGHT
BECAUSE HE IS THE GENERAL
MANAGER, AND WE DISCUSSED -- IT
DOESN'T GO INTO GREAT DEPTH
ABOUT THE EB-5 DEBACLE, BUT YOU
CAN'T WRITE -- I ON ONE HAND
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE WRITTEN THIS
BOOK WITHOUT THAT DARK CHAPTER,
BUT I COULDN'T DO IT, AND SO THE
BOOK DOES GO INTO IT A LITTLE
BIT AND, YOU KNOW, BILL MAKES NO
SECRET THAT HE HAS REGRETS ABOUT
THE WAY THIS ALL ENDED UP AND
BILL IS STILL WORKING TO MAKE
THINGS RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WITH
DOWNTOWN NEWPORT.
>> Darren: SCOTT WHEELER, THANK
YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.
THE BOOK IS JAY PEAK, VOICES
FROM THE MOUNTAIN.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> Wheeler: THANK YOU.
>> Darren: STILL AHEAD, A NEW
WAY TO HELP DRUG USERS WHO END
UP IN THE E.R.
PLUS, THE SHOT FOR KIDS THAT
COULD HELP PREVENT CANCER.
THAT'S NEXT.
>> Darren: A VERMONT HOSPITAL
JUST GOT NATIONAL RECOGNITION
AND IT'S FOR THIS.
HPV VACCINATIONS.
THE PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT
MEDICINE TEAM AT GIFFORD MEDICAL
CENTER WAS JUST NAMED VERMONT'S
2018 HPV VACCINE IS CANCER
PREVENTION CHAMPION.
ONLY 32 MEDICAL CENTERS IN THE
COUNTRY GOT THIS, FROM THE CDC,
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AND
THE AMERICAN CANCER INSTITUTE.
AND TO TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WON,
I AM JOINED NOW BY DR. COURTNEY
RILEY FROM GIFFORD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> Riley: THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME.
>> Darren: AND CONGRATULATIONS.
>> Riley: THANK YOU.
>> Darren: THIS IS THE AWARD
RIGHT HERE.
WHY DID YOU WIN?
>> Riley: THIS WAS PRESENTED BY
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
JOINTLY WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY AND THE INSTITUTION OF
AMERICAN CANCER INSTITUTE.
THIS AWARD WAS GIVEN TO CENTERS
AROUND THE NATION WHO ARE GOING
ABOVE AND BEYOND TO FOSTER HPV
VACCINATION RATES IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
OUR TEAM WORKED REALLY HARD TO
IMPROVE OUR OWN CANCER
VACCINATION RATES OF HPV
VACCINATION RATES, EXCUSE ME,
AND THAT WAS OUR OWN INITIATIVE
PROJECT ACTUALLY, BUT RECOGNIZED
NATIONALLY BY THERE GROUP.
>> Darren: WHAT DOES THE HPV
VACCINE DO AND WHO SHOULD GET
IT?
>> Riley: THE HPV VACCINE
ACTUALLY PROTECTS AGAINST NINE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HPV VIRUS AND
IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL
CHILDREN STARTING AT THE AGE OF
11 AND THAT'S BOTH BOYS AND
GIRLS, WHICH IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT THAN WHEN IT WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED IN 2006.
>> Darren: IT WAS JUST GIRLS
THEN.
>> Riley: IT WAS JUST GIRLS AND
NOW WE'RE FINDING THAT HPV VIRUS
IS INFECTING BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
AND CAUSING CANCERS IN BOTH MEN
AND WOMEN, SO WE ARE NOW
RECOMMENDING THAT THE VACCINE IS
INTRODUCED TO BOTH BOYS AND
GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 9.
>> Darren: WHO SHOULD NOT GET
IT?
SAY IF SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY BEEN
SEXUALLY ACTIVE?
>> Riley: THE HPV VIRUS IS
INFECTING 80 MILLION AMERICANS
EACH YEAR.
