Springfield Hospital

Springfield Hospital is pleased to announce that Apple Blossom will return in May of 2024. The Apple Blossom event has a long history that showcases area high school seniors and elementary children in a performance of song and dance. In 2024, the traditional features that make Apple Blossom so special will be included along with a community dance following the final performance.

Springfield Hospital welcomes Apple Blossom Director, Ashlee White of Springfield, VT. Ashlee has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre with a concentration in Set Design. “I’ve been dancing and singing since I could walk and talk, and began acting when I was 12,” says Ashlee. “I love all forms of performance, but the Apple Blossom event checks all the boxes for me,” she continued. She is supported by a committee of enthusiastic individuals, some of whom include previous Apple Blossom Queens; Kelly Flynn and Diane Walker, and previous directors and assistants; Lisa Rushton and Tracy Austin.

An orientation for all parents and participants, including elementary school applicants, will take place on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 1:00pm at Dressel Gymnasium at Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT.  The Apple Blossom performances will take place on Friday and Saturday, May 3rd and 4th.

Applications for both high school and elementary school participants are available at https://springfieldhospital.org/fundraising-events/ . Applications for seniors must be received by December 19, 2023 (prior to school vacation), and for children, applications must be received by January 19, 2024.

Proceeds from the performances will support the Dr. E Sherburne Lovell Health Career Award and Springfield Hospital’s 2024 Annual Giving Campaign. The support of community businesses, individuals, and families has been extraordinary during  past years, and we look forward to similar participation with the return of Apple Blossom in 2024. For more information, call Sandy Peplau, 885-7686, or visit https://springfieldhospital.org/fundraising-events/  

Springfield Hospital is pleased to welcome Audrey Dudzik, MD, FACS, to the General Surgery Department. Dr. Dudzik received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, with honors, from Michigan State University.  She continued her education by receiving her Master of Science degree in Basic Medical Sciences from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Dudzik received her Doctor of Medicine from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She completed her general surgery residency and internship at the Memorial Mercer University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. She is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She currently serves on the Board and is the Medical Director of the Visiting Nurses and Hospice of the Southwest Region.  She is also a member of the Vermont Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Dudzik was previously employed as a general surgeon at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT and Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, VT. She is currently accepting new patients at Springfield General Surgery, located in the Professional Building on Level A, next to Springfield Hospital, at 29 Ridgewood Road, Springfield, VT.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 802-885-5600.   ###

Do you know an adult family member, neighbor or friend who could benefit from engaging activities, nutritious meals, nursing oversight, and/or personal care or social assistance? If so, Springfield Area Adult Day Service has many services available to assist those who may be frail, isolated or have physical and/or cognitive impairment.   

Adult Day is a carefully planned program that includes health, social and supportive services in a safe, protective environment. Their programming infuses skilled services with a lot of fun!  Games and puzzles, music and singing, dance, arts and crafts, interactive video games, exercise programs, outdoor recreation, and gardening are just some of the many daily delights that are planned to make days both educational and enjoyable.  For example, a visit to the center may find folks enjoying a friendly match at the pool table, sharing a game of cards, or socializing with friends.

The daily program, fully certified by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, includes a team of skilled professionals, including a director, nurses, aides, and other multi-disciplinary services from Springfield Hospital along with a number of caring and devoted volunteers.

The nursing staff work closely with area agencies to coordinate transportation, case management, programming and care, and financial assistance as needed. For caregivers, the program provides respite, and educational and emotional support.

“Our goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment that our participants enjoy while working to maintain or enhance their current level of mental and physical functionality. Our nurses collaborate with participants, their caregivers, and other members of their health care team to maximize their wellbeing,” comments Sue Pollard, Director of Adult Day.

Enhancing the wellness of participants is an important part of the program. This is achieved by planning daily programming that reflects participants’ personal choices and promotes independence and autonomy.  If personal care is needed, showers, shampoos, nail care and shaving services are available. Aides are also on site to assist/supervise exercises as prescribed by physical therapists.

