Author: Jan Ferris

Covid vaccination for ages 16-64 with chronic conditions

Posted on by Jan Ferris

Currently the VT Department of Health is allowing all adults ages 65 and older to make appointments for vaccination.

The next two phases of vaccination will be open to Vermonters age 55 and over with certain chronic health conditions, followed by those age 16 and over with certain chronic health conditions. You will not be required to provide proof from your primary care office regarding your specific health condition, so please do not request a letter from us. You will be asked to self-certify that you have an eligible condition.

You can register an account online in advance with the VT Department of Health, but you may not make an appointment for the vaccine until your age group or chronic condition is eligible.

The following is the current list of chronic conditions approved for the next phase of vaccination:

• Current cancer

• Chronic kidney disease

• COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis

• Heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease (angina, acute and chronic ischemic heart disease), cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension. Does NOT include high blood pressure.

• Immunocompromised due to solid organ transplant, blood, or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, or other causes; or HIV with a low CD4 cell count or not on HIV treatment; prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune suppressing drugs

• Severe obesity (BMI of 40 or above)

• Pregnancy

• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

• Disabilities including chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome; intellectual disabilities; disabilities that compromise lung function

• Sickle cell disease

Evergreen Family Health Group announces program expansion: Evergreen Sports Medicine

Posted on by Jan Ferris

Evergreen Sports Medicine brings together a team of experienced medical practitioners with unique training in the care of athletes and active people of all ages. As primary care sports medicine providers, our goals are to expand access to the immediate care of acute pediatric and adult injuries, to treat chronic injuries, arthritis, or medical issues impairing your ability to be active, and to then guide your return to activity. Our providers are able to assess and manage difficult conditions including gait issues for both children and adults, fractures, concussion, and performance concerns for local athletes. We accept referrals from your primary care physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer, naturopath, or coach, and then work closely with them after your consultation to get you back to full function. When needed, we quickly coordinate care with the best local and regional orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, and medical specialists.

Evergreen Family Health Group welcomes Jason Lippman, MD

Posted on by Jan Ferris

Dr. Lippman is board-certified in Family Medicine with additional certification in Sports Medicine. He specializes in the management of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as exercise-related medical concerns such as concussion and exercise-induced asthma. His professional focuses include care of the endurance athlete, in-clinic diagnostic ultrasound & ultrasound-guided joint injections, osteoarthritis management and acute fracture care.

Dr. Lippman grew up in Virginia and holds BA and MD degrees from the University of Virginia. He and his wife moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to complete his medical training before settling in Vermont. He has cared for active individuals ranging from high school athletes and their weekend warrior parents to Division 1 collegiate ski racers and Olympic hopefuls. He is a current team physician for USA Ski Mountaineering and a member of the US Ski Mountaineering Association medical committee. Fascinated by (and well read in) all things performance and endurance, he’s the perfect provider to start addressing the medical and fueling questions that arise during your season. Outside of athletics, Dr. Lippman is also well-suited to treat the day-to-day aches and pains that may be keeping you from working around the house or losing those few extra pounds. 

Exercise and athletics are just as much a part of Dr. Lippman’s private life as they are his work. After growing up as a competitive swimmer, he played collegiate ultimate frisbee before getting lost in the world of endurance sport. He’s competed in skimo, triathlon, cycling, and trail/road running of every distance. He completed the Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2018 and still has a penchant for disappearing into the backcountry for full-day unsupported runs. Even so, winter remains his favorite season – once the snow starts falling, the skis come out. You’re equally as likely to run into him skate skiing, touring the backcountry, doing uphill training laps at Bolton Valley, or just enjoying laps off the lift at one of Vermont’s resorts. 

Thanksgiving 2020

Posted on by Jan Ferris

Hello! From all of us at Evergreen, Charlotte and Alderbrook Family Health, we hope this email finds you well.

We’ll soon be celebrating Thanksgiving in a holiday season unlike any that we’ve experienced. COVID-19 continues to spread. The CDC shows that more than 11 million people in the U.S. have been infected, with more than 1 million infections occurring in just one week in mid-November.  Vermont has done very well, but we too are facing a surge of cases.

That really concerns us, and our priority is keeping you and your family healthy. Consider the risks when thinking about how you’ll spend time with friends and family during the holiday. Even a small gathering can carry some big risks. We recommend keeping in-person celebrations to only those people in your household and celebrating virtually with other family and friends.

We know these decisions are difficult. If you decide to celebrate in person with people outside of your household, please take necessary precautions to try to mitigate some of the risk. To help you with planning, the CDC offers suggestions for Thanksgiving celebrations, including advising against travel.  Also, remember that it’s not too late to get your flu shot, and we encourage you to do so.

This year’s holiday season will be different, but we still have so many things to be grateful for and we hope that you too are able to focus on giving thanks even in this pandemic year.

By working together, we can help slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Wishing you happy and healthy holidays, Evergreen Family Health Group

Covid-19 advice for our patients:

Posted on by Jan Ferris

The most important advice that we have is to follow the Vermont Department of Health guidelines: 

https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID-19-chart-observation-isolation-quarantine_final.pdf

http://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID-19_What-to-do-if-you-are-diagnosed-with-COVID-19_final.pdf

Wash your hands

Keep your social circle small

Stay at least 6 feet apart

Wear a mask

Stay HOME if you are ill.  This means any new symptoms such as:

  • Fever (100.4 F or higher)
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain or aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Call your health care provider to request Covid-19 testing if you have any symptoms of illness. This can easily be arranged for you.  You must stay home and quarantine until you have your test results.  Seek urgent medical care if you are becoming short of breath or having high fevers and weakness.

Please be aware that you are more high risk for COVID if you have certain health conditions:

Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.

Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:

Based on what we know at this time, adults of any age with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:

Please don’t hesitate to call your health care provider with any questions about Covid-19.  Please also refer to the health department website for updated information as well as guidelines which are specific to Vermont. These guidelines include travel restrictions and quarantine requirements as well as new guidelines about restricting any contact with those outside of your household.  We understand that these guidelines are challenging for all of us but so important to protect each and every one of us! We must save lives and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed.