News

March 2010:

PRACTICE NEWS: Electronic Medical Records: We are very excited to announce that we will soon be using an Electronic Medical Record to care for you. We have begun transitioning our data into electronic files and we anticipate going live with this new sytem in May 2010. An Electronic Medical Record is a software program that stores, accesses and updates your patient chart on a computer. The providers and nurses can quickly view your medical information on a computer screen so they can answer questions more quickly. Electronic Medical Records are very safe. The health information is protected in a very secure computer system. No one may view your health information without a secure password. The Records are all protected by the Health Information Privacy Laws. We will be able to use our new system to send your prescriptions directly to the pharmacy which will be very convenient. When we first “Go Live” with our new system remember that we may take some time to become completely familiar with the program. We will be having intensive training and practice sessions but we may need some time to adjust to a new system. You will notice that the health care providers and nurses will be entering data directly into your chart on a small tablet computer. Advantages include faster chart access, improved chart accuracy, health care reminders, improved patient safety by monitoring drug interactions. We will also be able to receive data directly from hospitals via the Vermont Health Information Exchange.

• Flu Season is here!!!  We are encouraging patients to stay home if you have a fever and cough or other flu symptoms.  Please stay home until you have not had a fever for 24 hours.  If you have illnesses such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease or are on immunosuppressant therapy please call us immediately for advice on treatment of your flu with Tamiflu. Also inquire about the need to be evaluated medically.  If you are having difficulty breathing or if you are vomiting or dehydrated you should be seen in the Emergency Room.

• Vaccine Update:

  1. Gardasil Vaccine is a new vaccine for girls ages 11-12. This is also available for girls and women up to age 26. The vaccine protects against many of the viruses which cause cervical cancer. Insurance is covering administration of this vaccine.

  2. Chicken Pox Vaccine: We now recommend a booster for the chickenpox vaccine. All children who have been vaccinated once should receive a booster at their well child examination.

  3. Tetanus Shots: We recommend the tetanus booster for adults every ten years. Now there is a tetanus vaccine which contains protection against whooping cough. Adults up to age 65 can get this booster once in place of their regular tetanus shot. Over age 65 we give the regular tetanus vaccine.

  4. We recommend the tetanus booster with whooping cough protection for children at their 11-12 physical.

  5. Rotavirus: We are now giving rotavirus vaccine to babies at ages 2, 4 and 6 months of age. This vaccine is given orally. It protects against a virus which causes a severe intestinal infection in young children.

• Shingles Vaccine:
  Shingles vaccine will now be available in Chittenden County. Shingles vaccine is recommended for all people 60 and over. Additional information on the vaccine is available at the CDC website here.

  Fletcher Allen Health Care recently started a Zoster Vaccine Administration Clinic. The Clinic is held most Wednesday afternoons at the new Ambulatory Care Center on its main campus in Burlington. If you receive the vaccine at this clinic, the Zoster Vaccine must be covered by your Medicare Part-D Insurance and you will be responsible for any deductibles and copays that your Medicare Part D requires. You must schedule an appointment. Call 847-2821 for more information.

Laboratory testing and radiology:

If you need to have blood drawn, click here for blood drawing sites and hours:
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Northwestern Medical Center

If you need to have an x-ray done on a walk-in basis at FAHC, call either Fanny Allen (847-1468) or Main Campus/ACC (847-3593) for their hours.

If you need to have an x-ray done at Northwestern Medical Center click here.

Living Wills and Advanced Care Documents

Have you told friends or family what type of care you would or wouldn’t want if you were unable to talk for yourself? Do you have a Living Will or an Advanced Care Directive? Have you chosen someone to be your Medical Power of Attorney to make medical care decisions for you if you were to be unable to make these decisions for yourself? Have you told friends or family whether you would like to donate your organs when you die? Have you discussed your wishes with your health care provider and provided us with a copy of your Advanced Care Directive?

We would like EVERY adult in our practice to have an Advanced Care Document (Living Will).

Vermont has an excellent Advanced Directive Form. You can learn more about Living Wills, look at useful worksheets to help guide your decision making process and find answers to frequently asked questions at the Vermont Ethics Network website here.

A usuable copy of the Vermont Advanced Directive can be printed from the Vermont Ethics Website here. Forms are also available in the Alderbrook Office.

MRSA: What can I do to avoid it?

MRSA is an infection caused by Staphococcal bacteria which are resistant to the most common antibiotics. They most commonly infect skin and cause boils or abscesses. Rarely they can cause much more serious infections. Protect yourself by taking these steps:

• Wash your hands often using plain soap and water for at least 15 seconds each time. You may also want to carry alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers or wipes in your bag for times when you can’t wash your hands.

• If you have a cut or broken skin, keep it clean and covered with a bandage.

• Don’t share razors, towels, uniforms, or other items that come into contact with bare skin.

• Clean shared sports equipment with antiseptic solution before each use or use a barrier (clothing or towel) between your skin and the equipment.

You may not need antibiotics any longer for dental procedures if you have a heart murmer.
There are new guidelines advising patients that antibiotics are NOT needed unless you have an artificial heart valve or have had a heart valve infection in the past. Some patients with congenital heart disease or heart transplants will still need antibiotics. Please check with your health care provider to be sure you do not need antibiotics. The risk of heart infections is very small. These new guidelines are based on information from leading cardiologists in the United States. Research suggests that there is a greater risk of antibiotic resistance and reaction to antibiotics than there is of heart valve infections.