23, 6, 2020

Watch A Video About Our Safety Precautions During COVID

2020-09-17T19:49:44-07:00

Dr. Nisha Bunke, M.D., of La Jolla Vein Care discusses safety precautions the vein clinic has taken to ensure safety during COVID-19. At La Jolla Vein Care, our number one priority is the safety of our patients and staff. We have implemented new ways of doing things and utilization of new technology from telemedicine, in-home ultrasound diagnostics, wait in your car check in, virtual waiting room, no lobby wait, paperless forms, touchless check in, using a drape between the physician and patient so the patient can remove their mask during an in-office procedure, COVID screening prior to every appointment, virtual receptionist that does face mask recognition and infrared thermal checker.

Watch A Video About Our Safety Precautions During COVID2020-09-17T19:49:44-07:00

Park and Wait Check-In For Your Next Appointment

2020-09-17T21:35:44-07:00

As part of our Vein Care Reimagined initiative, we offer Park and Wait Check In or Curbside arrival for your next appointment. This allows you to remain in your vehicle while you wait for a scheduled appointment while the staff prepares an exam room for your visit. Between each visit, exam rooms are cleaned thoroughly following stringent hygiene procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

How this works:

When you arrive to Scripps Ximed and safely park, text us that you have arrived.

We will then prepare your room, and will text you it is ready, and to come up.

You will immediately be brought back to the room that has been prepared for you. This eliminates lobby wait times. Make sure to bring your mask with you as you will not be permitted inside the building without a mask. Prior to your appointment, our staff will ask COVID screening questions to make your visit as safe as possible.

Park and Wait Check-In For Your Next Appointment2020-09-17T21:35:44-07:00

LA JOLLA VEIN CARE EMBRACES TELEMEDICINE AND INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY MOBILE ULTRASOUND SERVICES AMID COVID-19 CRISIS

2020-09-18T01:57:11-07:00

Telemedicine and Mobile Ultrasound Services Made Available throughout Southern California in an Aim to Ensure Important Health Concerns Don’t Go Untreated While Many Continue to Shelter in Place

 LA JOLLA, CALIF. (June 9, 2020) La Jolla Vein Care (LJVC), a leader in vein treatment serving the Southern California community for more than a decade, is actively working to enhance its traditional service offerings to assist new and existing clients amid the unprecedented times brought forth by COVID-19. In a world of social distancing and self-quarantine, many individuals are postponing medical care in a bid to reduce virus exposure levels – a move many healthcare experts anticipate may lead to worsening symptoms and potentially dangerous complications down the line. To offset the concern that underlying vein diseases will go unchecked to the detriment of patient well-being while also addressing the public desire to avoid unnecessary outings; La Jolla Vein Care has deepened its commitment to best-in-class telemedicine offerings and has recently launched a new mobile ultrasound service.

“House calls are something many people see as a thing of the past, but with the inactivity of self-quarantine potentially exacerbating underlying vein diseases combined with an overall reluctance to venture out to visit a doctor, we knew something needed to be done,” said Dr. Nisha Bunke, MD, FACPh, RPhS, venous disease specialist and vein clinic medical director at La Jolla Vein Care. “We’re proud to roll out these new service offerings to meet patient needs and adapt to changing preferences during this difficult time.”

While varicose veins may be unsightly, they are not simply surface-level ailments and an ultrasound exam is required to diagnose the underlying venous diseases that cause these issues.

When left unchecked, the conditions can lead to chronic ailments like venous ulcers, but many people suffer from acute complications such as thrombophlebitis (blood clots within the veins), spontaneous vein hemorrhage, and disabling leg pain– so appropriate treatment should not be delayed, if at all avoidable.

As the first company of its kind to offer direct care to patients in their homes, La Jolla Vein Care has adopted the use of both telemedicine and state-of-the-art mobile ultrasound services via Terason uSmart 3300 NextGen technology. While telemedicine was quickly made available for consultations, pre-procedure assessments and post-procedure follow up appointments, the treatment center is advancing its accessibility initiative through new in-home mobile ultrasound diagnostics conducted by certified technicians – ushering in a new era of vein care.

