Decatur Vein Clinic is giving away free tickets to the expo. Call 866-Fix-Vein (349-8346) to claim your tickets. Limit 2 tickets per person. Offer good while supplies last.

Free vein screening performed at the expo

Decatur Vein Clinic will also be offering free vein screenings at the WTHR expo. Meet with our board-certified health care providers to discuss your symptoms and learn about your treatment options. Call 866-Fix-Vein (349-8346) to schedule your screening and claim your tickets!

More about the expo

WTHR is launching a Health & Fitness Expo unlike anything Central Indiana has ever seen. The WTHR Health & Fitness Expo is April 27 & 28, 2013 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Exposition Hall. We’re putting this huge event together to encourage Hoosiers to explore, learn and take action to get healthier so they can live longer and more vital lives.

It will be two full days filled with the most health care exhibits under one roof, and will include free health screenings, celebrity appearances, live exercise, dance and cooking demonstrations, even a kids’ zone.

Special guests

You don’t want to miss this event packed with Olympic Athletes, Bill and Giuliana Rancic, Andrew Luck, and more. Aside from the star power, you will be able to take part in free health screenings, speak with health and fitness professionals and even bring your little ones who can enjoy the Ruth Lilly Health Education Kids’ Zone.

This is an unprecedented event! Please take a moment to learn more about it on the WTHR Health and Fitness page of the WTHR website. If you use Twitter, you are encouraged to tell us about your experience at the event by using the hash tag #13HealthExpo.

It is going to be a great event! We will see you at the show!

Call 866-Fix-Vein to claim your tickets and schedule your screening!

Question:

Answer: Ulcers are wounds or open sores that will not heal without treatment. An ulcer may or may not be physically painful but the patient may experience swelling and/or burning and itching in the affected area. There may also be a rash, redness, brown discoloration or dry skin.

– See before and after images of ulcer patients treated at Decatur Vein Clinic.

Venous stasis ulcers are most common in elderly patients who have a history of leg swelling, varicose veins or a history of blood clots. They are generally located below the knee on the inner part of the leg, just above the ankle (read more about venous stasis ulcers).

Unfortunately, this common problem is often neglected, misdiagnosed and managed poorly.

Chronic venous insufficiency causes reverse blood flow in the leg veins. So, the ulcer is actually the end result of venous hypertension and break down of the skin.

Attempting to heal the ulcer before addressing the cause (chronic venous insufficiency) leads to months, if not years of further problems, including infection, pain and bleeding.

The underlying problem can be diagnosed with a physical examination of the legs and a duplex ultrasound examination of the leg. Current treatment options offered at Decatur Vein Clinic are very effective in eliminating the diseased veins and healing the ulcer.

Thanks for writing in, Laura!

…..

From the minute I walked in the front door of Decatur Vein Clinic, I felt welcomed because of the professional manner about the place. Kim, the receptionist, became the “face” of the clinic that I would then be scheduling all my appointments with and should I have any questions about the financial end of things or even questions about the procedure. If she couldn’t answer them, she would direct me to one of the technicians or she got me on the phone with the financial director.

The nurse practitioner and the ultrasound technicians were very thorough about explaining the procedure to me and graciously answered all my questions. I always had a lot!

When I had questions after the procedure from home about this or that, upon making a call to the clinic, I would always get my answers in a prompt fashion too, which I really appreciated.

They proved to be good at directions too. On my first visit to the clinic, I became lost and ended up over by the airport, about 30 minutes away. I called them and they directed me into the clinic one street at a time. I was 30 minutes late, but they worked with me.

Thanks Girls!

Laura Hooley Goshen, Ind.

Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging veins often found on the thighs or calves that can cause significant pain when standing or walking. They can be a symptom of a larger condition called chronic venous insufficiency.

