Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH) is a mission driven primary care practice with a focus on quality and continuity of care. We are a not-for-profit corporation governed by a community-based Board of Directors whose mission is to provide high-quality care in Northwestern Vermont.
NOTCHs team of compassionate and devoted health care professionals and support staff develop long-term relationships with patients, often serving multi-generational families. The organization offers a full spectrum of health care services, including family medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health, pharmacy, lab, and general dentistry.
NOTCH has been recognized by theNational Committee for Quality Assurance(NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home since 2012. Ourpractices most recently earned Level 3 recognition (the highest possible) by the NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Program in 2020:
The PCMH model of care places an emphasis on team-based care, communication, access, and care coordination. It also emphasizes better management of chronic conditions. This means that at NOTCH, we take extra care to track patients who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, or are at an age where critical preventative screenings, such as colonoscopies, need to begin.
NOTCHs recognition is a reflection of our commitment to improving the health of our community. By managing and preventing chronic disease and promoting healthy lifestyles, we aim to empower our patients to take a proactive approach in managing their self-care and well-being.
Pamela Parsons was hired as the Executive Director of NOTCH in 1999. Pam graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelors degree in Home Economics. Her diverse interests and talents result in a broad employment history, including work at Franklin County Home Health, in education, and as co-owner of a construction company. Through Pams leadership, NOTCH has thrived providing good jobs in a region of the state that has a large population with family income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Pam is actively involved in her community and has served on several Boards of Directors including those of: OneCare VT, Bi-State Primary Care Association, Vermont Rural Ventures, Richford Economic Advancement Corporation, Richford Renaissance Corporation, and Pharmacy Network, LLC.Pam has committed herself to improving the health and welfare of area residents. Her involvement with multiple community partners epitomizes Pams collaborative and innovative approach for taking care of people.
Dr. Audrey von Lepel has been the Medical Director at NOTCH in 2018. She practices Internal Medicine at our Fairfax Health Center, which is the same location she delivered medical care at for nearly three decades prior to joining NOTCH.
Dr. von Lepel attended Medical School in Guadalajara Mexico before completing her clinical rotations in the US, she completed the Internal Medicine residency program at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. She made Vermont her home in 1988 when she opened Fairfax Associates in Medicine, a private Internal Medicine Practice in Fairfax focusing on Womens Health and Preventive Medicine. She joined NOTCH in October 2017.
