Every other week, Shana Halliday meets with a 70-year-old whose wife died last year. He had been struggling with isolation and didn’t have anyone to talk to — he said he didn’t want to burden them. He made an appointment with his primary care provider in Rutland, who referred him to Halliday.

She’s seen hundreds of patients since she started working at the practice last year — helping them write advanced directives, fill out applications for food and fuel assistance and connecting families with therapists who can help with medication management and substance abuse treatment. She also provides coping skills for anxiety and depression and grief counseling, like for the 70-year-old man.

“If they're in for an appointment, they can come and see me,” she said.

“We can round out their medical

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