Womenshealth.gov lists the following signs that varicose veins should be seen by a doctor:

• When varicose veins are tender to the touch, warm, swollen and red.
• If a rash or sores appear on the leg in the ankle area.
• If skin color changes or skin thickens around the ankle or calf.
• If a varicose vein bleeds.
• If symptoms affect your ability to do daily tasks.
• If their appearance bothers you.

If you notice any of these signs, talk to your doctor or contact Decatur Vein Clinic and meet with one of our board-certified heath care professionals. Explore DecaturVein.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Now, let’s get a little more specific and answer some common questions/issues that arise during the billing process and explain how Decatur Vein Clinic helps the patient get the most out of their benefits. Also, if you have any other questions or want further clarification, you can speak with someone in our billing office by calling 866-218-4060 during regular business hours Monday-Friday.

The relationship between the DVC billing department and our patients many times begins before the patient schedules their first appointment. That’s because many people choose to contact the billing department or the clinic with insurance questions. We want to help the patient understand how their insurance plan works, what their benefits are and what their financial responsibility may be for treatment of varicose veins.

We will contact the patient’s insurance company and verify their benefits and find out if there’s an exclusion provision for varicose vein treatment on the policy. It is our goal to be sure that our patients understand how their plan works. We explain payment options to the patients as well, including several interest-free options. We want to make it easy for the patient to seek treatment and avoid worrying about repayment of large deductibles and co-insurance. We work with the patient to figure how to work those costs into their budget.

When do billing charges begin?

The medical treatment process begins with a consultation. At this time, the patient can ask the staff to get insurance benefits checked from our billing department, so they will know the financial responsibility before charges begin.

Once the patient decides to take the next step in our medical process, which includes receiving a mapping, the charges will begin. All subsequent treatments provided by the clinic will be billed to the patient’s account.

How do you know what to charge for my appointment?

Patient charges are determined by the information charted by the provider in the clinic via electronic medical records. Our certified professional coder reviews the documentation for each visit and enters the charges accordingly on the patient’s account from the electronic medical record.

What if the claim is denied?

The charges are submitted to the insurance company for processing. We submit claims electronically to most major insurance carriers as well as on paper for other insurance plans. We submit claims to insurance on a daily basis and it takes anywhere from three-to-six weeks for us to receive a response or payment. Sometimes, the insurance will process a claim and determine that they need medical records to review before they can make a determination for payment. The insurance will send us (and the patient) a letter or an EOB (explanation of benefit) that tells us they need the patient’s records for a certain date of service. We then print all of the requested documentation along with ultrasound images from the requested date of service and we will mail and/or fax to the appropriate insurance location for review.

If upon review the insurance company decides to not pay our patient’s claims, we do the necessary research to file a formal appeal with the insurance company. Most often, once we submit our additional documentation to the insurance company, they will reverse their original decision and issue payment.

We do all of this for our patients. We know what information the insurance provider needs. This saves the patient time, energy and countless time on the phone with the insurance company.

What is a contractual write off?

When we accept insurance, we enter into a contract with the insurance company that will stipulate what the payment scale will be for services rendered in our facility. Once the payment is received by the billing office, we not only post the payment but adjust the account for contractual write-offs.

A contractual write off is the difference between what we bill for a procedure and what the insurance company considers to be their “allowed” amount.  The patient’s contract with the insurance company determines what the deductible, copays and coinsurance will be on the policy. Once the account has a patient responsibility balance assessed, the patient receives a statement from us for that balance.

All statements are printed and reviewed in our corporate billing office before being mailed to the patient. Should the patient ever have a question or concern about the amount being billed, the billing office is here to help. It is our goal to completely explain the balance and to offer up options to assist with paying the balance. In the billing office there is no such thing as a “silly question.” The patient is our customer and will always be treated with the utmost respect when contacting us with questions.

How can I pay my bill?

The billing department is always looking for new ways to ease the payment process for our patients. We offer recurring credit card payments, payment over the phone via credit or debit card or you can mail a check or money order to the billing office. We also accept Care Credit. Payments on account are also accepted at the clinics.

