Kathryn Czaplinski
/ Categories: NEWS, 2024

SVMC to offer expanded vascular services, starting in February

Bennington, VT—January 29, 2025— The Heart and Vascular Center at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is expanding services to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s (SVMC) Cardiology department in Bennington. This expansion will allow patients to stay closer to home for consultations, relevant testing, and follow-up care.

Starting Wednesday, February 12, SVMC, a Dartmouth Health member, will provide vascular services two days per month, with plans to expand in the future. DHMC vascular surgeons Matthew J. Alef, MD, and Philip P. Goodney, MD, will see patients in the SVMC Cardiology office twice a month, and perform procedures on the second Wednesday of each month.

“Our collaboration with the Heart and Vascular Center will be incredibly beneficial to patients,” said Scott W. Rogge, MD, SVMC Cardiology medical director. “This is an exciting and necessary expansion of services, to keep patients closer to home, which is not only more convenient but also leads to better outcomes.”

Under the new program, Alef and Goodney will perform procedures like vein ligation, phlebectomy, and ablation at SVMC, with more complex procedures managed at DHMC.  

“We are very excited to see patients in Bennington at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center” said Goodney, section chief of vascular surgery at Dartmouth Health. “Patients with vascular disease often have difficulty traveling, and expanding the services we can provide locally will be an important next step. We look forward to providing vein care in Bennington, and also seeing patients for dialysis access, treatment for leg artery blockages, carotid artery blockages, and abdominal aortic aneurysms. We are pleased to continue to build our outreach pathways to include on-site services in Bennington.”

Trey Dobson, MD, SVMC’s chief medical officer and vice president of clinical services, said the vascular collaboration is a benefit of being part of the Dartmouth Health system.

“Bringing the expertise of these accomplished vascular surgeons to SVMC helps us meet an important need in our community hospital,” said Dobson. “Our skilled team at SVMC Cardiology will work closely with the DHMC team to provide the highest quality of care, and we hope to grow this program in the future.”

Physician referrals for vascular services are now being accepted by calling SVMC Cardiology at 802-442-0800. Find more information about SVMC Cardiology by clicking here

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Introducing Dr. Amy Freeth

Amy E. Freeth, MD, resumed endocrinology services at SVMC in March 2020. The practice, known as SVMC Endocrinology, is a part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC). It replaces the Bennington Osteoporosis Center, where Dr. David Gorson had provided similar services to the community until his retirement in 2019.

How do you describe endocrinology to people who don’t know what it is? The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones. These hormones are chemical messengers that travel via the bloodstream to communicate with the cells and organs of the body. Hormones are important for growth, development, mood, metabolism, and reproduction. These glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal, testes, and ovaries.

Endocrinology is a practice of medicine that specializes in disorders of these systems. Disorders most commonly are related to underactive or overactive function of these glands and require replacement of the hormone or specific treatments such as medications, ablation, or surgery.

Since hormones function in feedback loops and are part of a larger complex functional system that exists in flow with the human body, replacement hormones or treatment of endocrine disorders can be challenging and involve changes to our lifestyles that support the optimal functioning of the body.

What diagnoses are most common among the patients you treat?  Pituitary tumors, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, Cushing’s disease, primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

What sorts of treatments do you offer? I offer comprehensive consultation and management of endocrine disorders. I also interpret testing and make treatment plans for endocrine disorders. I also provide interpretation of bone density reports and perform fine needle aspiration biopsies in collaboration with Radiology Associates of Bennington. Technology is increasingly becoming more important in the management of diabetes. Technology includes glucose meters, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitoring (sensors). I work with certified diabetes educators to create a team approach to diabetes management. As we develop this new department, we are looking for innovative ways to help people regain and optimize their health. I have training in nutrition counseling and health coaching to help people find their path to good health.

Why is it important for patients who need an endocrinologist see them regularly? Your endocrinologist is part of your health team and has experience and a deep understanding of what is happening within your body to help assess, guide, and co-manage your disorder. There is testing that may need to be done to make sure you are living with optimal hormonal balance. Allowing hormones to run too low or too high can have lasting adverse effects on the body leading to other disease or imbalances.

How do you help protect patients who need to come into the office from infections, like COVID-19? At this time, I am seeing patients via telemedicine and phone visits. This week we are starting to see a portion of our patients in the clinic. Patients can register on the phone and wait in their car until the room is ready. Patients will be screened for fever and should wear a mask. Staff will wear proper protective equipment and follow guidelines for handwashing and cleaning of the rooms.

Since many patients who will likely want to come to the endocrinology clinic will be members of high-risk populations (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and the elderly), patients will have a choice of the type of visit they have.

Dr. Freeth sees patients 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday in Suite 307 of the Medical Office Building located at 140 Hospital Drive in Bennington. For an appointment, call 802-447-4555. The schedule will expand to additional days as needed.

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