UVM Medical Center gets national accreditation for its pulmonary hypertension program

The University of Vermont Medical Center has received national accreditation for its Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center, which treats patients who suffer from a collection of "rare, progressive and deadly heart-and-lung related conditions," according to a press release.

The accreditation from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association means Vermonters will no longer have to travel to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment in an accredited program. The accreditation will also improve access to national clinical trials and support groups for patients across Vermont and northern New York, as well as expand access to specialized medications.

"We are providing a unique service where patients don't have to drive four-plus hours to get this care," said Dr. Jessica Badlam, director of the pulmonary hypertension program at UVMMC. "UVM Medical Center and UVM Health Network have invested in this program at every level, from nursing to pharmacy, and we really have all the bases covered when it comes to patient care − both outpatient and inpatient."

Building a program to serve patients 'who are from where we're from'

Badlam became the director of the pulmonary hypertension program five years ago and has been building it up ever since, together with specialty pharmacist Sean Carpenter and a group of cardiac nurses, pulmonologists, cardiologists and research coordinators. Both Badlam and Carpenter grew up in northern New York and shared a common goal of bringing treatment for pulmonary hypertension and its ultra-specialized therapies closer to home.

"We're taking care of patients who are from where we're from," Badlam said. "There's a lot of personal satisfaction that comes with being able to deliver that care."

The program serves more than 100 patients. Research efforts led by Badlam include ongoing clinical drug trials and studies focused on improving screening and early diagnosis. Badlam is also studying the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in women.

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension includes a range of conditions that occur when high blood pressure affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart, making the heart work harder than normal to pump blood into the lungs. This can damage the heart and cause symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain and lightheadedness.

"These are unique and deadly conditions," Badlam said. "Getting patients on the correct therapy early on is incredibly important."

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM Medical Center gets national accreditation for its pulmonary hypertension program