So, as you can see, there is far more to the billing office and its function than just sending our statements and waiting for the phone to ring. There are a lot of steps to ensuring that your account balance is accurate and that you are being sent that statement for the correct reason.

We are here to serve you, our customers, and look forward to hearing from you!

Questions? Speak with someone in our billing office by calling 866-218-4060 during regular business hours Monday-Friday.

In a letter Melissa recently sent to us, she describes the impact our treatments had onher legs as “life changing.”

Read Melissa’s letter below…

My experience at Decatur Vein Clinic has been incredible. I have had a problem with varicose veins for most of my life, but the problem became dramatically worse after I became a personal trainer. Not only had my veins become increasingly uncomfortable, but their bulging appearance made me very self conscience in my new line of work and day-to-day activities. Today, my legs are completely pain free. Best of all, all of those ugly veins have disappeared and my toned, muscular legs have been revealed.

This procedure has given me a new-found confidence professionally and personally.

The staff at Decatur Vein Clinic is wonderful. They went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable during my procedure. They also took great care to explain each step in a way that was easy for me to understand. The procedure itself was virtually pain-free, and my recovery didn’t interfere with my busy lifestyle.

This has been a life-changing experience and I wish I had decided to do this treatment sooner.

Call 866-Fix-Vein or fill out a form on our website to schedule an appointment at the Decatur Vein Clinic nearest you. Decatur Vein Clinic accepts most insurance including Medicare.

Her name is Soledad Garza and she’s got a great story. Soledad says her only regret was wasting several years in pain before finding relief for her varicose veins at Decatur Vein Clinic. We love hearing these stories. Soledad’s email is below…

To:  Decatur Vein Clinic
Fr: SoledadGarza
Re:  Vein Pain

After being pregnant 5 straight years with all my children being 1 year apart, by age 22 I was done having children.  My pain began when I was 45 in the groin area which felt like I was wearing extremely tight undergarment.  This pain would come and go.  Then I noticed pain in my calves in which my veins started to protrude and become very large and purple.  This pain felt like constant pressure like a pounding heart beat.  After several years later and numerous appointments with surgeons and family doctors, it was decided my pain could be coming from my veins.  That’s when my doctor referred me to Decatur Vein Clinic.

I wasn’t sure what to expect other than I was looking forward to my first consultation.  After meeting with the clinic staff and discussing my symptoms, I was relieved to have learned all the symptoms I was experiencing was my veins.  Finally, someone understood my pain!  As the phlebologist, Patti Nietch, explained the laser process and treatment, I was getting very excited.

My treatment appointment finally arrived!  Dr. Barajas was extremely kind and knowledgeable.  The laser pain was very minimal.  Immediately, upon standing and performing my initial walk, I was pain free!  What a difference the procedure made!  I again looked forward to my second appointment for the other leg and again had the same results. 

I am extremely grateful to Decatur Vein Clinic and all the wonderful staff for improving my quality of life!  My only regret was not knowing about the treatment sooner. I wasted so many years living in pain!

I wish Decatur Vein Clinic much success and may you continue to improve people’s lives.  I will always be extremely grateful to the talented team.

Q: I am in my 6th month of pregnancy #4 and for the first time I am experiencing an issue with aching varicose veins in one of my legs. My midwife took one look and said: support hose! which made me cringe but now I am so grateful, the stocking is really helping a lot. Now I am not as sore all day long. When I take it off at night I literally watch my veins puff up and turn very purple and start to ache. Ugh.

My question: what if I need to take off the stocking briefly mid-day? Do I put it back on later or call the day a write-off? My midwife was very clear that I should put it on before I get out of bed in the morning, and now I understand why. When I wake up in the morning, my leg is almost normal (!!) looking, but as soon as I stand up it starts to change into the purple mess I described above.

