Springfield Hospital

Application
Springfield Hospital is now accepting applications for the 19th Annual Eileen Austin Neal Nursing Scholarship of $1,000.  This scholarship is open to any Springfield-area student who has been accepted into a nursing program of study.  Applicants will be judged on interest in and commitment to the field of nursing.  Determination will be based on merit and need.

Eileen Austin Neal was a registered nurse at Springfield Hospital for 64 years, retiring in 2005.  She was the first recipient of Springfield Hospital’s Community Health Award in 2003. In 2004, the Hospital established the Spirit of Nursing Award 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 a nursing scholarship fund in her name with the gifts received in her memory.

The application deadline is June 14, 2024. The scholarship application is available by clicking here. If you would like more information, please contact Sandy Peplau in the Marketing & Development office by email speplau@springfieldhospital.org or call 802-885-7686.

SPRINGFIELD, VT (April 9, 2024) – This year, Springfield Hospital and its Medical Staff  recognized National Doctors’ Day by matching donations, from Springfield Hospital and the Medical Staff, to benefit three local charities chosen by the Medical Staff.

Springfield Hospital recognized National Doctors’ Day on March 30^th. The organizations chosen by the Medical Staff to receive donations included the Vermont Foodbank, Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), and Turning Point. Each organization received a $1,000 donation in honor of Springfield Hospital’s Medical Staff and their efforts and ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of our region. “Each of these local charities play a vital role in service to people throughout our region,” commented Robert Adcock, Springfield Hospital Chief Executive Officer. “On behalf of the medical staff and employees at Springfield Hospital, we extend our thanks for your dedication to your individual missions,” continued Robert Adcock.

Photo: L to R
Katherine Silta, PA-C, Member of Medical Staff; Joshua Davis, Executive Director, Southeastern Vermont Community Action; Lindsey Harty, Major Gifts Officer, Vermont Foodbank; Zachary Labelle, Turning Point Recovery Center and Bob Adcock, CEO, Springfield Hospital

In 1966, Apple Blossom was still very new since its beginning in 1957, and when asked why you participated,  Kelly says, “I never considered not participating. All the girls I hung out with were going to participate. And in addition, my father really wanted me to.”

And so, it began. Kelly’s selection of her escort was Jim Gould, her best friend and boyfriend at the time. Interestingly, they broke up shortly after he agreed to be her escort, but he remained her escort. “He was fun and took the practices seriously,” says Kelly. “ I think he believed that being the queen was important to me, and how he behaved would reflect on me. I believe I would not have been the queen without him,” continues Kelly.

Kelly was a member of the debate team and drama club, so she had lots of experience in front of an audience. For many, Apple Blossom has been an opportunity for young people to strengthen self-confidence. Kelly thought it would be fun, and it was according to her. She did not know all the participants and escorts, so it was a chance to meet new people and “help to solidify my relationships with them as friends,” says Kelly.

In 1966, all the girls that wanted to be a part of Apple Blossom had an interview prior to being selected. Ultimately, twenty girls were chosen. Everyone wore white dresses, and they used their scarves as props. The escorts had top hats and canes, and according to Kelly, “The escorts did a dance on their own. I remember they kept losing their top hats, which gave the audience a good laugh. They were somewhat of comic relief.” Mrs. deNeergaard was the choreographer, and during those early years, a live orchestra performed. Allan Kendall and Orchestra played from 8:00 pm – midnight.

Prior to the performance, there was a second interview, and the girls were all in their dresses ready for the show. Kelly remembers being in the boy’s locker room in her dress, looking to sit in the chair in front of the panel of judges. One of the judges said, ” I think your bow will get in the way.” She replied, “Falling off the chair in my interview would probably ruin my chances as queen. I think it is better for me to remain standing.” Apparently, standing was the right thing to do.

The most cherished moment for Kelly can only be stated in her words. “The performance was on a Saturday night. The dress rehearsal was the previous Sunday afternoon. After the dress rehearsal, my father wanted to see Jimmy and me all dressed up. He said, “I know you’re going to win.“ I know he wanted to be at that performance, but he died that night in his sleep. My mother and little sister came to the performance. I brought my mother out to the floor after the announcement. She stood with me and Dr. Lovell. It was a representation of the relationship among my mother, father, and me,” says Kelly.

Kelly will be at the event this year as a past queen and a member of this year’s Apple Blossom Committee. She encourages everyone to come out to see a great performance by local young people and of course, to support Springfield Hospital.

Chloe Jerman-Brown, 2021 Apple Blossom Queen sat down for a quick interview this past week to talk about her Apple Blossom experience. Chloe’s first memory of Apple Blossom was when she went to a performance and the senior girls were dancing to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Chloe did not participate as a young girl, but these senior girls inspired her, and she did not forget that show. She wanted to dance and sing just like them.

