Patient Resources

Vascular Surgeons, Vascular Medicine Physicians, Interventional Cardiologists and Interventional Radiologists are specialists in treating vascular disease.

• Vascular Surgeons are specialists who treat patients with vascular conditions who may or may not need surgery. They are trained to use all types of surgical procedures for their patients who need that kind of treatment. Many patients do not need surgery and can be treated with medication or exercise.
  • • What is a Vascular Surgeon?
• Vascular Medicine specialists treat and diagnose a wide range of arterial, venous and lymphatic disorders.
• Interventional Cardiologists open up or treat blocked arteries using nonsurgical catheter-based treatment techniques
  • • If You Are Referred to an Interventional Cardiologist
• Interventional Radiologists use X-rays, CT, MRI or other imaging guidance to navigate small instruments, like catheters and needles, through blood vessels and organs to treat a variety of diseases
  • • How Do Interventional Radiologists Treat Vascular Disease?

• Patient Communication Resources from the National Institute on Aging

Find help to prepare for your visit to your doctor and encouragement to be your own advocate. The Way To My Heart works to improve the quality of life for patients with vascular disease through education, patient engagement and empowerment.

• Show Me PAD is a self-directed, research-based website centered on enhancing your knowledge about PAD.
• We understand that sometimes it can be challenging to communicate all your symptoms during your doctor’s appointment. Stand Against Amputation offers a PAD assessment quiz that you can print and bring to your next MD visit. Find out more here: Symptom Quiz.

• Exercise Resources
  • Steve’s Story – Walking Helped Me Avoid Surgery for my PAD
  • Exercise as Medicine – Article from the Society for Vascular Medicine
  • Exercise for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) – Article from the Society for Vascular Medicine
  • Exercise for Older Adults Resources from the National Institutes of Health
• Smoking Cessation can help you save your limbs—The Untold Story of Smoking and Vascular Disease
• Diabetes Management
  • Lifesaving Tips for Managing Diabetes & PAD
  • Managing Type 2 Diabetes
  • Take Care of Your Feet – PAD and Foot Care

• The Patient Advocate Foundation is a non-profit that provides direct services to patients with chronic, life threatening and debilitating diseases to help access the care and treatment recommended by their doctor. Their services include case management assistance, an education resource library and co-pay assistance: https://www.patientadvocate.org
• RxOutreach.org is a non-profit pharmacy that can help with affordable medications.
• The Patient Advocacy Network (PAN) work to help underinsured people with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases get the medications and treatments they need by assisting with their out-of-pocket costs and advocating for improved access and affordability. Use the search tool to review the ever-evolving list of disease funds, which may include vascular diseases: www.panfoundation.org

Prescription assistance

If you need assistance paying for your medications, you may find help via these organizations.

Government-sponsored programs:

• Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs is designed to help Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for the program (Some restrictions apply.)
• The National Council on Aging Benefits Checkup is a free service that can help you find possible cost savings on your prescriptions.
• Find additional assistance programs that may be available in your state via RxAssist.org and NeedyMeds.org

One way to get involved in vascular disease research is to participate in a clinical trial. What is a Clinical Trial? Learn more here:

• https://www.fda.gov/patients/clinical-trials-what-patients-need-know/basics-about-clinical-trials
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-clinical-trials-and-studies

The ClinicalTrials.gov web site provides current information about clinical research studies to patients, their families and caregivers, health care professionals, and the public. Each study record includes a summary of the study protocol, including the purpose, recruitment status, and eligibility criteria.

• Learn how to find a clinical trial: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/help/how-find/basic