SVMC Orthopedics Launches Same-Day Joint Replacement Program

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Orthopedics launches the area's first Same-day joint replacement program.
 
Healthy patients in need of a hip or knee replacement can now work with their surgeon to determine if a same-day joint replacement would be right for them. Both same-day and traditional joint replacements can now be completed in as little as four weeks from the patient's first appointment.
 
"Same-day joint replacements started at the most elite medical institutions a few years ago and are slowly becoming more common," Michaela Schneiderbauer, medical director of Orthopedics at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC). "We are proud to have created a formalized, evidence-based program and to make this procedure available here at SVMC."
 
Patients often opt for a joint replacement when other treatments fail to help the patient manage osteoarthritis pain. SVMC Orthopedics completes hip replacements using either the posterior or the anterior approach. The posterior approach is more traditional, while the anterior approach disrupts less of the patient's muscle tissue and can relate to faster recovery. Joint-replacement patients receiving a new hip or knee typically expect to stay in the hospital for three days after a procedure.
 
 Advancements in surgery and anesthesiology, a better understanding of medical risks, and improved recovery data have shortened hospital stays and led surgeons to begin offering same-day joint replacements. The outcomes of same-day procedures show no greater risk of complications or readmissions for patients who qualify. 
 
 "When we saw the research that indicated good outcomes for low-risk patients and faster recoveries, we knew we wanted to make this procedure available to patients here," Schneiderbauer said.
 
All joint replacements involve medical professionals from many disciplines—including primary care, orthopedics, anesthesiology, post-anesthesia recovery, and physical and occupational therapy—to work as a team. Team members from each area were involved in developing SVMC's new same-day joint replacement program.
 
Surgeons work with patients closely to determine if they are a good candidate for the new procedure. Patients must be generally healthy, able to follow detailed instructions both before and after surgery and have a strong support network at home.
 
"Rehabilitation starts before the patient enters the hospital for their elective joint," Michaelia St. Jacques, an occupational therapist who helped develop the program said. "Patients attend a comprehensive joint replacement class, which allows them to meet their goals quicker starting immediately after surgery."
 
Anesthesiologists use nerve blocks at the surgical site, spinal blocks, and some sedation during the procedure, rather than a general anesthetic, as was used in the past. This change eliminates dizziness and nausea sometimes associated with general anesthesia. It also allows patients to be more alert after surgery and able to approach therapy sooner. Physical and occupational therapies start as soon as the patient can stand assisted.
 
"Patients are able to get themselves up and moving, get dressed and use the bathroom just hours after coming out of surgery," said St. Jacques.
 
 Once the procedure, recovery, and initial therapy session are complete, patients are discharged home, if they are able to complete their functional mobility and activities of daily living with an assistive device.
 
Osteoarthritis is a very painful condition that limits patients' mobility and quality of life. The practice is pleased to get patients the help they need within a month of their first appointment.
 
 Data suggests that many patients experience better outcomes and higher satisfaction with same-day surgery. The same-day procedure also saves healthcare costs compared to the inpatient surgery.
 
"Being at home is a comfort to many patients. They sleep better in their own beds," Schneiderbauer said. "While it's not the best option for everybody, we think same-day joint replacements will make a big positive difference for many of our patients."
 
 In addition, to complete joint replacements, SVMC Orthopedics offers preventive and non-surgical treatments, minimally invasive surgery, and surgery for sports injuries, painful joints, rotator cuff repair, and complicated fractures. 
 
The main office is located at 332 Dewey Street in Bennington. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 802-442-6314 or visit svhealthcare.org/same-day-joint-replacement.
 

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Sage City Symphony Winter Concert

BENNINGTON, Vt. — On Sunday, Feb. 8 at 4:00 p.m. at Greenwall Auditorium in the VAPA Building at Bennington College, Sage City Symphony will present a concert featuring "Concerto for 2 Cellos" by Vivaldi, "Serenade #11 for Wind Octet" by Mozart, "Pulcinella Suite" Stravinsky and "Siegfried-Idyll" by Wagner.