Once a week I go to a (heavenly!) prenatal swim class so I need to take off the stocking for an hour or so. But by the time the swim class and my shower are finished, my veins are purple and swollen again. Does putting the stocking back onto a leg that is already swollen cause damage? Or am I at least getting some more benefit wearing it this way than if I would just leave the stocking off for the rest of the day?

Experiences and suggestions welcome. Thanks!

A (provided by Decatur Vein Clinic nurse practitioner, Melissa Louthain): Yes,  compression hose will help with your leg symptoms and are very important for good circulation.  The extra weight of pregnancy places added pressure on your veins and your hormones also play a part in weakening your veins.

Compression hose temporarily prevent the backward flow of blood while you wear them, but do not fix the problem. When you take your hose off, your veins  become more visible and you develop swelling because of the backward flow of blood.  You can also develop other symptoms, such as aching, heaviness, tiredness, cramping and restlessness.  The compression hose will not damage your leg if it is swollen.  The compression hose will actually help.

Also, it is much easier to apply compression hose before you get out of bed because you have less swelling at night when your legs are elevated. So, when in doubt, always wear the compression hose when you are awake and standing on your feet so that you get the most benefit out of them.  You should even do this once you are done with your swim.

Melissa Louthain, nurse practitioner at Decatur Vein Clinic, says diabetics often have pain, numbness and tingling in their legs.

“When these symptoms develop,  it’s easy for patients to believe their leg discomfort is only from nerve damage from the diabetes. After all, health care providers are also the first to blame leg symptoms on the diabetes because of the natural progression of the disease,” said Louthain.

Although leg numbness and tingling is a common complaint with diabetes, Louthain says she would still encourage the patients to come in for an evaluation of their legs.

“Numbness and tingling may be present alone or with other symptoms such as leg heaviness, aching, pain, swelling and restlessness. Any of these symptoms could be a sign that a person also has varicose vein disease. Varicose veins are diagnosed by ultrasound of the legs and are not always seen by the naked eye,” said Louthain.

Aside from a successful treatment of her legs and a better overall quality of life, Peggy says she had a great overall experience at Decatur Vein Clinic.

“The Noblesville clinic staff treated me really great. They were always on time for my appointments and if I showed up early, they would take me back early. I just couldn’t believe how fast I was in and out of my appointment.

“I am so glad I had it done and I am sorry I didn’t do it sooner!” said Peggy.

That was certainly the case for Rebecca Minnier, a patient at Decatur Vein Clinic.

Rebecca said she was experiencing restlessness as will as cramping and throbbing in her legs, especially at night when she was trying to fall asleep. She says the symptoms made it tough to get to sleep and stay asleep.

“I didn’t realize how much I was missing out on by losing sleep and being tired all the time. So many things go hand in hand with a good night’s sleep. Now, after getting my legs treated at Decatur Vein Clinic, I feel so much better and my legs don’t hurt,” said Rebecca.

Decatur Vein Clinic Nurse Practitioner Melissa Louthain says varicose veins cause a backup of pressure and swelling into the muscles of the legs. This causes irritation of the nerves and muscles, which leads to that feeling of restlessness in the legs.

“Restless legs symptoms begin shortly after lying down or when sitting for an extended period of time. Often times, the symptoms don’t occur during the day because we don’t notice the nerve and muscle irritation when we are active,” said Louthain. “Once the varicose veins are treated,  leg symptoms are greatly improved. We have had great success in treating restless legs with our non-surgical varicose vein treatments.”

For Rebecca, the successful treatment at Decatur Vein Clinic meant she was able to enjoy the perks of a good night’s sleep.

“I am walking on the treadmill, waking up before my alarm and getting a good seven hours sleep. Before (my treatment) I was waking up every two hours. I’ve also lost five pounds!” she said.

Rebecca added that she was so pleased with the results of her treatment, she suggested to her aunt that she give it a try.

To learn more about Decatur Vein Clinic treatments and the symptoms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency, click here or call 866-Fix-Vein today to schedule a free consultation.