Choosing the Right Varicose Vein Doctor

Varicose veins affect a huge part of the population today. Unlike the past, new technology and procedures have revolutionized the treatment of varicose veins and other venous disorders that is the most beneficial to the patient. Treatment no longer requires hospitalization or general anesthesia or down time for the patient. There are many doctors from many different specialties performing these highly technical treatments. The problem is that not all of these doctors are qualified enough to provide the patient with optimal outcomes. How do patients choose a highly qualified vein doctor? They ask certain questions and perform a little research before agreeing to become a patient. Here we will discuss what questions to ask and where to find the information needed to make a sound decision.

Patients, or prospective patients should never be afraid to ask doctors questions. If they feel uncomfortable asking questions a family member or friend could act as a patient advocate. If the doctor is uncomfortable answering or avoids answering any questions it is a good sign he or she does not have the correct answer. When this happens it is definitely time to move on and talk with a different doctor. Chances are pretty good they are not comfortable with the technology or procedures the patient requires.

Question #1 - Is the doctor board certified in Phlebology?

To become an ABPh diplomat, an applicant must complete the requisite training or experience qualifications, meet the continued medical education requisites, and pass a stringent certification examination offered by the American Board of Phlebology. Certification periods are ten years and maintenance is dependent on the ability of the diplomat to display competency in four areas of assessment, evidence of professional standing, evidence of commitment to life-long learning and periodic assessment, evidence of cognitive expertise and evaluation of performance in practice. This certification can be confirmed by visiting the American Board of Phlebology web site and click on the "find a physician" button. This question can be avoided by researching first.

Question #2 - Where did they train to become a phlebologist (vein doctor)?

Believe it or not many of the doctors performing these highly technical varicose vein treatments were actually trained by a sales representative. This is not the best training because the sales representative's main concern is selling their equipment and supplies. They do not have the patient's safety or outcome in mind. Other older surgeons are actually still treating veins the same as they did 20 years ago and have not kept up with the advances. The optimal vein doctor has been trained by an experienced Phlebologist who has immense experience in the technology and treatment options. Most of these Phlebologists have actually played a part in developing these new treatments. Their training involves the entire realm of vein care and treatment. They are highly concerned about patient safety and outcomes.

Question #3 - How many varicose vein procedures have they performed and how many complications have they encountered?

This is a very significant question and should be answered with semi-detailed answer. Do not accept answers such as several, some, a lot, or many. A varicose vein doctor should be able to give you an estimated number answer like about 10, over 50, or at least 100 or something like that. This is important because of the learning curve that is essential to become proficient in performing the latest and technical treatment procedures. You want to choose a phlebologist that has perfected his or her technique. This may produce a better outcome. Also is it important to ask about complications and how many they have encountered. This question may very well produce a general answer such as a few but the important fact you need is that they know what complications that may occur and they know how to treat them. Also find out if they would be the doctor treating any complication that may occur or would an additional doctor do this.

Question #4 - Where will venous treatments procedures be performed?

Varicose vein treatments used today are developed to be performed in the doctor's office or clinic. They do not require a hospital setting or general anesthesia (going to sleep). There are two reasons why a doctor may make use of the hospital to provide these procedures. The first reason is that they do not possess the necessary equipment such as a laser and the ultrasound machine and will utilize equipment and supplies provided by the hospital and/or sales representative. The second reason may be that they do not have the necessary skills to perform the ultrasound examination required and will make use of the hospital ultrasound technician. Regardless of the reason using the hospital facility indicates that this doctor is not fully dedicated to acquire the necessary equipment or skills to provide optimum care for the patient. It also indicates that they do not perform very many of these procedures to make it cost effective to invest in the specialized equipment.

The use of general anesthesia should never be indicated for any varicose vein procedure. This is an unnecessary risk to the patient. Always avoid a doctor who insists on general anesthesia. Insisting on general anesthesia may indicate the doctor does not want you to be conscious during the procedure. This may be because they take a very long time to complete the procedure, usually due to the inexperience, and the patient will become uncomfortable remaining still for so long. Most vein treatment procedures can be completed by a qualified Phlebotomist in about 30 minutes or less. Neither is a good indication of a competent phlebotomist.

Question #5 - What services do they provide?

A phlebotomist who is devoted to the treatment of varicose veins will provide a full regiment of services for diagnosing and treating all venous disorders. Diagnostic services must include the Doppler ultrasound examination necessary to find the root cause of the problem. This ultrasound service is also very important for varicose vein laser treatment so it is significant that the doctor is skillful in using this tool. A vein doctor that is dedicated to the practice of treating varicose veins should provide the full spectrum of the most up to date treatments. Treatments include compression stocking therapy, Endovenous Laser Ablation, sclerotherapy, trans dermal treatment of spider veins and micro phlebectomy. Doctors who do not offer all these services may opt to send the patient to other doctors for specific treatments. Patients should be conscious of this.

