Decision signals increased awareness in medical community of the
severity of vein disease and outstanding advances in treatment
Oakland, CA… The American College of Phlebology (ACP) announced that phlebology – the diagnosis and treatment of vein disease, which afflicts 80 million Americans – has been recently approved for inclusion
in the list of self-designated medical specialties sanctioned by the American Medical Association (AMA). This decision by the AMA means physicians who diagnose and treat venous disorders, including varicose
veins, can now select phlebology as their primary or secondary area of practice.
“Until now, vein disease has been largely ignored even though it is extremely common and much more than a cosmetic issue. The AMA’s recognition of the specialty of phlebology demonstrates the situation is changing,” said ACP President Dr. Steven Zimmet. “This is the first official acknowledgement of the importance of venous disorders and the innovations in vein treatments.”
“It’s tremendous that the AMA is recognizing phlebology as a specialty and realizing the evaluation and treatment of venous diseases is important,” said Dr. Helane Fronek, a San Diego-based phlebologist and editor of The Fundamentals of Phlebology: Venous Disease for Clinicians. “New developments in diagnosis and treatment are making a huge difference in people’s lives. As phlebologists we have a lot of things to share with our colleagues.”
Dr. Robert Min, acting chairman of radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, noted that there has been a dearth of training in phlebology. “Venous disease is extraordinarily common, but poorly understood or taught in the medical community. This recognition by the AMA will help in our efforts to provide education and post-graduate training in the best ways to deliver treatment for this condition.”
To address this information gap, the ACP recently organized a Speakers’ Bureau that stands ready to visit medical schools and speak at grand rounds presentations. A slide presentation and reading material have been prepared, and qualified ACP members capable of presenting the subject have been pre-selected. The ACP sponsors regional symposia, fellowship grants and research awards, and publishes phlebology papers.
If you are interested in arranging a presentation by the ACP’s Speakers’ Bureau or in becoming a member of the ACP, please visit www.phlebology.org or call 510-346-6800.
The ACP is a nonprofit multi-specialty organization committed to improving standards of practice and patient care in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. Members come from vascular surgery, dermatology, general surgery, interventional radiology, cosmetic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, family and general practice. ACP membership is growing having almost doubled since 2000.
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