Vascular Centers Are Addressing an Unmet Demand

By Cynthia Hayward
Originally printed in the
SpaceMed Newsletter
Spring 2011
www.spacemed.com

BACKGROUND
Historically, hospitals have focused on growing
their cardiology programs and services that
treat atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and other heart conditions. However, it is
becoming increasingly evident that programs to
address systemic vascular disease cerebrovascular, carotid, aortic, and peripheral vascular are needed to address a growing and unmet
need.

About Vascular Disease

Vascular disease affects the
arteries. Common terms
include:
Cerebrovascular affecting
the blood flow to the brain
Carotid arteries in the neck
that lead to the brain

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports

Aortic the largest artery in
that non-coronary vascular stenosis and arterial
the body that extends from the
breakdown is a prevalent disease in the United
heart into the abdomen
States. Up to 12 million people are estimated to
have peripheral arterial disease (PAD) comPeripheral affecting the
pared to the same number (12 to 13 million)
blood flow to limbs
with coronary artery disease (CAD). With the
emphases on CAD as a serious health problem in the U.S., vascular disease is
more often under-diagnosed and as a result is frequently under-treated.
CURRENT TREND
Diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases which include any arterial system
outside the region of the heart has rapidly transitioned to lessinvasive modalities performed by different subspecialists such as vascular surgeons, cardiologists,
radiologists, neurologists, and nephrologists. Sophisticated imaging such as computerized tomography (CT), CT/angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
and MRI/angiography, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans along
with the latest endovascular tools, equipment, and devices provide a tremendous arsenal for treating the debilitating effects of vascular disease. All of these
approaches are less traumatic than older open surgical procedures.
When developing a vascular center, endovascular workload volumes are generally
estimated at three times the number of coronary interventional procedures. If a patient has coronary artery disease, there is an increased probability that there may
be disease and possible serious stenosis in other blood vessels throughout the
body.
VASCULAR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
A vascular center of excellence generally includes an endovascular suite to provide minimally invasive vascular surgery procedures along with specialized and hybrid CT, MR, and angiography. Associated programs may also include cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation, wound care management, and diabetes care. With
the cost of a state-of-art endovascular suite at $2 million or more, prudent
healthcare organizations are designing dual-purpose facilities that can service the
vascular and cardiac populations to optimize limited capital dollars.
Cynthia Hayward, AIA, is founder and principal of Hayward & Associates LLC.

2011.4.2

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