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Dr. Michael Algus - Internal Medicine
Bennington, VT
Dr. Michael Algus
Dr. Algus operates this eight-year old private practice, located
in the Medical Office building adjacent to the Southwestern
Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington. He has admitting
and attending privileges at SVMC. Office hours are from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m., or 1 to 5 p.m. depending on rounds at SVMC.
Patients seen in the office generally present pulmonary-related
concerns, twenty-five percent of which are sleep disorders
and airway-related issues. All ages of patients are seen in
the office, representing a broad spectrum of educational,
social, economic, rural and urban backgrounds.
Dr. Algus is the Quality Assurance Director for SVMC and
plays an important role in the community with hospital and
local leaders to ensure that the hospital provides needed
and quality services.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, a facility of Southwestern
Vermont Health Care and located in Bennington consists of
a 125-bed hospital, which includes a Family-centered Birthing
program, a cancer center and a Memory Disorders clinic.
Staff
A nurse and an office manager support Dr. Algus' medical practice.
Dr. Algus, MD, practices Internal Medicine and is a specialist
in Pulmonary Medicine.
Typical Day
Commonly, a day with Dr. Algus begins by joining him at SWMC
for patient rounds in the ICU and moving to other patient
areas. During rounds, Dr. Algus may receive calls for consults
for his specialty in pulmonary medicine. The student will
often conduct workups with newly admitted patients of Dr.
Algus, with history taking, physical and write up, which then
are presented to him. Dr. Algus uses these opportunities to
provide feedback on the student's presentation and assessment
skills. Time may also be spent in the radiology department
with x-rays and CT scans for teaching on reading these films.
Returning to the clinic, new or follow-up patients are seen
throughout the one half or two-thirds remainder of the day.
Typically, the student individually meets a patient to up-date
or take an initial history and conduct a complaint-focused
physical exam. Presenting their findings and tentative plan
and medication to the Preceptor, they together return to the
patient to discuss a treatment plan. Preceptoring is patient-based,
with assigned research and readings on particular patient
complaints and topics. Commonly the student will utilize MD
Consult and SVMC's medical library for subject research.
One day a week the student spends time at SVMC with specialists
in their related departments of radiology, cardiology, GI
and infections. There may also be opportunities to accompany
Dr. Algus to town or hospital meetings to review the hospital
services to the community. Being on call with the preceptor
may also occur. Finally, occasions to observe minor surgically
procedures such as bronchoscopy and pleural effusion taps
are also likely.
Teaching Goals
Several overarching themes represent the teaching objectives
for this internal medicine rotation. A primary goal is to
provide the student with exposure to and experience in routine
physical examinations with a concentration on pulmonary issues.
Concurrently, the student gains familiarity with major pulmonary
diagnosis such as: emphysema, asthma, pneumonia and sleep
disorders. Also stressed is developing presentation skills
related to history taking, follow-up diagnosis and write-ups.
Additionally, students receive exposure to the Intensive Care
Unit at SVMC and to taking and reading x-rays.
Student Housing
Housing in the Bennington area is available and arranged as
needed.
The Community
Bennington is one of Vermont's oldest and most historic towns.
It was chartered in 1749, the first town in the territory
now known as Vermont, by Benning Wentworth, governor of New
Hampshire, who characteristically named it for himself. Ethan
Allen arrived in Bennington about 1769 and took leadership
of a group of new settlers who needed to defend the lands
against officials of New York, which claimed the same territory.
These young settlers became the Green Mountain Boys, a citizen
militia, that later played an important role in the American
Revolution. Their victory at the Battle of Bennington on Aug.
16, 1777, was a prelude to the surrender of British General
John Burgoyne at Saratoga, which led directly to the Revolution's
success. Overlooking the town rises the 304-foot monument
(built in 1891) commemorating the Battle of Bennington.
Bennington boasts three distinct areas of historic significance.
There is an impressive "old" town of colonial era
buildings, church and commons on the heights above the town
proper, a Victorian section in the thriving downtown area
and the three covered bridges in North Bennington. Famous
20th-century personages who have lived in or near Bennington
include the primitive painter Grandma Moses, artist-illustrator
Norman Rockwell, and poet Robert Frost.
A primary gateway to Vermont, Bennington is the third largest
community in the State. Nestled between two beautiful mountain
ranges, the Taconics on the west and the Green Mountains on
the east, the beautiful Walloomsac River flows through the
community. Mount Anthony (2,300 ft.) overlooks the town. These
mountains and several state parks offer swimming, fishing,
boating, nature, and hiking trails. The town is located adjacent
to New York State, 14 miles from Massachusetts and roughly
two and a half-hours south of Burlington. Population of the
town is roughly 14,500, while the surrounding area encompasses
nearly 35,000 residents.
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