Years later, she lived out her dream in the 2021 Apple Blossom. Under extremely strict COVID guidelines, the show was held at the Springfield Community Players’ Theater, with a limited audience, and all the participants had to wear face masks. An unusual look for Apple Blossom, but the ten participants and escorts danced and performed to the theme, “Feeling Good.”  Chloe recalls that she was excited to be with her girlfriends. “It was really fun for me! And I love to dance!” She continues to spend time with these girlfriends, and the other day, they were trying to remember the steps to some of the dances. “We did our best, but we struggled. No matter, we laughed it off as good friends do,” says Chloe.

Her escort for Apple Blossom was Harry Valentin, a good friend whom she is still in touch with. The first day of rehearsals, Harry’s mom passed away. How he and Chloe were able to keep their thoughts on the show is remarkable. When it came time to select the color of Chloe’s dress, that was easy, light blue, Harry’s mom’s favorite color. It was one way to honor her and Chloe’s parents.

Since 2021, Chloe has been attending Southern NH University, studying Psychology. She is living locally with her boyfriend of four years and their cat, Jules, while taking classes online and working at the Fullerton Inn and Southern Pie Café. She will graduate in 2025 and has not totally decided on her next step. She will look for work in her field of study and then consider graduate school later.

When asked why people should come out to see Apple Blossom, Chloe says, “There are three good reasons. One, we need to support this generation of youth. I was proud to be a part of Apple Blossom and thankful for the opportunity. I suspect they hope the community will come out to see the show, and I suspect that they are thankful, too. Second, raising money for our Springfield Hospital is a good thing. You cannot go wrong with that! And third, we are a small community, committed to each other, and we rely on each other. We need to keep this sense of community alive. Apple Blossom and our other community events is where we show our pride and support for each other.”

Springfield Hospital is pleased to introduce our new Director, Ashlee White, and Choreographers, Ainsley Bertone, and Suzanne Stern. The John Sullivan Band will be playing for a community dance after the Saturday night performance. Opening night is Friday, May 3 and the Grand Performance is Saturday, May 4. Shows start at 7:00 pm each night. Tickets are on sale now at Tina’s Hallmark and Boccaccio’s Salon in Springfield, VT. Tickets and sponsorship can also be purchased online at  https://springfieldhospital.org/apple-blossom-sponsorship/ For more information, contact Sandy Peplau, Marketing and Development, 802-885-7686 or speplau@springfieldhospital.org

Springfield, VT  (March 18, 2024) – Patients and physicians can now experience a new level of Diagnostic Imaging at Springfield Hospital. A breakthrough in nuclear medicine technology is enabling high diagnostic accuracy and low radiation dose capabilities.

Springfield Hospital is pleased to announce the reopening of its Nuclear Medicine program in early March. “It has been over two years since we offered this service, and we are pleased to be the first facility in Vermont and only the 5^th facility in New England to make the Symbia Pro.Specta X3 ^TM nuclear medicine equipment available,” comments Hayley Druschel, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Springfield Hospital.

Symbia Pro.Specta X3^TM is a multi-purpose single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) system that makes it possible for Springfield Hospital to extend a wide range of advanced imaging exams to patients. The system is designed with specialized tools optimized for oncology, cardiology, neurology, and other medical fields.

“Using this new equipment, patients can expect an enhanced imaging experience due to the high sensitivity and resolution detector, which produces detailed images of the body. The clarity of the images is incredible and the speed at which they can be generated is impressive,” adds Druschel.  Common procedures include:

• Myocardial Perfusion Imaging to determine if the patient has any narrowing or blockages in their coronary arteries. This is a non-invasive way to determine if a catheterization is necessary.
• Bone scans allow to see any area of the bone trying to heal or repair itself, for example, if the patient has osteomyelitis, replacement loosening, or metastatic disease.
• Hepatobiliary imaging to determine how well the patient’s gallbladder is filling and/or emptying. 
• Gastric Emptying scans to determine how well the patient’s stomach is emptying.
• Thyroid and Parathyroid Imaging which can be used to determine structure and function of glands.
• Renal imaging to determine kidney function.
• Lymphoscintigraphy scans allow for localization of lymph nodes where cancer cells may have spread.
• GI Bleeding scan can help determine if a patient is actively bleeding and the location of the bleed.
• Lung scans are useful to diagnose pulmonary embolism and/or to evaluate lung disease.

All images are read by Dartmouth Health Radiologists, as happens for all imaging at Springfield Hospital. However, patients can now benefit from the added convenience of local access to this high-quality diagnostic imaging technology.  Medical providers are invited to call 802-885-7302 for consultation about the equipment capabilities. The scheduling process is similar to ordering other CT or MRI exams, with orders and prior authorization information faxed to Springfield Hospital Diagnostic Imaging at 802-885-7376.

