New Online Course Helps Educate Health Care Providers on Testing for P.A.D.

BEVERLY, Mass., Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN) is pleased to announce the launch of a new online learning course, "The Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)," for health care providers. The course will help providers learn about detecting Peripheral Artery Disease, or P.A.D., a condition which affects over 10 million Americans and 800,000 Canadians.

P.A.D. is a common, but dangerous and under-diagnosed vascular disease; if left untreated, P.A.D. can lead to heart attack, stroke, amputation and death. Unfortunately, many people with P.A.D. do not even know they have it. The new online learning course is the first module in preparation for P.A.D. Awareness Month in September. The course will teach health care providers about the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test, a simple and reliable means for diagnosing P.A.D.

"P.A.D. can be effectively treated by a healthier lifestyle, daily exercise and medications to decrease leg pain and reduce the chance for heart attack and stroke," said Cindi Christensen, President of SVN, "The ABI test is simple and can help diagnose P.A.D. The more providers who know how to give the exam, the more lives we can save. Proper lifestyle changes and treatment can greatly improve the quality of life for many. SVN is proud to launch this new learning course for providers."

P.A.D. occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. This can result in leg muscle pain when walking, disability, amputation and poor quality of life. Blocked arteries found in people with P.A.D. can be a red flag that other arteries, including those in the heart and brain, may also be blocked – increasing the risk of potentially fatal cardiovascular events.

"Creating an interactive platform for online learning will allow health care professionals the flexibility to access the course information at any time, and will be an avenue to promote awareness, detection and treatment of P.A.D.," stated Marge Lovell, past Chair of the P.A.D. Coalition and President Elect of SVN.

This course can be accessed from home or office and completed in an interactive, multi-media online learning environment by visiting www.SVNnet.org. The course is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant provided by BioMedix™.

About the Society for Vascular Nursing
Founded in 1982, the Society for Vascular Nursing is a not-for-profit International association dedicated to promoting excellence in the compassionate and comprehensive management of persons with vascular disease. The Society's mission is to provide a professional community for vascular nurses focused on advancing the care of persons living with vascular disease through excellence in clinical practice, education and research.

About BioMedix™
BioMedix™ is a leader in Health Information Technology (HIT) software, products and services that connect Podiatric Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, vascular labs, vascular specialists and health care systems in a continuum of collaborative care. We provide the only integrated suite of hardware, software and online services designed to cost-effectively detect vascular disease. Our award-winning suite of medical devices, advanced practice management and Electronic Health Record (EHR) software and cloud-based solutions give providers a more complete view of patient care. For more information about BioMedix™ products, call 877-854-0014 or log on to www.BioMedix.com.

About the P.A.D. Coalition
The Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) Coalition is an alliance of more than 80 North American health organizations, professional societies, government agencies and corporations united to improve the health and care of patients with P.A.D. Established in 2004, the P.A.D. Coalition is a division of the Vascular Disease Foundation (www.vdf.org), a national, not-for-profit section 501(c)(3) organization. The P.A.D. Coalition seeks to improve the prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation of people with, or at risk for, P.A.D.

SVN and BioMedix™ are proud members of the P.A.D. Coalition.

SOURCE Vascular Disease Foundation