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 510-834-6500.
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.