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Vascular Disease

Dr. Scott Beach

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Heart & Vascular Care

Dr. Scott Beach talks vascular disease.

Dr. Scott Beach

On this week’s show I sat down with interventional cardiologist, Dr. Scott Beach, of Heart & Vascular Care, with offices in Johns Creek, Cumming, and Canton, GA.  I’ve known Dr. Beach for several years through the practice I was working for (Hyperbaric Physicians of Georgia).  Our physicians have worked with him on numerous patients’ cases, both sending him folks who needed to have their blood flow to their lower extremities evaluated, as well as providing specialized wound care for patients he and his colleagues occasionally see in their practice.

Dr. Beach share how he enjoys the fact that his relationship with his patients and their loved ones tends to extend over years rather than being short and limited to a procedure or two.  We talked about vascular disease and some things both patients and doctors need to think about to get problems identified and treated early.

Scott explained how often, symptoms of developing vascular disease are mild and gradually reduce the patient’s tolerance to activity.  In many instances, the patient and their family merely chalk the changes up to “getting older”.  That’s dangerous, because it means the blockage of blood flow that’s causing the symptoms continues to grow until a major event occurs such as a heart attack, stroke, or possibly a limb amputation.

We discussed the fact that there are simple, non-invasive studies that can reveal early vascular disease when it’s easier and more-likely-successful to treat with more options to choose from.  Additionally, we talked about the fact that having pulses that can be felt on a patient’s foot is NOT an accurate means of determining whether a patient has vascular disease that needs attention in many patients.

Additionally, when patients have a wound on their foot or leg that is healing slowly or not at all, it is very important to know whether blockage of blood flow is contributing to the inability to heal.  Too often, these patients go for amputation that could have been readily prevented with one of those non-invasive or minimally-invasive studies he described.  For patients with a wound that’s not healing, it is important for them to have a multiple-specialty team of doctors who help with different facets of the non-healing wound.  Scott and his colleagues certainly subscribe to this approach and get their patients with limb threatening wounds access to all available experts who can help save their foot/leg.

The value in this multi-specialty approach cannot be overstated when you consider that in diabetics (one of the largest groups who experience vascular disease), the 5 year mortality rate for patients undergoing a below-the-knee amputation is just under 50%.  Most patients and many doctors are not fully aware of this risk.

Special Guest:

Dr. Scott Beach, MD, Heart & Vascular Care  facebook_logo_small3  linkedin_small1

Heart & Vascular Care

 

Cholesterol Isn’t The Bad Guy In Heart Disease

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Cholesterol Isn’t The Bad Guy In Heart Disease

I recently read an article by a former heart surgeon that talked about the fact that cholesterol isn’t the bad guy in heart disease.  Instead, he argued that inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels caused by sugars and even the “healthy” oils we eat such as corn, canola (Omega-6 oils) is the real cause of what is still the #1 cause of death in America today.

I sat down with Dr. Ellie Campbell of Campbell Family Medicine in Cumming, GA to talk about the article and she was eager to discuss it.  She completely agrees with the premise of the article and shared how the ratio of Omega-3 oils  to Omega-6 oils has grown from ~1:1 or 1:2 to as much as 25:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3.

She also talked about the fact that higher levels of cholesterol in the blood don’t necessarily equate to plaque and heart disease/stroke.  It’s when cholesterol molecules are oxidized and corrupted by inflammatory substances we eat that they become “sticky” and attach to the irritated walls of the blood vessels.

Dr. Campbell shared numerous suggestions for basic changes we can make that will not only serve to reduce our risk for heart disease but in some cases can actually reverse damage already done.

I also brought back Leana Kart, a chiropractor whose practice, Northwest Chiropractic and a member of the Georgia Chiropractic Association to talk about the fact that May is National Posture Awareness Month.  She shared several tips on how to avoid “tech neck”, damage to the spine and neck caused by long periods of chin-down angles to look at a device in our lap.  She also talked about why good posture contributes to keeping us healthy.

Special Guests:

Special Guests:

Dr. Ellie Campbell, DO, Family Practice & Integrative Medicine at Campbell Family Medicine

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Campbell Family Medicine

  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Family Medicine Residency, Medical College of Georgia
  • Board Certified Family Medicine

Dr. Leana Kart, DC, of NW Chiropractic  linkedin_small1

kart

  • Doctor of Chiropractic, Life University
  • Owner of NW Chiropractic for over 26 years
  • Board Member, Georgia Chiropractic Association

 

Dr. Rheudasil of Emory Heart and Vascular Institute and Georgia Vascular Society

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Emory Heart and Vascular Institute and Georgia Vascular Society

Dr. Rheudasil talks about Emory Heart & Vascular Institute and GVS.

 

Emory Heart and Vascular Institute and Georgia Vascular Society

This week on Top Docs RADIO we sat down with Dr. Mark Rheudasil of Emory Heart and Vascular Institute.  We talked about the specialty of vascular surgery, new advances in minimally-invasive endovascular procedures, and upcoming events with Georgia Vascular Society.  Dr. Rheudasil shared some feelings about why he enjoys his chosen specialty as much as he does and when it’s advisable to be seen by the specialists of Emory Heart and Vascular Institute.

He talked about his membership with the Georgia Vascular Society and how it helps the vascular specialists across the state of Georgia stay in contact with each other to share best practices, new research, and other important information they provide through their educational conferences.  Our physician practice has worked with Emory Heart and Vascular Institute for many years, collaborating on countless patients with limb-threatening wounds.  Be sure to consider a consult with this practice should you or a loved one find themselves in need of evaluation for vascular disease of the extremities, aorta, carotids, and more.