IN MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE, THE
INFECTION WILL SELF CLEAR IN
ABOUT TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, IF THE INFECTION
REMAINS, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAD TO
CANCER.
>> Darren: YOU MENTIONED A
PRETTY HIGH NUMBER.
THIS IS PRETTY COMMON.
>> Riley: I MENTIONED ABOUT
80 MILLION AMERICANS ARE
INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS EACH
YEAR, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY AND
MORE SCARY IS ABOUT 30,000 NOW
CANCERS ARE DIAGNOSED IN BOTH
MEN AND WOMEN EACH YEAR, SO WE
KNOW THAT THE VACCINATION NOW
REDUCES ABOUT 90% OF THOSE
CANCERS, WHICH IS ASTOUNDING AND
VERY EXCITING.
>> Darren: WHAT IS IN THE
VACCINATION ITSELF?
DOES IT ACT SORT OF LIKE THE FLU
VACCINATION IN THAT IT'S A DEAD
VIRUS?
>> Riley: IT IS A PROTEIN VIRUS,
SO THERE'S NO DNA IN THE VACCINE
ITSELF AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT
PEOPLE ARE THE MOST AFRAID OF,
IS THIS GOING TO CAUSE THE
DISEASE.
NO, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE AN
IMMUNE RESPONSE TO IT SO THAT
YOUR BODY, IF YOU WERE, YOU
KNOW, EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS,
COULD RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
>> Darren: AND THAT'S MY
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION HERE BECAUSE
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEARY ABOUT
GETTING VACCINATIONS, WHATEVER
IT MAY BE, INCLUDING THE HPV
VACCINATION.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS
WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING,
YOU KNOW, THIS FOR THEIR KIDS?
>> Riley: YES, THAT'S A VERY
COMMON CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, BUT
IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT'S MOSTLY
PARENTS WHO ARE JUST -- WANT TO
KNOW MORE INFORMATION, AND SO
IT'S NOT JUST HPV VACCINE THAT
WE GET SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, BUT
I WELCOME THAT AND I KNOW MOST
PEDIATRICIANS WELCOME THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY
AGAINST VACCINES IN GENERAL AND
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PARENTS ARE
BEING BOMBARDED WITH DIFFERENT
AND CONFLICTING INFORMATION THAT
CAN BE REALLY HARD TO DEAL WITH,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO
DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD.
SO I OPEN THE CONVERSATION, IF
THERE'S A LITTLE HESITANCY, I
TEND TO SEE THAT AND THEN JUST
RIGHT AWAY SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT
IS YOUR QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOUR
CONCERNS, AND TRY TO ADDRESS
THOSE SPECIFICALLY.
>> Darren: AND IS THAT HOW
GIFFORD GOT THEIR RATE SO HIGH
IS HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS,
DOING OUTREACH?
WHAT DID YOU DO TO WIN THIS
AWARD?
>> Riley: YES.
WE DID COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUT
THEN WE HAD AN INNOVATIVE
REMINDER SYSTEM THROUGH OUR
DEPARTMENT THAT WORKED REALLY
WELL.
SO IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNITY
OUTREACH, WE WORKED WITH A LOCAL
HIGH SCHOOL GROUP OF STUDENTS
WHO DID AN OPEN FORUM AND KIND
OF WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS THE
STUDENTS WERE SEEING, AND THEN
ALSO I GAVE A PRESENTATION FOR
THE COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HPV
IN GENERAL.
AGAIN, AN OPEN FORUM SO PEOPLE
CAN ASK QUESTIONS, GET TO KNOW
WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO,
AND THEN WE ALSO GAVE A
PRESENTATION UP IN BURLINGTON AT
THE WOMEN'S CANCER SOCIETY
PRESENTATION ABOUT HPV ALONG
WITH DR. FRAM WHO IS A RADIATION
ONCOLOGIST WHO IS SEEING NOW
THESE CANCERS ON THE BACK END.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER
TO PREVENT THEM IN THE KIDS.
