Vascular Evaluation

Vascular disease symptoms sometimes don’t occur until advanced stages, when you face a higher risk of complications. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is here for you with thorough evaluations that get to the source of the issue.

Vascular disease can raise your risk of life-threatening complications like stroke and internal bleeding. However, a vascular evaluation with one or more tests (studies) can help you receive timely, effective care. Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, we catch the early signs of disease so you can receive the necessary therapies.

Highlights of our program include:

• Highly skilled team: Our program is home to vascular surgeons, vascular medicine specialists (non surgical doctors), nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. We offer a depth of experience in vascular studies for common and complex diseases. Meet our team.

• National recognition: We hold ourselves to the highest vascular study standards, earning our program recognition from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). Registered technicians consistently conduct high-quality testing, and vascular specialists make accurate interpretations. Learn more about our vascular testing lab.

• Early detection: Screening tests enable us to detect some vascular conditions before you experience symptoms. Catching the early signs of issues like peripheral artery disease and aneurysms means you can receive treatments to slow their progression. Find out more about vascular disease screenings.

• Focused evaluations: Our team members specialize in specific vascular diseases, so you can feel confident you are receiving the best available care. We offer coordinated aortic disease care and a broad range of vein treatment services. Our experience treating a high volume of these issues leads to excellent results, even for severe cases.

Evaluations help you get answers to important questions about your vascular health. If there is an urgent concern, we will see you within a few days. 

Vascular studies and evaluations enable us to:

• Pinpoint the source of symptoms, if you have any
• Decide whether advanced testing is necessary
• Confirm or rule out a vascular disease diagnosis 
• Determine whether treatment or monitoring is necessary
• Personalize medical therapies, which may include drugs or lifestyle changes
• Plan procedures, like whether an open- or minimally invasive surgery is appropriate
• Assess whether treatments are working as expected

Our specialists typically perform vascular evaluations and provide treatment recommendations in one visit. This approach helps you get the most out of your appointment and start therapies quickly. 

We plan for your evaluation well before your arrival. A nurse navigator or referral coordinator reviews your information and may contact you to organize vascular studies before your appointment. They also ensure you see a team member with expertise in the condition of concern.

On appointment day, we: 

• Confirm the reason for your visit and ask if you have questions
• Review your history, including symptoms (if you have any) and risk factors
• Conduct a physical exam
• Perform in-office testing, which may involve checking blood flow and asking you to do simple tasks, like sitting or standing
• Share findings and next steps

Schedule an appointment in the Puget Sound area with one of our vascular disease specialist.