Patient safety is at the forefront of LJVC’s new mobile service offerings – from the utilization of hospital-grade cloud storage systems, to cutting-edge technology that allows doctors to view results safely from a distance and adherence to all CDC guidelines including temperature checks and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Most assessments will begin with a telemedicine “visit,” followed by a mobile ultrasound screening in the patient’s home, spanning a wide radius of service area ranging from Chula Vista to San Juan Capistrano. If an in-office procedure is deemed necessary, temperature checks, ample PPE, and multiple hand-washing and sanitizing stations are available before coming into the building—and even then, only one patient will be allowed in the office at a time. Patients can conveniently wait in their cars until they are notified by text that their examination room is available.

Telemedicine and tele-radiology services are currently available to patients without additional convenience fees. LJVC accepts most PPO insurance types and considers itself now ready for the new normal of non-emergency medicine.

To book a telemedicine consultation with La Jolla Vein Care, visit https://ljvascular.com/or call (858) 550-0330.

 

LA JOLLA VEIN CARE EMBRACES TELEMEDICINE AND INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY MOBILE ULTRASOUND SERVICES AMID COVID-19 CRISIS2020-09-18T01:57:11-07:00

27, 5, 2020

Vein Treatment During COVID-19

2020-09-18T18:57:42-07:00

The International Union of Phlebology (UIP) Published a Consensus Document in the Journal of Vascular Surgery regarding the treatment of patients with vein disorders during COVID: Triage of Patients with Venous and Lymphatic Diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic- the Venous and Lymphatic Triage and Acuity Scale (VELTAS). 

We are pleased to report that our own practice guidelines are entirely consistent with the recent UIP recommendations; and we are excelling at allowing urgent as well as semi-urgent (patients who are highly symptomatic) to be seen typically within one week.

The purpose of the triage scale developed by International Union of Phlebology (UIP) is to ensure that patients with venous and lymphatic disorders receive care in a timely fashion without compromising healthcare resources needed for the pandemic and without imposing undue risks to patients and health care providers.

Triage urgency was categorised into four groups and individual conditions were allocated to each class of triage. These included 1) Medical Emergencies (requiring immediate attendance), example massive pulmonary embolism; 2) Urgent (to be seen as soon as possible), example deep vein thrombosis ; 3) Semi-urgent (to be attended to within 30-90 days), example highly symptomatic CVD, and 4) Discretionary/Non-urgent- (to be seen within 6-12 months).

La Jolla Vein Care’s statement is as follows:

‘While we continue to encourage virtual visits and at-home mobile ultrasound diagnostics, our office has re-opened for medical necessity treatments and for those who require in-office visits. Medical necessity conditions include complications from venous reflux disease and varicose veins such as thrombophlebitis (blood clots), vein hemorrhages, venous leg ulcerations (open leg wounds), and symptoms that interfere with one’s ability to work or maintain daily activities such as leg pain, heaviness, throbbing, swelling and night symptoms that interfere with rest such as restlessness and night cramps.’ Cosmetic spider vein treatments are postponed until a future date.

This means that patients who suffer from symptoms of varicose veins and CVI, and those with complications do not have to put off their vein care. We continue to be committed on a daily basis to helping our patients. If you have a vein condition you would like to have addressed, please call us at 858-550-0330.

 

Vein Treatment During COVID-192020-09-18T18:57:42-07:00

Memorial Day Observation

2020-09-18T18:59:22-07:00

In observance of Memorial Day, our office is closed. We would like to honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. Most of us at La Jolla Vein Care have a direct military connection, and we continue to honor veterans and current military. We have chosen to be a vein care provider for veterans, military retirees, and active military and their spouses with VA CHAMPS, and Tricare.

Both Dr. Bunke and Dr. Lucas have cared for veterans at the VA HealthCare San Diego and VA Memphis correspondingly.

Memorial Day Observation2020-09-18T18:59:22-07:00

20, 4, 2020

Health Risks of Working-From-Home

2020-08-19T00:48:02-07:00

Prolonged desk work can increase the risk of blood clots in leg veins.

As many Americans are working from home, we have received many calls from patients regarding thrombophlebitis. This is not a new scenario for us, over the years frequently patients come in for assessment of leg pain after working on their computers for 12 hours straight.

