By Javier Calderon, RVT

Imagine if you or your close family member has struggled with pain for months, even years, with no relief. This constant pain, itching swelling and general feeling of heaviness in the lower legs can severely alter a person’s lifestyle and make life extremely miserable. Now imagine finding a medical team that can diagnose and treat this condition, allowing you to resume your normal lifestyle. Both your physical and mental condition improves and you have a renewed outlook on life. This is the magic of a vein and vascular diagnostics center, and this is the work I love.

I have devoted my career to vein and vascular diagnostics because I find the work fascinating. It literally changes lives by improving mobility, reducing chronic pain and offering peace of mind for patients who previously felt helpless.

The exploration of the human body by an exam using sound waves is a captivating invention for diagnostic purposes. Through an exam, a technologist determines the patient’s condition and functionality of their veins. That exam, plus a review of the patient’s medical history and current condition allows the phlebology team to develop a customized treatment plan. The accuracy and sensitivity of measurements a technologist can obtain has dramatically reduced the need for more invasive testing methods, creating cost and time efficiencies.

HOW TO HELP PATIENTS DECIDE

Because many new patients don’t know where to start when choosing a vein and vascular diagnostics provider, our clinic is always willing to offer advice. Of course, patients want to choose a location that’s convenient for them, one that accepts their insurance and one that receives positive reviews from other patients. In addition, patients should be cognizant of accreditations of the vein center they choose. Accreditations can include:

• Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Carotid testing
• Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)

Also, American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Caridovascular Credentialing International (CCI) are the entities that credential sonographers as specialists in vascular ultrasound. ARDMS has the Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential and CCI has the Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) and Registered Phlebologist Sonographer (RPhS) credentials.

Additionally, when a patient is suspected to have Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), they should find a clinic that offers same-day ultrasound technology. This convenience will likely save the patient from making a trip to the emergency room for testing.

FUTURE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS CENTER

With Medicare changing their model to a quality for service model and being much more aware of what facilities are costing their beneficiaries, it makes sense that we will see an increase of use in ultrasound rather than the higher-cost imaging modalities.

Also, expect more non-invasive ultrasound procedures, due to concerns of radiation exposure to patients. Additionally, ultrasound systems are becoming much smaller and portable, with some the size of a tablet. They are also using wireless transducers. The future looks vibrant.

DIAGNOSTICS CENTER CAREERS

Diagnostics center careers are challenging and rewarding. Currently, education options include 2-year and 4-year schools dedicated to teaching diagnostic medical sonography. Many of these schools have separate peripheral vascular tract options for students.

Vascular program graduates have multiple career options, such as imaging in-patients in a hospital setting or imaging out-patients in a vascular lab setting. Also, sonographers are a vital component to vein center operations. Many vein clinics, including America Vein, have relationships with schools, and frequently lecture, partner with and recruit from those schools.  Educating the future technologist is vital to the health of this profession.

The diagnostics center is not for everyone. It’s a career field for those who want to be there, who want to witness state-of-the-art technology and talented professionals bringing life-changing transformations to patients in need. VTN

                Javier Calderon is the technical director and compliance officer at American Vein & Vascular Institute. In his role, he works with managers and executives to run the day-to-day clinic and vascular lab operations, as well as strategic planning for future goals. Javier obtained a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Virginia College in Austin, Texas, in 2005 and gained his Registered Vascular Technology (RVT) registry through the ARDMS in 2007. He joined the American Vein team in 2015. He has worked in vascular labs throughout the United States in hospital systems and private practices, gaining experiences in different processes in healthcare services. Working closely with the Intersocietal Accreditation Committee (IAC), Javier has brought American Vein in compliance with Vascular Ultrasound Standards and has gained accreditation of Peripheral Arterial, Peripheral Venous and Extracranial (Carotid) Ultrasound accreditation.