Elizabethtown, Ticonderoga Emergency Departments applauded

ELIZABETHTOWN | When Stephanie Wagoner's husband, Jim Kloiber, woke up in the middle of the night feeling "off," neither of them realized how quickly things would become life‑threatening. By late afternoon that day, Wagoner knew something was terribly wrong. Kloiber had grown weaker throughout the day, and then he collapsed in their kitchen. "He dropped to his knees and fell back, and I said, 'I'm calling 911,'" Wagoner recalls. First responders arrived quickly and rushed him to University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital's Ticonderoga emergency department. The team moved quickly to stabilize him. A RACE AGAINST TIME At the hospital, providers immediately recognized the signs of a dangerous gastrointestinal bleed, which is a sudden internal bleed that can cause someone to lose consciousness without warning. Wagoner remembers how focused and steady the team was while her husband passed out multiple times. The emergency team stabilized Kloiber, started urgent blood treatment and prepared him for the next steps in care that were provided at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. "They were absolutely fabulous from the nurses to the physicians. They knew exactly what they were doing and kept both of us calm," Wagoner says. Because the bleed was identified early and treated quickly, her husband survived an event that can often be fatal if care is delayed. Today, Wagoner's husband is back to nearly all his normal activities. "He was basically restored to 95 percent of his health," she shares. "They saved his life." Emergencies can happen fast and minutes matter. Wagoner says she is speaking up in hopes that others won't second-guess themselves when something doesn't seem right. If you or someone you love is experiencing sudden bleeding, fainting, chest pain, severe stomach pain or any symptom that feels alarming, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away. Getting care quickly can save a life. EMERGENCY CARE FOCUSED ON PATIENT EXPERIENCE For Wagoner, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was how the team treated her husband. "They didn't rush him or treat him like a task. They treated him like a human being who mattered. I'm so grateful," she says. Wagoner also praises the communication and reassurance from the care team throughout the process, explaining they kept her informed, answered every question and always took time to listen. Elizabethtown Community Hospital's emergency departments in Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga each recently received the 2025 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award, which is given to organizations that perform in the top 5 percent nationwide for patient experience. "Elizabethtown Community Hospital is showing what it truly means to deliver compassionate, person-centered care," says Patrick T. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. "The hospital's deep commitment to both patients and caregivers is creating a culture where empathy drives action – and where people feel seen, heard and supported." PATIENT THANKS CARE TEAM AT ELIZABETHTOWN HOSPITAL Lynn Sudak's life wasn't in danger, but she needed urgent attention when she came to the emergency department in Elizabethtown after a bad fall during a hike in Lake Placid left her with a broken wrist. "From the minute I walked into the emergency room, I felt that I was in good hands. They totally put me at ease," she remembers, describing everyone from the nurses to the technicians as friendly and efficient. Sudak also praises two physicians from the ED for their kind, easygoing and professional manner that put her at ease as they explained her injury and treatment. "When we tell friends about that day on Cobble Hill, we tell them about the incident itself, my husband's great skill at making a splint and the adventure of hiking down. However, the very next thing we talk about is the incredible care we got in Elizabethtown. We are grateful to everyone involved," Sudak says.

Signup for our newsletter

Elizabethtown, Ticonderoga Emergency Departments applauded

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS