Free Screenings at Einstein Elkins Park to Highlight “Legs for Life”
Philadelphia, PA, September 6, 2006 – Each September, during Peripheral Vascular Disease Month, interventional radiologists participate in Legs For Life®, a nationwide screening program sponsored by the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation. Albert Einstein Healthcare Network is participating this year with a free screening program for Peripheral Arterial Disease
(PAD), on September 21, 2006 at Einstein Elkins Park.
Terence Matalon, MD, Chairman of Einstein’s Radiology Department, said the screening involves the use of the ankle brachial
index (ABI) test. This simple, painless test compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to
determine how well the blood is flowing and whether further tests are needed. Residents are invited to register for the free
PAD screening by calling 1-800-EINSTEIN.
Peripheral Arterial Disease is a very common condition affecting 12-20 percent of Americans age 65 and older. PAD develops
most commonly as a result of atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries,” which occurs when cholesterol and scar tissue
build up, forming a substance called plaque inside the arteries that narrows and clogs the arteries. This is a very serious
condition as the clogged arteries cause decreased blood flow to the legs, which can result in pain when walking, and eventually
gangrene and amputation. The most common symptom of PAD is called claudication, which is leg pain that occurs when walking
or exercising and disappears when the person stops the activity.
Other symptoms of PAD include: numbness and tingling in the lower legs and feet, coldness in the lower legs and feet, and
ulcers or sores on the legs or feet that don’t heal.
Interventional radiologists are doctors who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments that have less risk, less
pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. They use their expertise in interpreting X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and
other diagnostic imaging studies to understand, visualize and diagnose the full scope of the disease’s pathology and to map
out the procedure tailored to the individual patient.
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, a member of the Jefferson Health System, provides healthcare services through Albert Einstein
Medical Center, Germantown Community Health Services, Willow Terrace (a nursing home), Einstein at Elkins Park, MossRehab,
Willowcrest (a center for subacute care), Belmont Behavioral Health and a number of outpatient and satellite locations. Einstein
also operates a primary care network, Einstein Neighborhood Healthcare. For more information, visit www.einstein.edu or call
1-800-EINSTEIN.
CONTACT: Stephen Gary
Corporate Communications
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
215-456-6734
garys@einstein.edu
Publish date: September 6, 2006