Question #6 - Do They Have a Website?

Doctors who are dedicated to the treatment of varicose veins will always have a web site dedicated to vein disorders. This is the place where they can offer patients and prospective patients information about the doctor and their vein practice. Actually a visit to the vein clinic's web site may also answer many of these questions for the patient before they even set up an initial appointment. A vein doctor's web site should have information about the doctor, the staff, their location and contact information and the services offered.

In conclusion it is very important that these questions and any other questions patients may have be asked when choosing a qualified and dedicated vein doctor. Again, never be fearful to ask these questions. Qualified vein doctors welcome them because it gives them a opportunity to brag about their qualifications and doctors like to do that. Unqualified or undertrained doctors who do vein procedures may not respond well to these questions and try to evade answering them. Patients should avoid these doctors. With these 6 simple questions and a little research patients can be assured the best care possible with a most favorable result for their vein disorders.

Jeffrey B. Ware CFA
Retired Certified Surgical Assistant
Owner JBW Enterprise
http://www.thelaserveincenter.com
http://www.smocksanduniforms.com

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How to Choose the Right Eye Doctor For You

It is very important for people of all ages to make sure they have a good eye doctor they can go to for their yearly eye exams and in case of an emergency. In Michigan, there are lots of doctors from which to choose. Finding a Flint eye doctor is not difficult because Flint vision care is available in almost every suburb. There are lots of different criteria you can use to find the perfect optometrist for you. If the school the doctor went to is important to you, you can easily look online to find the doctors in your area that graduated from the school you are looking for. It is important also, to make sure that the doctor you choose is board certified, meaning they have been approved by a prestigious group that has universal standards for their doctors. If the doctor's personality is important to you, then you can go into a few offices in your area and request to meet each doctor in the office. All of these measures for finding a doctor are acceptable and it is up to you to decide what you want in an eye doctor.

Many people like to choose their eye doctor based on the school from which he or she graduated. Some patients prefer an eye doctor that has gone to an ivy league school for both undergraduate school and graduate school, while others like an eye doctor that has gone to graduate school at an ivy league school. Using the school that the doctor graduated from is a good indicator of how much a doctor knows about vision care. However, looking at only the school the doctor went to is obviously not a good indicator of what type of personality the doctor will have.

There are also a fair amount of people who do not put a lot of emphasis on where their optometrist went to school, but they do care about the personality their doctor has. Some doctors can be short with their patients and not as personable as others. Some doctors may be shy and therefore may not be able to explain any procedures or diagnosis as well as someone with an outgoing personality. Some people like an optometrist who just tells them what they need to know and then moves onto the next patient so the yearly check-ups are quick and simple. Others like to have a more personal relationship with their eye doctor and therefore they like someone who is more chatty and someone who can go into great detail about their diagnosis. The best way to select a doctor based on personality is to ask friends and family for recommendations and then go to two or three different doctors and select from there.

It is important for people to be able to count on their optometrist for a proper diagnosis and in case of an emergency. Some people like to choose their eye doctor by only looking at the school the optometrist attended. Others like to select an eye doctor based on the doctor's personality. It is best to remember that selecting an eye care doctor is your personal choice and you need to make sure you can be comfortable with the doctor you choose.

Connor Sullivan recently visited a Flint eye doctor [http://lionheartoptometry.com/flint] when he was traveling on business. He ordered contacts at the Flint vision care [http://lionheartoptometry.com/flint] while he was there.

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Important Tips on Selecting the Right Family Doctor

Family is very important to everyone. For this reason, there is nothing we would not want to do just to be rest assured that they are safe and in good health. Evidently, every family wants to have their own family doctor to address their health needs. Anyone can find a family doctor. But it is extremely important to select the right family doctor or GP, who is qualified to constantly observe and help in the treatment of ailments and health issues.

The following are the key considerations in finding the right family doctor:

Accreditation. The candidate doctor should have the accreditation to practice. Check relevant background information to assure that they are eligible to be a family doctor.

Referrals. Ask for advice from friends or someone that you trust who had already used this doctor beforehand. They are able to compare and rate this doctor as satisfying or not.

Asking another doctor. If you know a doctor, try asking for suggestions of any colleagues that he or she knows to have the competence and expertise in the field that best cater your needs.

Service affiliates. Doctors who are affiliated with hospitals and educational establishments are known to be far more competent and updated pertaining to medical practice.