This special program may be of assistance if your family or friends need any of the following: a safe, secure environment; social activities; assistance with eating, walking, toileting and medication management; group therapies; nutritious meals or a special diet; weight, blood pressure or food/liquid intake monitoring; exercise; personal care, such as bathing or shampooing; or, mental stimulation.

Sue Pollard adds, “The third week of September, each year, marks a special week to raise awareness of the availability and accessibility of Adult Day programs nationwide. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the entire staff of Springfield Area Adult Day Services. The quality and sincerity of care is evident in everything we do here, and our wonderful clients make providing that care a pleasure. Our team approach keeps us all engaged in the daily care and is something we are proud to provide.”

The Adult Day service is located at 266 River Street in Springfield, VT, and is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Sue Pollard, RN, Director, at 802-885-9881 or email spollard@springfieldhospital.org.    

Springfield Hospital hosted its 23rd Annual Golf Challenge on September 14th at the Crown Point Country Club, Springfield, Vermont. Proceeds from this year’s fundraising event go to the annual giving campaign to support Diagnostic Imaging and other medical equipment.

Ninety-two tournament participants enjoyed a variety of competitions on the course in addition to 18 holes of scramble golf tournament play. A new GMC truck was up for grabs for a hole-in-one on hole 18, thanks to Springfield Buick GMC Cadillac; and ten thousand dollars was available on hole 5 for a hole-in-one, thanks to the Ludlow Insurance Agency. Those two prizes were not awarded, but the weather, course conditions, and work by the staff and volunteers made for a fantastic day of golf.

Winners in the A Flight were:1^st Gross –Eric Abel, Bob Kay, Maki Kobayashi, and Bob McPhee and 2^nd Gross was Max Zurmuhlen, David Laplante, Ray Grant and Scott Armstrong. The 1^st Net –Ian Swihart, Jay Stone; Ryan Smith and Dan Smith and 2^nd Net –Jeff Perkins, Paul Kendall, and Tracy Johnson.

Winners in the B flight were:1^st Gross – Brandon LaBlanc, Brad Walker, Warren Larocque and Cory Bergeron and 2^nd Gross – Eric Warren, Ed Dunk, Robert O’Brien and Stuart Currie. The 1^st Net –Mike Pinney, Collin Pinney, Gary Stearns and Walter Oaks; 2^nd Net – Jenna Young, Crissy Webster, Sarah Flore and Jessica Flore.

 The straightest drive was won by Rick Marasa and the closest to the pin was Bob Kay.  

The sponsors and raffle prize donors made this year’s tournament a fundraising success. The tournament sponsors this year at the Gold Tournament level of $5000 were Coverys and M&T Bank. The Tournament level of $1000 were BlueWater Health; Connecticut Valley Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; New England Retirement Consultants; NFP; Renaissance Benefit Advisors/Retirement Plan Consultants; Sarah Vail, Attorney; Splendid Splinter Vacation Rental; and The Richards Group.

Sponsors at the Tee/Green level of $500+ included Bibens Ace; Christopher Ryder, MD -Connecticut Valley E.N.T.; Crown Point Country Club; Gilberte Interiors; Health Plans, Inc.; Heritage Family Credit Union; ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists; Infinitt North American, Inc.; KGA, Inc.; Kinney Drugs Foundation; Mack Molding; Northeast Delta Dental; QHR Health, LLC; Red House Press; Richard and Carole Lechthaler; RxBenefits, Inc, and Springfield Printing.

The Eagle sponsors at the $250 level were Crothall Healthcare; Mike and Diane Halstead and The Abbey Group. The Birdie sponsors at the $100 level included Leader Distribution Systems, Inc.; The Fullerton Inn and Voya Financial.

“Many thanks go to our sponsors and participants for their generous support; and to the staff and volunteers that organized this event. I am grateful to all who made this event a fundraising success”, commented Robert Adcock, CEO of Springfield Hospital.

