When Lucy Burch learned the infusion center where she received treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was closing, she drew a circle on a map to find a new option. That’s how she discovered the Infusion Center at University of Vermont Health–Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Ticonderoga.

“It wasn’t on my list,” says Burch, a 70-year-old farmer from Fort Ann, but it was the same distance as other options and I thought it was time for a change.”

She’s happy with her decision. “I receive the same kind of high-tech, innovative care that I would otherwise have to go to a city to receive,” she says. “Everything is state-of-the-art, and everyone is so willing to help out — any way they can. There’s a real community feel.” 

Burch is one of many patients who have rated the Ticonderoga team highly. In 2024, the hospital earned a 97% patient satisfaction score from Press Ganey, a global leader in health care performance improvement that partners with more than 41,000 organizations worldwide.

Meeting Community Need with Expertise

That reputation for personalized, high-quality care has led to a 41% increase in patient visits across all specialty services since 2023. The infusion center alone has seen a 47% jump in outpatient visits for chemotherapy, antibiotics and biologics.   

“Our team in Ticonderoga understands the needs of the community and works hard to meet them,” says Julie Tromblee, chief nursing officer at Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

Burch is now transferring all her care to Ticonderoga, including orthopedics and physical therapy. “During my infusion, I mentioned elbow pain. A nurse arranged X-rays for the very same day. Now I’ll be going to PT and seeing an orthopedic specialist,” she says.

A Rural Health Care Success Story

The Ticonderoga hospital was born from a collaborative effort to preserve local care after the closure of Moses Ludington Hospital. In 2018, Elizabethtown Community Hospital and University of Vermont Health partnered with Hudson Headwater Health Network and local leaders create a “medical village.” A $9.1 million New York State grant helped bring the vision to life.

Today, it includes: 

• A physician-staffed, 24-hour Emergency Department
• Radiology and lab services
• Outpatient rehabilitation
• Specialty care including infusion, cardiology, gastroenterology, endoscopy, colon screenings, OB/GYN and orthopedics.
• Hudson Headwaters Health Network primary care 

Patients benefit from access to specialty services typically found at larger hospitals — without the need for extended travel.

More Services Through Systemwide Support

Thanks to support from providers across the health system, the Ticonderoga hospital continues to grow. “With increased provider coverage from our partner, Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, Vermont, we now offer cardiac and stress echocardiograms and Holter monitoring,” says Tracy Sprague, nurse manager for the emergency department and specialty clinics. 

Orthopedic services have expanded, and a nurse practitioner now sees patients regularly in Ticonderoga. Screening colonoscopies are scheduled with general surgeons and OB/GYN providers from Porter Medical Center offer prenatal care locally.

“The support of providers across our health system is key to our success,” says Elizabethtown Community Hospital President Bob Ortmyer. We’re fortunate to also have an engaged staff who is committed to their patients and this community.”

Burch, now a patient at the Crown Point Health Center, appreciates the convenience of being part of an integrated system. “With MyChart, I see my results almost immediately,” she says. “It’s reassuring to know my providers have access to my records, no matter where I go.” 

Ortmyer adds, “The Ticonderoga community is a shining example of what’s possible when we think differently about providing care to rural communities. This collaborative approach has created a thriving medical campus where our exceptional teams provide great care close to home.”