Vein Magazine, a professional journal geared to venous disease and educating specialists, released an article, ?The Big Question: Four Perspectives on the Question of Whether Phlebology Should Include a Multidisciplinary Approach? in Issue 4; Vol. 5, 2012 released on 11/16/2012. The article queried four professionals in their field and broached the age-old question, ?who should perform varicose vein surgery?, or the practice known as phlebology. This controversy has erupted countless times within the field itself and has overtaken meetings and continues to create divisions amongst the subspecialty?s most respected doctors, including surgeons and those physicians not trained as surgeons but certified and licensed as phlebologists.
A well-known and respected patient advocate and former editor for WebMD, Michael Richman M.D., F.A.C.S., President and CEO of The Elite Laser Vein Centers of Los Angeles, a diplomate in The American Board of Surgery, and also a diplomate in the American Board Thoracic Surgery was asked to contribute to this dialogue. Dr. Richman?s responded, ?The notion that training in any specialty can lead to a physician becoming a board certified phlebologist is extremely distressing and dangerous in light of the fact that most of the ACGME -recognized specialties are medical and not surgical, and these medical specialties provide no mechanism in which to operate and train in phlebology. I think it is naive and irresponsible to believe that phlebology can be performed by any doctor who can provide the correct documentation and pass a written test. The harsh reality is that board certification in phlebology is not real and should not convey to the public this means the physician has had proper training.?
?With the constitutionality of The Affordable Health Care Act being upheld by the US Supreme Court, I speak as one of the few physicians who have had formal training in one of the surgical specialties treating venous diseases. We as a group should stand up and confront the unpleasant reality of who could and should care for patients with venous disease. ..?
Dr. Richman reminds patients and consumers that ?my intent is not to inflame physicians. My intent is to outline to patients that practitioners who call themselves board certified phlebologists, who have not had adequate training in a specialty that is surgical or invasive in nature, and cannot manage independently any problem that may arise during the patient?s care. These practitioners, for the most part, do not hold hospital privileges.?
To read the article in its entirety, please visit this link: http://ow.ly/fHuIU
Dr. Richman is a frequent guest on the Dennis Prager Show. You can listen live on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 9:00AM PST online at http://www.dennisprager.com.
Dr. Richman is the CEO/Medical Director of the Elite Laser Vein Centers of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills http://www.elitevein.com.
See more
Pressking
