NORTHERN BERKSHIRE ORTHOPEDICS


Les Jorgensen's hip pain made it difficult for him to walk from his living room to his kitchen; never mind enjoy the activities he loves. After a hip replacement with Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer, MD, of SVMC Orthopedics, he walks 18-holes of golf three times a week, pain free.

Celia Bahny and her family are very active. Unfortunately, Celia suffered a broken arm (in the same spot twice!) which slowed her down for a spell. Today, she is fully recovered with help from Dr. Matthew Nofziger of SVMC Orthopedics. In this video, Celia and her mother, Holly, discuss her care with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and how we helped get her back to their active lifestyle.

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Avid hiker and guide Keld Alstrup relied on Dr. Matthew Nofziger and the expert team at SVMC Orthopedics to relieve his knee pain and restore his active lifestyle. Now he's back to "peak performance."

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Deborah Slaner Larkin talks about the care she received from Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Dr. Suk Namkoong.

Restoring Active Lifestyles

Don’t let pain or injury keep you on the sidelines of your own life.

If pain or injury is holding you back from living the life you want, SVMC Orthopedics would like to help. The team of board-certified providers is here to provide the individualized treatment and compassionate care you need to get back to leading the life you love.

 

AircastLogo      DH Logo

 

Southwestern Vermont Health Care has been awarded a grant from The Aircast Foundation to allow our orthopedic patients to participate in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock GreenCare model.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) has initiated a new data-gathering program—the GreenCare model—to increase both health care quality and patient satisfaction while decreasing costs.  The GreenCare model uses data collected from patients to predict outcomes for similar patients in the future. The data collected allows patients and surgeons to understand the impact of their orthopedic disease allowing an individualized treatment plan.  SVMC Orthopedics is the first GreenCare participant among Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s affiliated medical institutions.

If you suffer from severe or chronic hip, knee, or ankle pain, total joint replacement may be the best solution. Your orthopedic surgeon will help you understand your options and how joint replacement surgery can help to not just relieve your pain, but get you back to leading a full and active life.

Whether you need a hip replacement or knee replacement, surgeries are performed at SVMC with a rehabilitation program developed in conjunction with our Sports and Therapy department. We offer both in- patient and out-patient therapy options. Some patients are able to return home from a joint replacement surgery on the same day. For patients requiring additional recovery time, the Centers for Living & Rehabilitation (CLR) located on our campus can provide additional extra nursing care and therapy before returning home to fully independent care.

Because getting back to living is the ultimate goal of spinal surgery, the reduced recovery time required by minimally invasive surgery makes it an ideal option for many. 

At SVMC, you’ll be treated by a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon extensively trained in performing minimally invasive spine procedures and creating customized treatment plans. In some cases, you’ll be up and about in a few hours and back to work in a matter of days or weeks, not months.

While the causes of foot pain can range from trauma and arthritis to diabetes-related issues and injuries, the SVMC team has a single focus: literally getting you back on your feet.

Our experienced team offers comprehensive care of foot and ankle disorders through both surgical and non-surgical means for patients of all ages. Using biomechanical analysis, imaging, and other diagnostic procedures, we’ll isolate the cause of your pain and determine the treatment option that delivers the most effective and quickest path to recovery.

Injuries to the rotator cuff are not only painful, they can be life limiting. When possible, the fellowship-trained surgeons at SVMC will attempt to treat your injury through non-surgical means, which may include physical therapy, medication, or injections. If those efforts are unsuccessful, your physician may recommend surgery here at SVMC. Utilizing the latest in arthroscopic technology, your repair can be made with only a slight incision, reducing your recovery time and chance of infection.  For more complicated injuries, a more involved surgery or even joint replacement may be necessary.

Regardless of your procedure, your care will continue post-surgery with a comprehensive rehabilitation plan developed in conjunction with our Physical Therapy department.

