SVM Joins Rethink Varicose Veins Coalition of Medical Societies Committed to Raising Awareness Of Varicose Vein Diagnosis and Treatment

Through Innovative Partnership, SVM Encourages Members to Expand Knowledge of Venous Disease in Effort to Better Educate At-Risk Patients

The Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM), a leading community of vascular clinicians and scientists dedicated to improving the integration of vascular biological advances into medical practice, today announced it has joined a coalition of professional medical societies committed to empowering individuals to “Rethink Varicose Veins” as a health concern worthy of medical diagnosis and treatment.

While more than 30 million Americans suffer from venous disease, only 10 percent seek proper diagnosis and treatment.^1,2,3 If left untreated, varicose veins can progress to a more serious form of disease called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Symptoms of CVI include skin damage, swelling, severe pain and ulcers, and the disease itself is associated with significant morbidity, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life.

“One of our society’s core goals is to promote optimal standards of care in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, and through this innovative partnership with Rethink Varicose Veins, we are able to achieve this goal by driving both awareness and action at the physician and patient level,” said Joshua A. Beckman, MD, FSVM, president of SVM. “We look forward to bringing this innovative campaign to our members who are on the front lines of treating patients with venous disease.”

The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS), American Venous Forum (AVF) and American College of Phlebology (ACP) founded the coalition that launched the Rethink Varicose Veins campaign in November 2011. This innovative initiative, which is sponsored by Covidien, continues to garner support with the addition of SVM, the American Podiatric Medical Society, the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound as coalition partners, and looks to expand in the future to reach an even wider audience.

To support this important initiative, the online hub, www.RethinkVaricoseVeins.com, provides information and tools for both consumers and physicians. Healthcare professionals can download an electronic toolkit to help them introduce the Rethink Varicose Veins program to patients who may want more information about the condition and the minimally invasive treatment options available. The toolkit includes an e-flyer, banner ads and content for physician websites, Facebook and Twitter pages.

About the Rethink Varicose Veins Campaign
Rethink Varicose Veins is an educational campaign encouraging the more than 30 million Americans who suffer from venous disease, including varicose veins and CVI, to rethink their condition and recognize it as a serious health concern. The campaign, which is led by a coalition of medical societies, encourages those suffering from the condition to seek medical diagnosis and treatment. As part of the campaign, Olympic Gold Medalist Summer Sanders is sharing her personal story about the impact venous disease had on her life and the improvements she experienced following treatment. Rethink Varicose Veins aims to help people learn more about varicose veins and CVI, find a vein specialist and make informed decisions about the best, and often minimally-invasive, treatment option for them.

CONTACT:

SVM Executive Director Lee Ann Clark, lclark@vascularmed.org

1. Gloviczki, P., MD., Comerota, A., MD., Dalsing, M., MD., Eklof, B., MD., Gillespie, D., MD., Gloviczki, M., MD., Wakefield, T., MD. The care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases: Clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum. J Vasc Surg. 2011 May; 53(5 Suppl): 2S-48S.