Author Archives: Liora Engel-Smith

Liora Engel-Smith covers health care for VTDigger. She previously covered rural health at NC Health News in North Carolina and the Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire. She also had been at the Muscatine Journal in rural Iowa. Engel-Smith has master's degrees in public health from Drexel University and journalism from Temple University. Before moving to journalism, she was a scientist who briefly worked in the pharmaceutical industry.

A person in pink scrubs enters through the double doors of an emergency room, beneath a sign that reads "EMERGENCY.

As Omicron loosens its grasp on Vermont, hospitals remain critically understaffed

by Liora Engel-Smith February 21, 2022, 6:35 pmFebruary 21, 2022, 6:35 pm

Should non-medical doctors be allowed to perform eye surgery? Vermont lawmakers weigh in.

by Liora Engel-Smith February 20, 2022, 8:49 amFebruary 21, 2022, 6:01 pm

A building with a curved side.

State study confirms long wait times for medical appointments

by Liora Engel-Smith February 16, 2022, 11:47 amFebruary 23, 2022, 4:10 pm

A person walks up yellow steps towards the main entrance of the University of Vermont Medical Center. Green signs on the right indicate urgent care and outpatient therapy center.

2 operating rooms now open at Fanny Allen surgical center

by Liora Engel-Smith February 15, 2022, 6:03 pmFebruary 15, 2022, 6:03 pm

UVM Medical Center nurses get immediate pay bump amid unprecedented staff shortage

by Liora Engel-Smith February 14, 2022, 3:32 pmFebruary 16, 2022, 9:27 am

Covid-19 lockdown has ended at Vermont nursing homes, but hard feelings remain

by Liora Engel-Smith February 13, 2022, 7:01 amFebruary 13, 2022, 9:22 am

A man in a suit and tie speaking.

Did Vermont hospitals get ‘overwhelmed’ during Omicron surge?

by Liora Engel-Smith February 4, 2022, 6:48 pmFebruary 4, 2022, 6:48 pm

Northwestern Medical Center sheds Medicaid-heavy pediatric clinic

by Liora Engel-Smith February 4, 2022, 6:26 pmFebruary 4, 2022, 6:26 pm

Ena Backus

Vermont’s report on long medical wait times is delayed as Omicron brings new challenges

by Liora Engel-Smith February 2, 2022, 5:52 pmFebruary 2, 2022, 5:52 pm

Brattleboro Retreat staffing shortage traps psychiatric patients at the ER for days

by Liora Engel-Smith February 1, 2022, 5:59 pmFebruary 2, 2022, 4:16 pm

Federal vaccine mandates for health care workers take effect

by Liora Engel-Smith January 28, 2022, 6:38 pmJanuary 28, 2022, 6:38 pm

Vermont’s non-Covid-related deaths reach their highest point in years

by Liora Engel-Smith and Erin Petenko January 28, 2022, 6:31 amJanuary 27, 2022, 5:38 pm

Vermont’s long-term care facilities face ‘urgent’ staffing shortages

by Liora Engel-Smith January 27, 2022, 6:46 pmJanuary 27, 2022, 7:00 pm

UVM Medical Center halts emergency staffing procedures for now

by Liora Engel-Smith January 25, 2022, 2:56 pmJanuary 25, 2022, 2:56 pm