>> Darren: DR. RILEY, THAT IS
AWESOME.
>> Riley: THANK YOU.
>> Darren: WHERE DO YOU TAKE
THIS FROM HERE?
>> Riley: WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO
IMPROVE OUR RATES.
WE STILL HAVE OUR REMINDER
SYSTEM IN PLACE, SO WE CAN SEE
WHO'S COMING IN, EVEN IF JUST
FOR AN ACUTE VISIT, WE HAVE A
MARKER THERE THAT SAYS THEY'RE
DUE FOR A VACCINE, WHICH HELPS
WITH THE ADOLESCENTS WHO MAY NOT
ALWAYS COME FOR THEIR ANNUAL
VISITS BECAUSE THEY'RE WELL, SO
WE CAN CATCH THEM.
BUT ONCE WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE DONE
REALLY WELL WITH HPV, THERE ARE
STILL PLENTY OF CHILDHOOD
IMMUNIZATIONS WE COULD BE DOING
BETTER ON.
OUR GROUP IS DOING REALLY WELL
AS A WHOLE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED
TO BOTH THE STATE OF VERMONT AND
THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT THERE'S
ALWAYS MORE TO BE DONE.
>> Darren: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
ME THIS MORNING.
>>> UP NEXT, A KIT FOR FIGHTING
THE OPIOID CRISIS.
CHANNEL 3'S CAT VIGLIENZONI
JOINS ME NEXT TO EXPLAIN.
>> Darren: IMMEDIATE HELP FOR
PEOPLE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS WHO
WANT TO GET CLEAN.
IT'S CALLED RAM, RAPID ACCESS TO
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
CHANNEL 3 SPOKE WITH CENTRAL
VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER AND A
WASHINGTON COUNTY RECOVERY
CENTER ABOUT THIS FIRST OF ITS
KIND PROJECT THAT COULD BE PART
OF THE FIX.
>> Reporter: A FIRST OF ITS KIND
PILOT PROJECT, FEDERALLY FUNDED
AND SUPPORTED BY THE VERMONT
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
DOCTORS AND NURSES HERE OFFER AN
OPIOID BLOCKER TO PATIENTS IN
CRISIS, POLK HELPING THEM
OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF
ADDICTION AND HELP EASE THEIR
TRANSITION INTO TREATMENT.
>> IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT THAT WE HAVE
FOR ABUSE DISORDERS.
>> Reporter: RAPID ACCESS TO
MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT IS
A PILOT PROGRAM THAT STARTED AT
THE MEDICAL CENTER OF VERMONT
LAST JULY.
>> WE HAVEN'T TREATED THEM AS
WELL AS WE SHOULD.
>> Reporter: THE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR REALIZED THE HOSPITAL
NEEDED TO PLAY A LARGER ROLE IN
HELPING THOSE WHO NEED
TREATMENT.
>> THERE HAS TO BE AFTER CARE,
SOME THOUGHTFULNESS ABOUT HOW
YOU GO ABOUT IT.
>> Reporter: HE HELPS BRING
TOGETHER AREA TREATMENT
FACILITIES TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY AND TO GET HELP
TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
>> IT TAKES REALLY STRONG
COLLABORATION AMONG PROVIDERS TO
BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY
NEED TO GET RIGHT AWAY.
>> Reporter: BOB PURVIS OF THE
TURNING POINT CENTER OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY SAYS THEY'VE
BEEN PROVIDING PEER RECOVERY
COACHES IN THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT AT CVMC.
ANOTHER PILOT PROJECT THAT
STARTED LAST YEAR IN WASHINGTON,
CHITTENDEN AND BENNINGTON
COUNTIES.
RECOVERY COACHES HAVE BEEN
THROUGH TREATMENT THEMSELVES AND
MEET WITH A PERSON IN CRISIS IN
THE E.R. AFTER AN OVERDOSE.
COACHES HELP CONNECT USERS TO
RECOVERY CENTERS.