Websites for Doctor Resources. Search for candidate family doctors online. Find out which doctor lives nearby your place. Learn about their background of practice, patient ratings, and more. Try visiting some websites like: revolutionhealth.com, carionltd.com, and ucomparehealth.com. You might finally find the family doctor you've been looking for.

Availability. Be sure that the doctor is available to check on your family round-the-clock in as much as possible. Ask if the doctor will be able to come during emergency cases, or during weekends. Can they give advice or health instructions via the phone line or email? These are some of the things you need to ask regarding the doctors availability.

Recommendation from your Insurance Company or from Local Hospitals. Insurance companies do provide suggestions about doctors. Local Hospitals may also refer for qualified doctors that are practicing within their vicinity.

Individual approach. Find a doctor who seeks relevant information of each family member for individual diagnosis and treatment plan.

Effective communicator. Select from candidate doctors who speaks at our own level of understanding. This doctor must be able to explain instructions, health teachings, and more in clear language. They should avoid using jargons.

Active Listener. The right family doctor must be able and willing to listen carefully to all health complaints, so as not to miss out important details.

Trustworthy. As time passes by, this doctor will be working with you and would know a lot about your family's medical conditions which you want to keep as confidential. So better find someone who is able to observe privacy. Select a doctor whom you can build rapport.

Positive outlook. It is very crucial for a doctor to be optimistic. This doctor instills hope for their clients, which is usually the most effective drug among all the other physical drugs. Positive energy brings about a positive environment and affects the people around them.

Comfortable to be with. A family doctor should be approachable at all times. Clients must feel at ease to voice out their demands. To maintain constant and open communication, the comfort for clients to speak with their doctor is a must.

A Registered Nurse and Freelance Writer.

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4 Tips For Finding the Right Doctor

Whether you are looking for a second opinion from a doctor, or simply shopping for a new general practitioner, it's important to find the right match for your needs. Today, with so many choices, it's often difficult to know how to find a doctor who will be a good match. Hopefully, these four suggestions will get you on the right track.

Friends: Certainly, one of the best ways to find a new doctor is from your friends. Ask a wide selection of friends for their recommendations. Keep in mind certain criteria that you have, and share the criteria with your friends. Are you willing to drive far, or do you want a doctor within a 5 mile radius of your home or work? Do you need someone who is gentle and warm, or someone who is more matter-of-fact? Do you want a small practice, or are you more comfortable if many doctors are available for consultations?
Health Plan: Your health plan certainly has a list of recommended doctors. You can gather the list and start researching these specific doctors yourself. Find out which hospitals they are affiliated with and cross-check your list with a list of top doctor's in your area. You can often find lists of this sort published in the newspaper or in local magazines. Visit a few doctors at their offices and get a sense for the size of their practices, the amount of time they spend with each patient and their overall view and outlook on medicine. Schedule an appointment with two or three of the doctors at the top of your list and make your decision based on your face-to-face meetings.
Online Doctor Reviews: The internet has a wealth of information for finding a family doctor, OB, or other specialist. At many of these medical sites, you can review doctors' credentials and histories, look at patient recommendations and find out important information about each doctor. Make sure to check on the credentials of the doctors on your list. Check on their training and board certification at the American Medical Association. At some online medical rating sites, you can actually see a video clip of physicians to get a feel for their personality type; at other sites, they'll have a rating system from A to F to "grade" physicians. These sites are highly informative and should help you to narrow down the selection process.
Other Doctors: While some doctors don't want to offer up a recommendation for other doctors, many physicians will be willing to do so. If you are looking for a specialist, for instance, ask your general practitioner for recommendations. If it's a general physician that you need, you might ask your OB or your eye doctor for recommendations. Particularly in smaller towns, doctors really do know each other, and you can offer get the best recommendations for physicians from others in the field. If you don't want to directly ask a doctor to recommend another doctor, simply ask your doctor who he or she uses as a general practitioner. If the doctor is good enough for them, chances are that they could work for you as well!

Keep in mind when looking for a doctor that you are the client. You have the right to look for the right doctor for your needs. If a doctor makes you feel less than important, or if one makes you feel silly for looking so carefully for the right doctor, cross them off of your list. Your health care maters and you have the right to do the research that you need to do in order to feel comfortable with your care. Make sure to start this search while you are healthy, and not in need of major medical care. It is highly recommended that you search for a physician with a level head, and while you aren't looking for immediate care. This will help you to make a more thoughtful, educated decision.

The author of this article, Emily Salisbury, has been lucky enough to find excellent doctors including Josyann Abisaab whenever she and her family have needed medical care.

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