Advanced Vein Care Center First to Be Accredited in Massachusetts

SPRINGFIELD — Advanced Vein Care Center, a Springfield-based treatment center for venous disease, announced confirmation of accreditation in superficial venous treatment and management by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Advanced Vein Care Center is the first and only vein-care practice in Massachusetts to be IAC-accredited. Additionally, the center is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) through the Ultrasound Accreditation Program.

With more than 40 million people in the U.S. suffering from some degree of venous insufficiency, accessibility to high-quality vein care is critical. Varicose veins occur when the valves in the leg veins no longer function, causing blood to pool in the legs. This can lead to leg pain, cramping, or restlessness. In some cases, this condition progresses to a more serious form of venous disease called chronic venous insufficiency.

Whether to relieve symptoms or improve appearance, treating varicose veins can be performed by vein centers that specialize in the evaluation and management of superficial venous disorders.

“There are so many unqualified physicians performing vein procedures in the United States that the insurance companies and regulatory agencies have found it necessary to accredit qualified vein specialists to perform procedures,” said practice founder and Medical Director Dr. K. Francis Lee. “This year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has required that only vein specialists with IAC accreditation may perform vein procedures on their insured customers. It is likely that other insurance companies and professional organizations will do the same.”

Accreditation by the IAC means that Advanced Vein Care Center has voluntarily undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards, through a comprehensive application process including a detailed review of selected patient procedures.

IAC accreditation is renewed every three years, requiring a long-term commitment to quality and self-assessment between evaluations to maintain good standing. In addition to the IAC accreditation, the ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation. Image quality and procedure evaluations are conducted by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. The Advanced Vein Care Center received this accreditation in early 2014.

For more information about Advanced Vein Care Center, call (413) 732-4242 or visit advancedveincarecenter.com.