Legs for Life

In the fall of 1999 and 2000, the Dotter Interventional Institute, in collaboration with the Division of Vascular Surgery at OHSU, participated in the "Legs for Life" Screening Program for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), sponsored by SCVIR. Legs for Life is a national screening program dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health of the community. Screening identifies people with a predisposition for heart attack or stroke, and leads to early detection and increased success of treatment. By promoting screenings through the media, and in publications, flyers and posters, the general public becomes more aware of the signs, symptoms and danger of PVD, and the role of the interventional radiologist in diagnosis and treatment.

Nationally, there were more than 75,000 people screened in the week-long national launch of the program, while thousands of interested consumers filled waiting lists for future screenings. OHSU’s one-day program, the largest in Oregon, screened 349 patients with 25 (seven percent) identified as being at high risk and another 52s (15 percent) at medium risk for PVD. Two interventional radiologists, four vascular surgeons, four registered vascular lab technologists, three administrative support personnel and nine volunteers staffed OHSU’s screening program. The unparalleled success of the screening program was largely due to the professional collaboration between the staff of the Dotter Interventional Institute and the Vascular Surgery Division, working together as a team.

SCVIR is working to plan the future of Legs for Life, creating a three- to five-year plan that will guarantee its continuation. The Dotter Interventional Institute and Division of Vascular Surgery will continue working together to educate health care providers, and improve public awareness regarding PVD through continued involvement in the Legs for Life Screening Program and other educational outreach activities.

For more information, contact Kelly Bacon by e-mail at baconk@ohsu.edu or by phone at (503) 494-7660