>> ONE OF THE BARRIERS FOR MANY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THAT THEY'VE
LEARNED THAT IF THEY GO TO BE
INDUCTED IN THE PROGRAM, THEY
HAVE TO GO INTO WITHDRAWAL FOR
SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
>> Reporter: NOW WITH THE RAM
PROJECT, BUPRENORPHINE, CAN BE
PRESCRIBED ON DEMAND AT THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND IT'S
NOT JUST FOR SOMEONE WHO'S
OVER-DECEMBER DOSED.
-- OVERDOSED.
ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH AN OPIOID
ADDICTION CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROGRAM, WHETHER THEY'RE IN
WITHDRAWAL OR NOT.
THEY RECEIVE A THREE-DAY SUH MY,
JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET THEM
INTO TREATMENT.
SO LONG, AROUND 40 SO TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND 80%
HAVE FOLLOWED UP.
>> WE HAVE ALL THESE PATIENTS
THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MEDICALLY
ASSISTED TREATMENT AND HAVE
STARTED THE PATH TO RECOVERY
WHICH I THINK AS REALLY GOOD
IDEA.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
I THINK IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM AT
A TIME IN NEED AND IT JUST SETS
THE RELATIONSHIP FOR BETTER
THERAPY BY BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT.
>> Reporter: THE UVM MEDICAL
CENTER IN BURLINGTON IS ALSO
PART OF THE RAM PILOT PROJECT.
THE VERMONT HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SAYS THEY PLAN TO EXPAND IT TO
TWO MORE COMMUNITIES THIS YEAR.
>> Darren: AND AS HE JUST SAID,
VERMONT'S LARGEST HOSPITAL IS
ALSO GETTING PATIENTS BOTH
MEDICATIONS WHO MAY COME TO THE
E.R.
CAT VIGLIENZONI SHOWS US WHAT'S
HAPPENING AT UVM MEDICAL CENTER
AND WHY DOCTORS ARE TRYING TO
CONVINCE OTHER HOSPITALS IT'S
WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
>> Cat: IF YOU LAND IN THE UVM
MEDICAL CENTER FROM AN OVERDOSE
OR OTHER DRUG-RELATED ISSUE,
YOU'LL BE OFFERED A KIT LIKE
THIS.
IN IT, ENOUGH BUPRENORPHINE TO
GET AN INTERESTED PATIENT TO A
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT FOR
LONG-TERM DRUG TREATMENT WITHIN
72 HOURS.
>> WE KNOW THAT WHEN FOLKS GET
STARTED ON BUPRENORPHINE, THEY
STOP DYING AND THEY CAN GET
THEIR LIVES BACK.
>> Cat: EMERGENCY MEDICAL DOCTOR
DANIEL WOLFSON SAYS HE'S
PASSIONATE ABOUT TREATING
ADDICTION LIKE ANY OTHER DISEASE
AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THE HELP
THEY NEED RIGHT IN THE E.R. TO
HOPEFULLY AVOID THIS.
>> SEEING PEOPLE THAT COME INTO
OUR EMERGENCY ROOM DEMENTS AND
WE SAVE THEM AND THE VERY NEXT
DAY, THEY GO OUT AND OVERDOSE
AGAIN.
>> Cat: NOW HIS DEPARTMENT IS
EMBARKING ON A STUDY WITH TWO
GOALS, TO PROVE THEY CAN GET
PEOPLE ENROLLED AND OPIOID
TREATMENT MEDICATION INTO THEIR
HANDS, AND THAT IT WORKS.
>> WE FOLLOW THEM UP AT A WEEK,
THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS TO
SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING AND IF
THEY'RE STILL IN TREATMENT.
>> Cat: DR. WOLFSON EXPECTS THEY
WILL SEE SUCCESS WITH THE
PROGRAM SIMILAR TO WHAT CENTRAL
VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER HAS
ALREADY NOTICED WITH IT.