To see a list of all of the sponsors and donors of the raffle prizes, go to https://springfieldhospital.org/results-and-sponsors-of-2023-golf-challenge/

SPRINGFIELD, VT (September 1, 2023) – 

We hope this letter finds you healthy and well. We would like to take this opportunity to provide you with information regarding the repair and cleanup of our Mountain View Physical Therapy office space. 

Our office is located at the Ludlow Dental building, part of the North Star Health network. As a result of the recent flooding, there was significant damage to operating systems within the basement of the building which has delayed cleanup and repair.  The building owners have been working diligently on restoration.

At this time, we anticipate having our physical therapy space available to re-open by late September. New signage has been ordered and the power is now restored. The HVAC system is currently being repaired.

At present, we are operating in space at Springfield Hospital at 25 Ridgewood Road, Springfield, VT. If you need assistance, we can provide care at this temporary location.

We want you to know we greatly value your support and patience during this time, and we look forward to seeing you again soon in Ludlow. 

Sincerely,  

Robert S. Adcock, CEO
Springfield Hospital

The 18th Annual Eileen Austin Neal RN Memorial Scholarship for Nursing of $1,000 was awarded to Julianna McDermid of Chester, VT to attend Saint Anselm College. “ My passion for nursing goes back to when I was a young girl,” states Julianna, “and my family has a long medical history, and I was around the hospital setting a lot. My forty hours of clinical work for my LNA license were spent at Springfield Hospital. The rush of adrenaline I was given and the constant feeling of doing something good has changed me.”

Eileen Austin Neal was a registered nurse at Springfield Hospital for 64 years, retiring in 2005. She was the first recipient of the Hospital’s George F. Leland Community Health Award in 2003. In 2004, the Hospital established the Eileen Austin Neal Spirit of Nursing Award, given to a staff nurse, in recognition of her many years of dedicated service.

Upon her death in February 2006, at the request of Eileen’s family, Springfield Hospital established the nursing scholarship fund in her name with gifts received in her memory from Eileen’s family as well as from community members.

“As part of the Austin family, we congratulate Julianna and wish her good luck with her education,” says Robert Austin of Springfield, VT, son of Eileen Austin Neal. “The family and friends of Eileen have been very generous in supporting this scholarship and are proud to keep the memory of Eileen alive in this way. Supporting the education of our young people is essential, and Springfield Hospital is honored to be a part of awarding this scholarship,” says Robert Adcock, CEO of Springfield Hospital.

SPRINGFIELD, VT (June 20, 2023) – Springfield Hospital and Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) are pleased to announce Evan Farrar as the recipient of this year’s Dr. E. Sherburne Lovell Health Career Award. Evan is a resident of S. Londonderry, Vermont and a 2023 graduate of Burr and Burton Academy. The Lovell Award contributes $1000 per year for four years toward a student’s academic pursuit of a career in health and is funded by the proceeds from a community appeal and Springfield Hospital.

Dr. Lovell was a longtime physician at Springfield Hospital, and his daughters, Melissa Post and Elizabeth David, said, “While he was a man who never sought recognition for his service in the medical field or in the community, we know he would be honored to have this award named in his memory.  We hope recipients of the award will share the same sense of wonder and fascination with the world of medicine that he did.”

Evan attended the Southern Vermont AHEC’s MedQuest program in 2022, and he will be completing the Advanced MedQuest program later this summer. Evan will be attending Plymouth State University and majoring in Allied Health Sciences with his goal of working in sports medicine.

“We are delighted to support Evan’s pursuit of a career in sports medicine,” said Bob Adcock, CEO of Springfield Hospital.

“Evan joins the ranks of exemplary MedQuest students from the Springfield area who’ve received this honor,” said Jennifer Scott, Executive Director of Southern Vermont AHEC. “We are so pleased to support Evan in his pursuit of a rewarding health career.”

To be eligible for the award, students must live in one of the towns served by Springfield Hospital and complete Southern Vermont AHEC’s MedQuest program.  For more information on the MedQuest program, call (802) 885-2126 or go to http://www.svtahec.org.