SVMC cardiology

 

 

STRIVING TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE ONE BEAT AT A TIME

You get one life and you get one heart. The board-certified cardiologists and associated practitioners at SVMC Cardiology are committed to helping you make the most of both.

Our patient-centered approach to care and personalized care plans maximize your quality of life while delivering the treatment you need when you need it.

Creating the appropriate treatment plan for your condition begins with a cardiac consultation. Your consultation is a chance for you to share your health history and current concerns with your cardiologist. All necessary exams and tests are conducted on-site by your cardiac care team. The results are shared and discussed directly with you so that you fully understand your condition, treatment options, associated risks, and potential lifestyle changes.

After a heart episode or surgery, there’s nothing our cardiac team and you want more than for you to just get back on your feet and live the life you want. That’s why we begin your rehabilitation program before you even leave the hospital. Through a combination of education and exercise, your personalized program will help you build strength and reduce your risk factors. Using the full range of cardio equipment in our Cardiac Rehab Center and under the watchful eye of our rehab team, you’ll improve your heart’s strength and capacity and get closer to resuming a full and active lifestyle. For more information about Cardiac Rehabilitation, click here.

In order to understand how well your heart is or isn’t functioning, an echocardiogram may be performed. This non-invasive procedure uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. Both of SVMC’s cardiologists are board certified in echocardiography and able to observe how your heart is pumping and identify any abnormalities in the heart muscle or valves. An echocardiogram allows our team to make the most informed and appropriate recommendations for the next steps in your care.

If a standard echocardiogram does not provide a clear image of your heart, your SVMC care team may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram or TEE. Performed at the hospital, this procedure involves inserting a flexible tube containing a transducer down your throat and into your esophagus. From this closer vantage point, the transducer then uses sound waves to create more detailed images of your heart and allows for better diagnosis.

Before we treat your heart, we need understand how it’s performing. At SVMC we offer a number of non-invasive stress tests that can quickly and easily reveal a number of things including: how well your heart works during increasing levels of activity; how certain medications are impacting blood flow; the effectiveness of procedures done to improve heart performance; and more.

If you have risk factors for heart disease, calcium scoring may may help you learn more about whether you are actually at risk. The non-invasive test uses high-speed CT imaging technology to measure the hardening of the heart’s arteries, a leading indicator of heart disease and heart attacks. Visit the calcium scoring page for complete details. 

A pacemaker is one of the most effective ways to ensure a heart maintains a steady, healthy beat. The SVMC cardiac team is exceptionally skilled and experienced at both pacemaker implantation and monitoring. Considered a minor surgery, implantation takes place at the hospital with most patients returning to normal activity (and a more steadily beating heart) within a few days. Like all medical equipment, pacemakers need a little TLC every now and then. At SVMC our cardiac team can perform routine monitoring, both remotely and in the office, and reprogramming as needed.

One of the most common cardiac diagnostic tools, an EKG is a painless way to check for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. The EKG translates and records your heart’s electrical activity over a period of time and translates it into waves. Your SVMC care provider can use printouts of the waves to detect any patterns that might point to a specific condition and put together a treatment plan that meets your specific needs.

Should your SVMC cardiac care provider want to monitor your heart over a longer period of time than is practical for a standard EKG, you may be given a Holter or event monitor. Worn outside the body and completely painless, monitors are helpful in detecting abnormalities that only happen occasionally and can help your doctor link any abnormalities to specific activities or events in your day.

Carotid ultrasound
At SVMC our goal is to treat your health issues before they become problems. Using our sophisticated carotid ultrasound test, your cardiac care provider can detect blockages in your neck arteries that could lead to a stroke or indicate problems in other parts or your circulatory system.

Education
Because understanding what causes heart problems is essential to resolving them, we offer a variety of educational resources to patients and their families.  Workshops are offered on an ongoing basis throughout the Dartmouth-Hitchcock network, and condition-specific literature is available in our offices. 

