Heart Care

If you or a loved one is suffering from heart failure (HF) our cardiologists and staff will coordinate your care with other medical providers to improve your quality of life and help you stay out of the hospital.

Anticoagulation therapy involves the use of medications, sometimes called “blood thinners,” to prevent blood clots. If you are taking warfarin (Coumadin^®) to prevent blood clots, our Anticoagulation Clinic will help you safely, effectively and conveniently manage your medication.

Specially trained pharmacists will work with you to ensure that your medication dosage is safe and effective. Our pharmacists provide a range of services, including:

• Supervising your anticoagulation treatment
• Monitoring side effects
• Educating you about warfarin treatment
• Screening and counseling for possible interactions with food or other medications
• Reviewing your treatment plan to prevent problems that may occur during a procedure, such as dental work or surgery
• Reviewing and updating your medication list
• Refilling your prescriptions as needed
• Answering any questions you or your caregivers may have about your anticoagulation therapy

Our Anticoagulation Clinic is at the main hospital, located at 160 Allen Street. Access to the clinic is through the Allen Street Outpatient Rehab entrance. Once inside the 2^nd set of doors, take an immediate right into the Rehabilitation Services waiting room. Check-in for the Anticoagulation Clinic is at the Rehabilitation Services desk. 

A pacemaker is a small electronic device that may be implanted under the skin in your chest to help regulate arrhythmias, or abnormal heartbeats. A defibrillator is another type of electronic device, also implanted under the skin, that monitors the heart and delivers electrical impulses to restore a normal heart rhythm when it detects dangerous rhythms. 

An electrophysiologist is a specialized cardiologist who focuses on the heart's electrical system to diagnose and treat arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats). At Rutland Heart Center, we have an electrophysiologist who sees patients in our clinic and works with them on issues or concerns with their pacemakers or defibrillators, as well as inserting and maintaining those devices. Our cardiologists and nurses also provide routine pacemaker, defibrillator and internal loop recorder monitoring services.

We maintain relationships with electrophysiologists from our partners at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and UVM Medical Center for patients receiving care at those locations and Rutland Heart Center, to ensure continuity of care and that devices are functioning properly.