Special Guest:

Dr. Mark Rheudasil, MD of Emory Heart and Vascular Institute and Georgia Vascular Society

Emory Heart and Vascular Institute and Georgia Vascular Society

Dr. Mark Rheudasil

  • Doctorate of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
  • Residency, Emory University Hospital
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • Board Certified in surgery and vascular surgery
  • Published articles in several medical journals including The Journal of Vascular Surgery, American Surgeon and The Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia

Specialized Healthcare IT and Vascular Services

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Tier3MD provides specialized IT services for medical groups.  Advanced Vascular Resources offer a full range of diagnostic vascular studies and minimally-invasive corrective procedures.

IT Services

Mike & Sheryl Cherico talk medical IT svcs and Sean Yanes discusses AVR’s benefits to patients, podiatrists, and primary care physicians.

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Healthcare IT and Vascular Services

Today we learned how Tier3MD brings over 2 decades of healthcare IT installation and management to their medical clients.  Their full suite of IT services allow medical practices to reduce cost related to IT by  as much as half or more in some situations.  Mike & Sheryl Cherico discussed how provide consultation with practices considering a new EMR to help them choose the best one suited for their particular practice.  Their technologists are also versed in HIPAA requirements so they are able to insure their clients’ data controls are compliant with regulations.

Sean Yanes of Advanced Vascular Resources shared how AVR improves outcomes among patients suffering from PAD, carotid disease, migraine headaches, and many more problems related to vascular disease.  The multi-state physician practice takes a collaborative approach to their referral partners and work to compliment rather than replace their partners’ treatment plans.  AVR’s interventional radiologist, Dr. Doug Redd has been providing a high level of vascular interventions in the Atlanta area for many years.  Additionally, he served in academic roles at Emory prior to joining AVR’s Atlanta practice.

Special Guests:

Sheryl Cherico, CEO/Founder, Tier3MD  linkedin_small1  facebook_logo_small3  twitter_logo_small

  •  Licensed IT professional with over 20 years of experience in the field with heavy focus in medical practice IT needs
  • Oversaw installations of digital cardiac lab systems in numerous high-profile health systems nationally
  • Previous IT Director for one of the Southeast’s largest cardiology groups
  • Founder of Atlanta Medical Consulting Group
  • Volunteer, Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition

Sean Yanes, Director of Sales/Marketing, Advanced Vascular Resources  linkedin_small1  facebook_logo_small3  twitter_logo_small  google-plus-logo-red-265px

  • Extensive experience in management and relationship building within the healthcare device space, particularly within wound and vascular specialties
  • Multiple award winner for individual and team sales under his management
  • Has developed numerous programs for expanding physician practice referral bases
  • Education, Marketing/Business, Spring Hill College

Treating Diabetic Ulcer Patients

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Top Docs

Top Docs Radio features healthcare providers and professionals sharing their expertise to “Get the Word Out” about a variety of health problems, treatments and community concerns to elevate our community’s well-being.

Treating Diabetic Ulcer Patients

According to recent data from the CDC, diabetes affects over 25.8 million people in the US (roughly 8% of the population).  Coupled with data that shows another 79 million persons in the US have pre-diabetes (A1C levels above normal) or 35% of the population.  Obviously, it’s a serious problem.  Diabetes is a major contributor to stroke, heart disease and peripheral vascular disease (PAD).  Roughly 1:6 diabetics will develop a diabetic ulcer on their foot or lower extremity and many of them will ultimately require amputation of part of the foot or leg.  After amputation for an ulcer, studies have shown diabetics’ 5 year mortality rates rise significantly — to as high as 45-60%.  It is critical that these patients receive rapid, aggressive care from a spectrum of specialists who must each address the various factors contributing to the ulcer.

Our guests this week include three such specialists who treat diabetic ulcer patients in their practice every day.  They will give insight about the role they play in saving the diabetic ulcer patient’s limb (and possibly their life).

The host of Top Docs Radio is Charles “CW” Hall with Hyperbaric Physicians of Georgia.

Dr. Shamir Bhikha, DPM

  • Doctorate with Honors, Podiatric Medicine, Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
  • Residency, Inova Fairfax Hospital 2010-13 & Limb Salvage Center at Georgetown University Hospital 2013
  • Skilled in Sports Medicine/Trauma to the foot/ankle, Podopediatrics and Reconstructive foot/ankle surgery
  • Comprehensive training in diabetic limb salvage, plastic surgery and wound care

Dr. Andrew Pugliese, MD

  • Doctorate in Medicine, St. George University School of Medicine
  • Fellowship, Infectious Disease, Winthrop University Hospital
  • Triple Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease
  • Pioneer in non-surgical treatment of acute and chronic sinusitis and president of Sinus Solutions

Dr. Uthan Vivek, MD

  • Doctorate in Medicine, Madras Medical College, India
  • Board Certified in General Surgery and Vascular & Endovascular Surgery
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • Vascular Fellow, Wayne State, Detroit
  • General Surgery, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center, New York
  • Certified in Vascular Sonography, American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Specialist in endovascular procedures for peripheral arterial disease/varicose veins, management of carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, deep vein thrombosis, diabetic foot ulcers and dialysis access
Charles "CW" Hall, Dr. Uthan Vivek, Dr. Andrew Pugliese, Dr. Shamir Bhikha

Charles “CW” Hall, Dr. Uthan Vivek, Dr. Andrew Pugliese, Dr. Shamir Bhikha