ThromboPhlebitis refers to blood clots in the leg veins and inflammation of the surrounding vein. The inflammation causes leg pain and redness of the surrounding skin. You may also feel hard lumps in the leg veins.

Inactivity, sitting for long periods of time, like sitting at your desk, working on your computer for many hours without walking or getting up for a light walk or exercise, affects the blood flow in the leg veins. Your calf muscle pump, which is used when walking and moving about helps to move blood back to your heart. Sitting for too long of periods, increases the risk of your blood pooling in the leg veins and can even form blood clots. Blood clots that form in the deep veins are serious as they can travel to the heart and lungs (deep venous thrombosis). Blood clots that form in the surface veins, are called superficial thrombophlebitis (STP).  With STP, you can typically feel lumps that can be painful. People who have varicose veins, have an increased risk of developing STP especially with inactivity.

Tips to Avoid Phlebitis When Working From Home:

  1. Avoid sitting at your desk or computer for longer than 45 minutes without taking a break to get up and walk about.
  2. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day or other exercise
  3. When sitting, do calf raises to pump the calf veins.
  4. If you have varicose veins, you should wear compression stockings during the day time.
Health Risks of Working-From-Home2020-08-19T00:48:02-07:00

Eating for Healthier Veins

2020-08-19T00:45:26-07:00

Foods that are rich in flavinoids may improve symptoms of venous disease. Flavonoids help protect plants from environmental toxins and help repair damage. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. When we eat foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research shows that flavinoids have other potential influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.Flavinoids are also well known for their ‘venoactive’ effects on the blood vessels and have been proven to reduce symptoms of venous disease such as leg aching, heaviness and swelling.

Foods that are flavinoid rich include cocoa and chocolate, bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, apples, peanuts, onions, garlic, tea and red wine.

Remind the cook to use compression socks- long hours of standing in the kitchen can cause leg fatigue, heaviness and swelling.

Eating for Healthier Veins2020-08-19T00:45:26-07:00

Wendy Williams Show Kathy Bates Bring Light to Lymphedema

2021-11-15T11:03:12-08:00

Both Wendy Williams and Kathy Bates Suffer from Lymphedema.

This week’s Wendy Williams Show host, Wendy Williams discussed her struggles with lymphedema with guest, Kathy Bates who also has lymphedema. They both agreed that lymphedema is not given enough attention in medical education and in the medical community. We agree. Our medical speciality and society The American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) specializes in both vein and lymphatic disorders.

Lymphedema refers to swelling that generally occurs in one of your arms or legs. Sometimes both arms or both legs swell.  Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment. It results from a blockage in your lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup leads to swelling. In our field, we also see phlebolymphedema, which is lymphedema secondary to chronic venous insufficiency. Venous hypertension can overload the lymphatic transport system, slowing fluid removal and causing subsequent lymphatic edema, in addition to venous edema. The result is swelling in the legs that is greater than venous edema.

n 2016, Kathy Bates was a speaker at our annual congress.   The American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) hosted what has become the largest and most comprehensive meeting dedicated to venous and lymphatic disorders in the U.S. Bates outspokenly discussed surviving and managing lymphedema after she had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.

Lymphedema is not cured but can be managed. In our clinic, we may refer to one of our trusted lymphedema therapists for manual lymphatic drainage and prescribe compression therapy. We also offer lymphatic pump therapy in the office. It is also important to evaluate the deep and superficial venous system prior to initiating therapy.

 

Wendy Williams Show Kathy Bates Bring Light to Lymphedema2021-11-15T11:03:12-08:00

27, 12, 2018

Dr. Nisha Bunke Receives Business Journal Award

2020-12-19T04:05:48-08:00

La Jolla Vein Care’s Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Nisha Bunke was honored along with 24 other women, to receive the San Diego Business Journal’s, Business Women of the Year Awards 2018. Read more at the SDBJ website.

image of finalists for San Diego Business Journal Women of the Year

image of finalists for 2018 San Diego Business Journal Women of the Year

Dr. Nisha Bunke Receives Business Journal Award2020-12-19T04:05:48-08:00
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