In addition to being delicate and complex, your hands and wrists are essential to your daily life. At SVMC, we appreciate that an injury or problem can limit your ability to work, play, and generally enjoy life. From fractures and arthritis to deformities and carpal tunnel syndrome, our providers can care for you. They can create a custom treatment plan using the most advanced surgical techniques, devices, and rehabilitation programs to help you maximize function and minimize pain for the best results possible.

The average person experiences two bone fractures in their lifetime. But as common as they are, every fracture is unique. From complex and stress to oblique and greenstick, at SVMC we diagnose and treat fractures with the specific cause and needs of the patient in mind. On-site imaging technology allows us to quickly assess your need and move quickly to begin the mending process. Depending upon the nature and cause of your injury, we may develop a continuing care plan to reduce or eliminate the chance of future injury.

Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, our board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine specialists can help relieve your pain and get you back in the game or back to your everyday routine.

Our first approach is always conservative, meaning you won’t endure unnecessary treatments or care for your injury. We use the latest techniques and methods to resolve your issue in a manner that’s appropriate for you and your lifestyle.

If your injury does require surgery, it can be performed here, close to home where you can rest and recover in comfort. As part of your care, we’ll develop a personalized recovery plan utilizing the talents and facilities of our on-site Physical Therapy department. Together, we’ll help you recover faster, improve your strength and performance, and reduce the potential for future re-injury.

SVMC Physical Therapy

SVMC Occupational Therapy

Arthritis Today www.arthritistoday.org

National Osteoporosis Foundation nof.org

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons orthoinfo.aaos.org

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine www.amssm.org

RELATED ARTICLES

Cervical Cancer: Early Detection and Prevention Make a Difference
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Cervical Cancer: Early Detection and Prevention Make a Difference

Even though cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20 to 39 years, the news around the disease for anyone born with a cervix is mostly good.

Case and point: the death rate for cervical cancer declined by more than 50% since the mid-1970s, thanks in large part to screenings. In addition, the rate of diagnosis for women younger than 25 has dropped by over 65% since the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Cervical Cancer Numbers for 2024

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2024. That same year, over 4,300 women died from the disease.

Screenings

As with all cancers, regular screenings and early detection make a huge difference in viable treatment options and likely outcomes.

In the case of cervical cancer, ANYONE BORN WITH A CERVIX SHOULD BE SCREENED.

Screenings for cervical cancer typically include a Pap test and a test for HPV. In both cases, cells are taken from the cervix and sent to a lab for testing. The HPV test is a recent but important addition to screenings as it detects two strains of the virus known to cause 70% of cervical cancers. If your screening reveals you have a high-risk type of HPV, your doctor can develop a plan for follow-up monitoring, further testing, or even treatment of abnormal cells.

 

Are you due for Pap test?

Not sure if or when you should get a Pap test? Click here to see the latest guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

 

Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV vaccines have the potential to prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical precancers in young women. 

As a member of the Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer HPV Task Force, SVMC encourages individuals of all genders to receive the HPV9 (nine-valent HPV) vaccine beginning at age 9. Your child’s age at the first dose will determine whether they need two or three doses. 

Know your risks

Even though the incidence of cervical cancer is on the decline, the risk is nowhere near zero.

In fact, in addition to HPV exposure, other factors can increase the risk of anyone with a cervix developing the disease. These include:

Smoking: Doubles the risk of developing cervical cancer.  

Being immunocompromised: Conditions like HIV/AIDS and even taking drugs to suppress immune response, can make it harder to fight off HPV infections.

Long-term Use of Birth Control Pills: Using oral contraceptives for 5 or more years increases the risk of cervical cancer.

Family History: If a parent or sibling had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are higher than if no one in the family had it.

While not all risk factors, like family history, can be changed, it’s important to focus on changing those you can. And if you have a factor that can’t be changed, consider that all the more reason to stay current with screenings.

 

Rebecca Hewson-Steller, RN, CN-BN is an oncology nurse at the Dartmouth Health Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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375 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267
Phone: (413) 458-4452
Fax: (413) 398-1015

Hours:
Monday – Friday:  8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Directions: 
For directions to SVMC Orthopedics, click here.

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