The staff at the Lipid Clinic treat individuals who are at risk or have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. The Lipid Clinic is overseen by Peter Klementowicz, MD, FACC, a board certified cardiologist who specializes in cholesterol management. Dr. Klementowicz also practices at The New England Heart Institute in Manchester.

When a patient visits the clinic, Dr. Klementowicz meets with each person to help the patient understand and interpret the lipid profile. He counsels a patient about normal cholesterol levels and how to lower levels to a normal range. Each patient is also monitored every month and educated about the importance of lifestyle modification, medications and potential interventional procedures.

Dr. Klementowicz works with each patient's primary care physician and updates the physician about the patient's progress and treatment mode. Since diet affects a person's cholesterol level, Dr. Klementowicz also works with the Center's registered dietitian, who helps educate patients about the importance of low- fat meal planning and exercise.

For more information about the Lipid Clinic, please call The Cardiovascular Center at 603-595-3971.

Anticoagulants are called blood thinners, but they don't really thin the blood. Instead, they slow the time it takes for a blood clot to form and prevent exisitng clots from growing.

The Anticoagulant Clinic is led by Sofia Lai-Zuercher, RN, MSN, ARNP-C and supported by a team of nurses and staff, The clinic staff monitor patients who take Coumadin because they have suffered a stroke, heart failure, a heart valve condition or pulmonary embolisms. Currently, the Anticoagulant Clinic treats more than 300 patients a month.

Patients meet one-on-one with a clinical staff member to have their medications maintained or adjusted, plus discuss their treatments. The Anticoagulant Clinic offers patients on-site testing, fast results and a consultation with a dedicated practitioner. St. Joseph Hospital has an on-site pharmacy for the ease of filling Coumadin prescriptions.

In a traditional setting, patients would wait up to three days for treatment, where as at the Anticoagulant Clinic, the same services are provided in one day.

Diabetics are 300 times more likely to suffer from cardiac-related diseases compared to people without diabetes. In response to the growing number of people diagnosed with diabetes, The Cardiovascular Center has expanded its Diabetes Education Program. Carolyn Perrualt, RN, BSN, CDE, a certified diabetes educator, educates diabetics about the disease and lifestyle modifications, including diet planning and exercise.

The Diabetes Education Clinic offers a weekly education series for patients living with diabetes that provides access to support groups and offers free glucose testing. It also sponsors Kids Camp, a program specially designed for children with diabetes and their parents.

The Wound Care Clinic at The Cardiovascular Center provides a wide range of wound care services, including treatment of wounds caused by injuries, surgery, and diabetes, as well as ostomy care. The benefits of a Wound Care Clinic include faster healing, less re-injury, and fewer infections.

Elaine Alward, BSN, RN, CWOCN, and Janet Prince, RN, BSN, CWOCN, CGRN, work closely with patients and primary care physicians to develop a plan of care and educate patients about the importance of proper wound care. Patients meet privately with a nurse who specializes in wound care. During these visits, the nurses monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the equipment and supplies.

The foods we eat affect our health, and understanding how nutrition affects heart and vascular disease is important to managing and treating these diseases. The purpose of The Cardiovascular Center's Nutrition Education program is to educate and motivate patients about good eating.

Andrea Hebert, MS, RD, CDE, a registered dietitian, works closely with physicians and specialists to create a patient's diet plan. Patients are referred to Ms. Hebert for many reasons including high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiac-related illnesses.

Ms. Hebert helps patients understand the effects of poor nutrition, explains good nutrition, and educates patients about the importance of exercising.