Vickie Padgett Retires After Nearly 45 Years of Dedicated Service at Daviess Community Hospital

After nearly 45 years of service, Vickie Padgett, Capital Buyer / Clinic Buyer at Daviess Community Hospital, will retire on November 7, 2025, marking the end of a remarkable career defined by loyalty, compassion, and unwavering dedication to her colleagues and community.

For nearly half a century, Padgett has been a cornerstone of Daviess Community Hospital—quietly shaping operations behind the scenes, ensuring that departments have the tools, equipment, and supplies needed to deliver quality care to patients across the region.

“I love my job, and I love what I do,” Padgett said. “This place has been my family and my home away from home. I grew up here.”

From Humble Beginnings to a Lifelong Career

Padgett joined DCH in April 1981 as a secretary in Environmental Services and Housekeeping. Within just five months, she was offered a new opportunity that would define her career and ignite her lifelong passion for materials management.

“They offered me the buyer position, and I had no experience at all,” Padgett said with a laugh. “I was young and naïve—but I learned it, and I loved it. It became my passion.”

That passion quickly became her calling. Over the years, Padgett advanced through multiple roles in DCH’s purchasing department, earning the trust of her colleagues and leadership alike. Today, as Capital Buyer / Clinic Buyer, she manages purchasing for large-scale hospital equipment such as MRI and CT scanners, surgical technology, and other critical clinical tools.

“I love the challenges, especially the capital process,” she said. “I love to negotiate, to find the best price, and to save the hospital money. I take a lot of pride in that.”

An Expert in Her Craft, and a Trusted Partner to Many

Padgett’s leadership and institutional knowledge have earned her respect across the region. Her professionalism and persistence are well-known among vendors, departments, and hospital teams.

“Vickie has been a mainstay in the materials management department for 44 years,” said Joel Montgomery, Director of Materials Management and Compliance at DCH. “I don’t think there’s a medical sales rep in Indiana who Vickie doesn’t know—and they all know her, too. They know that she expects them to work hard for us and for our patients.

“One of Vickie’s favorite sayings is, ‘Pennies add up.’ She’ll work just as hard to save $10,000 as she will to save $1. I can’t even begin to imagine how much money she’s saved this hospital over the course of her career. She made DCH a better place, and that’s the best legacy anyone can hope for.”

Padgett laughs as she describes her approach to negotiation: “One of the first things I tell a new rep is, ‘Don’t get greedy on me.’ I know their job is to make money, but mine is to save it—so let’s meet somewhere in the middle. And I’ll admit,” she said with a grin, “it usually ends up closer to my price than the middle.”

Dedicated to Solutions — and Service Beyond Her Job Description

Beyond her technical expertise, Padgett is known for her kindness and her philosophy that no problem is “someone else’s job.”

“If I overhear someone who needs help, I get involved,” she said. “This is our hospital. It’s everyone’s job to help find solutions. That’s always how I’ve seen it.”

That spirit of service also inspired her to create one of DCH’s most meaningful global outreach efforts—a long-running partnership with Project HOPE, a leading global health and humanitarian organization with more than 65 years of experience empowering healthcare workers and improving access to quality care around the world.

For over two decades, DCH has donated equipment and supplies that are refurbished and sent to hospitals and training programs in developing countries. “It makes me proud to know that what we no longer need is helping others learn and care for patients around the world,” she said.

In 2024, Padgett also helped coordinate DCH’s Project C.U.R.E. donation, in which eight bassinets were shipped to clinics in Suriname, Africa. The donation made safe childbirth possible in remote areas accessible only by boat, strengthening DCH’s impact far beyond southern Indiana.

Strength, Resilience, and Commitment

Padgett’s loyalty to DCH spans more than four decades of change, growth, and innovation. She has seen technology evolve, services expand, and countless employees dedicate their own careers to improving care for the community.

“I’ve worked with so many wonderful people through the years,” she said. “DCH has always had people who care deeply about their work, and I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by those kinds of teammates my whole career.”

Her dedication was perhaps most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that tested every healthcare professional.

“There were moments when I’d close my door and cry because I thought, ‘We’re almost out of this product,’” she recalled. “But I kept calling and reaching out to my reps, and somehow, we always made it work. We never ran out of what we needed. Everyone at DCH came together, and we got through it.”

That resilience and teamwork are hallmarks of the DCH culture—a culture of collaboration, commitment, and compassion that Padgett has helped foster for decades.

Leaving on a High Note

Padgett said she feels confident about the future of Daviess Community Hospital as she prepares for retirement.

“I feel like I’m leaving DCH in good hands,” she said. “With the new Deaconess management team and our CEO, Justin Harris, I truly believe the hospital will continue to grow, offer more services, and keep delivering the high-quality care our community depends on. I’m proud of where we are and where we’re headed.”

Her husband, Leo Padgett, who retired as superintendent from the Martin County Highway Department, has been her biggest supporter. The couple lives in Bramble, near Loogootee, and is looking forward to spending more time together in retirement.

“Leo’s excited for me to be home,” Vickie said with a smile. “Now we can take some trips, spend more time with family, and just enjoy life.”

She’s also looking forward to time with her grandchildren — Avery, Addison, and Keaton of Huntingburg; Alec, Allison, and Ian of Washington; and Paighton of Evansville. “I plan to spend more time with my grandkids, work in my flower beds, volunteer, and maybe even start yoga,” she said. “And I’m definitely getting some word puzzles to keep my mind active.”

A Legacy That Will Endure

As DCH celebrates her retirement, the gratitude from her colleagues runs deep. Padgett’s loyalty and care have touched nearly every department in some way over the past 44 years. Her work ethic, her resourcefulness, and her heart have set an example for generations of DCH employees.

“Vickie represents what Daviess Community Hospital stands for — dedication, compassion, and pride in serving our community,” said DCH CEO Justin D. Harris, MSHA, MBA, FACHE. “Her contributions have helped shape who we are today.”

For Padgett, the feeling is mutual. “I’ve been so blessed to work here,” she said. “I love the people, I love this hospital, and I’ll always be proud to have been part of it.”