SVMC Cardiac Rehab

SVMC Pulmonology

American Heart Association 

Go Red for Women 

American College of Cardiology 

140 Hospital Drive, Suite 211, Bennington, VT 05201
Phone: (802) 442-0800
Fax: (833) 343-1597

Hours:
Monday – Friday:  8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Directions: 
For directions to SVMC Cardiology, click here. 

Parking:
For appointments at SVMC Cardiology, park in parking area P3 or P5.

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    Thanksgiving Food Safety
    Courtney Carter
    / Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

    Thanksgiving Food Safety

    As you pull together the menu for next week’s Thanksgiving meal, it's crucial to prioritize food safety to ensure a memorable and illness-free celebration. Proper handling, preparation, and storage techniques will help ensure a worry-free feast that gets remembered for all the right reasons.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    Thawing

    Proper thawing is essential for food safety. The safest method is to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator.

    • Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator.

      • Keep your turkey in its original wrapping and place it in a container before putting it in the refrigerator to prevent turkey juice from dripping on other food.

      • Allow about 24 hours of thawing for each 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.

      • A turkey thawed in the refrigerator can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking.

    • Thaw your turkey in cold water.

      • Be sure your turkey is in a leakproof plastic bag before you place it in the sink.

        • The bag will prevent the turkey juice from spreading in the kitchen.

        • The bag also will prevent the turkey from absorbing water, which could make your cooked turkey runny.

      • Completely cover your turkey with cold tap water.

      • Change the water every 30 minutes.

      • Allow about 30 minutes of thawing for each pound of turkey.

      • A turkey thawed in cold water must be cooked immediately after thawing.

    • Thaw your turkey in the microwave.

      • Follow the microwave manufacturer’s instructions for thawing your turkey.

      • A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately after thawing.

    Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A turkey must thaw at a safe temperature. When a turkey stays out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe even if the center is still frozen. Germs can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

    Get more information about thawing turkeys.

    Preparation

    Contrary to popular belief, washing your turkey before cooking is not recommended. This practice can spread bacteria up to three feet away, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

    Instead, focus on proper cooking to eliminate harmful pathogens.

    Cooking

    To ensure your turkey is thoroughly cooked:

    • Set your oven temperature to at least 325°F.

    • Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature in three locations: the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing, and the thickest part of the breast.

    • The turkey is safe to eat when all three locations reach 165°F.

    Cross-Contamination Prevention

    Avoid spreading bacteria by using separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils for raw turkey and ready-to-eat foods.

    Clean and sanitize all surfaces that have come in contact with raw poultry, including countertops, sinks, and utensils.

    Stuffing Safety

    For optimal safety, cook stuffing separately in a baking dish rather than inside the turkey.

    If you choose to stuff your turkey, follow these guidelines:

    • Prepare wet and dry ingredients separately and refrigerate until ready to use.

    • Mix ingredients just before filling the turkey cavity.

    • Stuff the turkey loosely, using about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound.

    • Cook the stuffed turkey immediately in an oven set no lower than 325°F.

    Leftover Management

    Proper handling of leftovers is crucial to prevent foodborne illness:

    • Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking.

    • Store food in shallow containers to promote rapid cooling.

    • Consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.

    • For longer storage, freeze leftovers in airtight containers or freezer bags.

    Additional Safety Tips

    • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after food preparation.

    • Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of all dishes, including casseroles and reheated items.

    • Keep hot foods hot (above 140°F) and cold foods cold (below 40°F) to avoid the "danger zone" where bacteria multiply rapidly.

    • If you're unsure about the safety of a food item, remember the adage: "When in doubt, throw it out.”

    By following these guidelines, you can feel confident you’re sharing a savory and savory meal for all your guests.  

    For additional tips on preparing and roasting a turkey—including a roasting time calculator—visit the FDA Turkey Basics website.

     

    Russell Carrier is the nutrition and dinning kitchen manager at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

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