Admission is free and open to all.

The soloists for the Vivaldi Double Concerto are Annabelle Hoffman and Perri Morris;

Cellist, Annabelle Hoffman has toured with the NY  Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Sinfonietta Salzburg and the American Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in the Mostly Mozart Festival, Marlboro Festival, and Aspen Festival. On Broadway, Annabelle has performed in the pit orchestras of Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Carousel, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Aladdin, War Paint, Sunset Boulevard, The Visit and A Grand Night for Singing. In addition to performing, Annabelle also teaches and coaches chamber music. She has been on the faculty of The Calhoun School, the 92nd Street Y,  Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, and  The Berkshire School of Music.

Cellist Perri Morris studied cello with Michael Finckel, Lawrence Lesser, Ronald Feldman, and Aldo Parisot. She earned a bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, a master's degree in Music Performance from U-Mass Amherst, and later earned a B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College. She has participated in music festivals at Tanglewood, Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds, and The Waterloo Music Festival, Gerard Schwartz, dir. Ms. Morris has been a member of the faculties at Mount Holyoke College, West Texas A&M, Keene State College and Westfield State College. She served as Assistant Principal Cello of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, in Massachusetts, for 19 years. A resident of Bennington, Vermont, Ms. Morris performs with the Vermont, Springfield, MA, Glens Falls Symphony and Berkshire Symphonies. She is the Principal Cello with Opera North and the Vermont Opera Company. Ms. Morris is a faculty member of the Berkshire Music School and has private teaching studios in Bennington and Williamstown, Mass.

The program will be led by two conductors, Gerald Lanoue of Bennington and Diane Bargiel of Poultney VT

Gerald Lanoue D.M.A., a Bennington Vermont native, is an active conductor and bassoonist in the Upstate New York and Southern Vermont area.  Dr. Lanoue is privileged to be the music director for the Music Company Orchestra and is currently the principal bassoonist with the Sage City Symphony. He  received an  undergraduate education at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam New York and a masters and doctorate at the University of Southern California.  He studied conducting with Douglas Lowry, past Dean and conductor at the Eastman School of Music, as well as John Barnett, the associate conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dr. Lanoue has served on the faculties of Riverside Community College and Santa Monica College.  While in California he was an active orchestral and chamber musician serving as Principal Bassoon for the Bakersfield Symphony, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Redlands Symphony, and the American Youth Symphony.  He has performed most notably with Daniel Lewis, Yehuda Gilad, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Kamien and Zubin Mehta.

Diane Bargiel received her Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet from the Dana School of Music, a Master of Music in clarinet from Michigan State University, Certification in Music  Education from Carnegie Mellon University, and a certificate in Arts Administration from New York University.  Diane also concentrated on conducting in graduate conducting seminars with Eugene Corporon, lessons with William Wiedrich, seven workshops with Larry Rachleff and Robert Cameron, and additional workshops with Allan McMurray, Elizabeth Green, Frank Battisti and others.  In 2021, she retired from SUNY Adirondack as the last Humanities division chair and Associate Professor of Music.  In 2015, Prof. Bargiel received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for  Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and in 1995 while at Susquehanna University, was presented the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Diane has been the principal clarinetist of the Sage City since 2012.

Ms. Bargiel currently serves on the board of New England Arts Presenters as the chair of its Engagement committee, and is an adjunct at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont.  Other professional highlights include having been president of the New York Association of College Music Programs, president of Pennsylvania Presenters, a board member of Arts Presenters of Northern New England, the Pennsylvania state chair of the College Band Directors National Association, a member of the first Creative Communities Council of Windham County (VT), a planning committee member for the first Performing Arts Exchange that covered the entire East Coast, and was also a conductor and panelist at the 2000 CBDNA Eastern Regional Conference at Yale University, among numerous other roles and volunteer involvement.   A resident of Poultney, Vermont, Diane had served on the first Poultney 2020 planning committee, is a past board member of the Killington section of the Green Mountain Club, and is a past executive director and board member of Stone Valley Arts in Poultney.  

 

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