RANDOLPH, Vt. (WCAX) – At Judd Hall on Tuesday night, a community came together, concerned about the future of their hospital. But the hospital is telling them they’re here to stay.
“The care that I received, that my family received at the birthing center, completely redefined what community meant to me,” said Sophie, a Randolph resident.
“I am alive today because of the superior care that I received in the emergency room at Gifford,” said another resident, Robin Goddall.
For over an hour, rural central Vermont residents shared their stories through tears about how Gifford saved their life, and was the place where their most loved ones were born and where they died.
Many shared their fears that Gifford may close, but the administration says they’re not going anywhere. “To keep rural hospitals open is a significant challenge. It cannot be wished away,” said Gifford CEO Michael Costa.
The community forum was in response to a report that listed Gifford as a quote “at-risk hospital” with “major restructuring needed”. To keep them open — the report suggests the hospital should convert in-patient beds to mental health, geriatric psychiatry, or memory care, expand telehealth, stop providing several specialty procedures, partner more with Central Vermont Medical Center, and change much of their emergency department.
“The recommendations are not wise for our community,” said Costa.
Instead, Gifford has forged their own transformation plan. They plan to expand primary care by hiring more PCP’s, make sure the right care is being provided at the right place, by partnering more with Dartmouth Hitchcock, and by asking their own employees for input on how to save money.
Just this week, Gifford shut down their urogynecology and chiropractic care divisions. They’ll begin next steps with Vermont’s Agency of Human Services.