SPRINGFIELD, VT (February 16, 2024)) — Springfield Gynecology is the first clinic in Vermont to introduce the Acessa® procedure, an innovative and minimally-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment for women suffering from symptomatic uterine fibroids.

                Fibroids are painful growths within the uterus that range in size and can cause reproductive health issues.   Some common symptoms include heavy periods, stomach swelling and bloating, leg and back pain, stomach and pelvic pain, digestive changes, anemia, pain during sex and frequent urination.

                According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fibroids affect up to 80% of women by the time they reach age 50 and can disproportionately impact black women, who often have a larger number of fibroids that occur at a younger age.

                Advances in medicine have led to several treatment options for fibroids — including minimally-invasive surgeries like laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation, laparoscopic myomectomy, and hysteroscopic myomectomy. These treatments work by removing or shrinking the fibroid, which can relieve the frequently painful symptoms caused by fibroids. 

The Acessa® procedure is designed to focus treatment solely on the fibroid without damaging healthy tissues.   Acessa® is performed under general anesthesia and requires only three small abdominal incisions. The procedure applies radiofrequency energy to destroy fibroids which are re-absorbed by the surrounding tissue.  Acessa® allows the surgeon to relieve symptoms without removing the uterus.   Patients go home the same day with little pain and enjoy rapid return to normal activities within 4-5 days.

                Drs. Balkcom and Cotter of Springfield Gynecology report many women suffer from fibroid symptoms and are looking for relief.  However, they want less invasive treatment options with shorter recovery times.  Acessa® is an excellent alternative and Springfield Gynecology is now making this surgical approach readily available to women throughout the region.

                For more information about Acessa® or to arrange a consultation with Drs. Balkcom and Cotter, contact  Springfield Gynecology at 802-885-7561 to schedule an appointment. No primary care referral is required.   ###

SPRINGFIELD, VT (January 29, 2024)  – Springfield Hospital and the Apple Blossom Committee are delighted to share that rehearsals for this year’s Apple Blossom have begun. Five senior contestants and their partners, along with twelve young children couples gathered in the Riverside Middle School Gymnasium for their orientation meeting on Sunday, January 28. Rehearsals will continue through the winter and early spring working up to the dress rehearsal on May 3 and final performance on May 4. Both the May 3rd and 4th events will be open to the public.

Apple Blossom is a fundraising event for Springfield Hospital that started in 1957. The community comes alive with song and dance by the youth from our area. The 2024 event will feature some of the original aspects of Apple Blossom.  A community dance at the end of the Saturday, May 4th performance is an added attraction for this year.

L to R: Hannah Zierfus; Taylor Claflin; Molly Tennis; Apple Blossom Director, Ashlee White;
Lorelei Bertone and Lily Farnsworth

Choreographers, Suzanne Stern and Ainsley Bertone with Apple Blossom Children

SPRINGFIELD, VT (December 22, 2023)  – Springfield Hospital and the Apple Blossom Committee have been reaching out to local high school seniors and past high school graduates, and we have discovered that the excitement for Apple Blossom exists, but potential contestants and community members are looking for additional revisions. The organizers have listened, agreed, and are adopting some changes for 2024.

The deadline for contestant applications has been extended to January 19, 2024. Contestants do not need a partner to sign up. As always, contestants, who are seniors of area high schools are encouraged to apply. Included are the high schools of Springfield, Bellows Falls, Fall Mountain, Green Mountain, Ludlow, Stevens, Windsor, Compass School, Vermont Academy and Woodstock, as well as home school. New for 2024 is graduates of the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are invited to apply for the 2024 event. Those graduates can either participate in the “Celebration Dance” that will be included in the Friday and Saturday night performances, or they can fully participate in the Apple Blossom with the understanding that they will not be eligible for the title of 2024 Queen and Court. The theme is “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!,” an upbeat musical film, filled with music from ABBA. Also new for 2024, there will be a community dance with a live band after the Saturday, May 4^th performance.

Children, aged Kindergarten – 4^th grade, are invited to participate as couples, and the deadline for their applications is January 19, 2024.

Apple Blossom is a fundraising event for Springfield Hospital that started in 1957. The community comes alive with song and dance of the youth from our area. The 2024 event will feature some of the original aspects of Apple Blossom.  The community dance at the end of the Saturday performance will be similar to the “Ball” of 1957 at the original Apple Blossom.

Apply today to participate. Applications can be found at www.springfieldhospital.org

Any questions, contact Sandy at 802-885-7686 or speplau@springfieldhospital.org