IT'S BEING PAID FOR BY A
$1.5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY CHOSE THE E.R. BECAUSE THEY
CAN CATCH PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED
HELP THE MOST.
>> AS FAR AS 10, 15 MINUTES,
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SMALL WINDOW
WHERE A PERSON IS ACTUALLY
WORKING THROUGH THIS STAGE AND
THE CHANGE IS THAT POINT OF
ACTION.
>> Cat: THIS PEER RECOVERY COACH
AT TURNING POINT WORKS WITH E.R.
DOCTORS TO TALK WITH PATIENTS
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
THROUGH AND SAYS HE'S THRILLED
TO SEE THE MEDICAL CENTER
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO
TREATMENT.
WHAT WOULD YOUR EXPERIENCE HAVE
BEEN LIKE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING
LIKE A MEDICATION ASSISTED
TREATMENT DRUG AVAILABLE FOR YOU
WHEN YOU HIT THE E.R.?
>> I DON'T KNOW, IT'S
HYPOTHETICAL, BUT HAVING THAT
DRUG AVAILABLE, KNOWING I
WOULDN'T GO THROUGH WITHDRAWALS,
THAT I COULD ENGAGE IN TREATMENT
AND MY LIFE COULD GET BETTER
IMMEDIATELY, I THINK I WOULD
HAVE CHOSEN IT.
>> Darren: AND CAT JOINS ME NOW.
GOOD MORNING.
>> Cat: GOOD MORNING.
>> Darren: HOW DO THEY IDENTIFY
PATIENTS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN THIS KIND OF INTERVENTION?
>> Cat: RIGHT, SO THERE ARE THE
PATIENTS WITH THE OPIOID USE
DISORDER SYMPTOMS.
COULD BE SOMETHING OBVIOUS LIKE
WHEN SOMEONE COMES IF FOR AN
OVERDOSE, BUT ALSO COULD BE A
PATIENT WHO HAS SOMETHING ELSE
AND STAFF IN THE E.R. MIGHT
NOTICE THAT THEY ARE SUFFERING
FROM AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.
IT COULD BE AN ABSCESS ON AN ARM
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEY
APPROACH THEM AND SEE IF THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN THE TREATMENT AND
IF THEY ARING THEY CAN GET THEM
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
>> Darren: WE KNOW TWO OF
HOSPITALS.
ANY OTHERS?
>> Cat: SEVERAL VERMONT MEDICAL
CENTERS, AND EVENTUALLY
DR. WOLFSON SAYS OVER THE NEXT
SEVERAL MONTHS, THEY'RE GOING TO
GET THE PROGRAM ONLINE AT ALL
THE UVM MEDICAL CENTER
HOSPITALS, SO THAT TAKES TIME,
THOUGH, BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE
TO DO IS GET ALL OF THE
PHYSICIANS WHO WANT TO PRESCRIBE
THIS TO BE CERTIFIED TO DO THAT,
AND TO GET CERTIFIED TO
PRESCRIBE BUPRENORPHINE TAKES
EXTRA TRAINING AND TIME AND
ABOUT HALF RIGHT NOW OF UVMC
DOCTORS ARE ABLE TO PRESCRIBE
AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON
GETTING THE REST.
THE OTHER HOSPITALS WHO DON'T
HAVE THAT YET HAVE TO GET THAT
TRAINING BEFORE THEY CAN GET OFF
THE GROUND.
>> Darren: YOU MENTIONED THERE
IS A LACK OF STUDY ON THIS.
WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH IS DONE?
>> Cat: I WAS TALKING WITH
DR. WOLFSON, HE SAID THAT THERE
WAS ONE STUDY OUT OF NEW HAVEN
THAT THEY HAD LOOKED AT, BUT
REALLY ON THIS TOPIC, THERE'S
NOT A LOT OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH.
AS WE KNOW, THE LACK OF PROVEN
RESEARCH CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT
TO CONVINCE A HOSPITAL THAT THIS
IS WORTH IT AND IT ACTUALLY
WORKS, IT'S WORTH THE MONEY AND
INVESTMENT AND TRAINING AND SO
UVM MEDICAL CENTER RIGHT NOW IS
TRYING TO EFFECTIVELY PROVE THE
ANECDOTES.
SO ANECDOTALLY, WE CAN SAY
CENTRAL VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER
AND OTHER HOSPITALS ARE SEEING
SUCCESS WITH THIS, BUT UNTIL YOU
HAVE DATA TO BACK IT UP, IT'S
HARD TO CONVINCE OTHER HOSPITALS
AROUND THE NATION MAYBE THEY
SHOULD TAKE THIS UP TOO.
>> Darren: SO TALK ABOUT HOW
THIS WORKS.
NORMALLY THERE'S SOME KIND OF A
CONTROL GROUP INVOLVED IN A
STUDY.
>> Cat: RIGHT.
>> Darren: THAT'S NOT THE CASE
HERE.
>> Cat: NO.
WHAT IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO WAS
NOT WANTING TO NOT PRESCRIBE
SOMEONE TREATMENT SO THAT A
STUDY COULD HAPPEN.
IF SOMEONE COMES INTO THE E.R.
AND WANTS TREATMENT, THEY WANT
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT AND
ALSO INCLUDE THEM IN THE STUDY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DENY SOMEONE
THAT.
THEY'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE
THE PARAMETERS OF THEIR STUDY
AND GET IT APPROVED SO THEY
COULD COLLECT DATA WITHOUT
FOLLOWING A CONTROL GROUP.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE LOOKING AT
PEOPLE WHO THEY PRESCRIBE
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT
DRUGS TO OVER MONTHS AND DOING
PHONE CALLS WITH THEM AND
INTERVIEWS AND FOLLOW-UPS AND
SEE IF THE MONTHS PROGRESS, IF
THEY REMAIN IN TREATMENT.
AS WE KNOW, RELAPSES FROM
TREATMENT ARE AN ISSUE AND IT'S
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
SO IF THEY CONTINUE AND REMAIN
IN THE PROGRAM AND IN TREATMENT
OVER MONTHS, THEY'LL CONSIDER
THAT SUCCESS.
>> Darren: HOW LONG IS THIS
PROJECT GOING TO LAST?
>> Cat: RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF ONGOING,
IT SOUNDS LIKE.
IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, I IMAGINE
THEY WOULDN'T JUST DITCH IT
AFTER THREE YEARS BECAUSE THE
THREE YEARS IS WHAT THEY GOT
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR, THAT
$1.5 MILLION TO PAY FOR THE
RESEARCHERS AND MEDICATION AND
THINGS.
>> Darren: YOU TALKED TO A
COUNSELOR FROM TURNING POINT AND
I'M CURIOUS, HOW MANY PEOPLE
THEY'VE ACTUALLY SPOKEN WITH IN
THE E.R.
>> Cat: THIS IS SOMETHING WE
TOLD PEOPLE ABOUT A FEW MONTHS
AGO WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
NUMBERS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU
TALK TO.
IT REALLY DOES DEPEND, THEY
SAID, ON FACTORS LIKE
TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, THE
WEATHER, HOLIDAYS EVEN,
COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ALL THOSE
THINGS WILL AFFECT WHETHER THEY
HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE OR LESS
PEOPLE IN THE E.R. FOR
DRUG-RELATED OVERDOSES, BUT THEY
TOLD ME THAT IN JANUARY, THEY
SAW -- LET ME GET THIS RIGHT.
THEY ENGAGED WITH 40 PEOPLE.
30 OF THOSE THEY SAID WERE
UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE THEY
HAD NOT SEEN COME THROUGH THE
E.R. BEFORE AND I WAS TOLD BY
THE RECOVERY COACH THAT MORE
PEOPLE ARE USING THAT PROGRAM AS
WELL.
>> Darren: CAT, THANK YOU, AND
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
TAKE CARE, EVERYBODY.
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