Scottsdale Surgeon Gives New Meaning to Valentine Hearts
Director of Scottsdale Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeons, Thomas H. Wareing, MD, collaborates to develop reimbursable, preventative screening to detect cardiovascular disease, the "silent killer" that is the leading cause of death in the United States.
(PRWEB) February 13, 2003
The hearts we all see adorning virtually every store are meant to serve as a reminder of ValentineÂ’s Day. To Thomas H. Wareing, M. D., a cardiovascular-thoracic surgeon in Scottsdale, AZ, these heart shaped decorations represent a profession that has been his passion for over 20 years. They also are a sobering reminder to him that, despite all the medical advances, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States.
Wareing stresses the need for preventative screening of cardiovascular disease, frequently referred to as “the silent killer,” and is currently collaborating with other medical professionals at Scottsdale Healthcare to develop such a reimbursable screening program. “All too frequently arterial diseases are only diagnosed as the result of an incidental finding, such as chronic back pain, pain in the legs, skin breakdown, and fatigue,” states Wareing. Preventative screening, he believes, would save lives and, in many cases, eliminate the need for the more aggressive surgical procedures that are commonly required in late-stage diagnosis.
For patients who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, Wareing recommends that they become educated on all the alternatives available to them. Endorsing a conservative approach, Wareing believes that, contrary to popular opinion, surgery is not always the answer.
In cases where surgery is indicated, the doctor states that he still takes a conservative approach and again stresses that it is important for the patient to investigate and educate themselves on all the surgical options available to them. “Once surgery is indicated, a patient’s life changes. It is extremely important that the patients, their families, and the doctor, as a team, make decisions on the type of surgery and the patient’s aftercare”, states Wareing.
Advice from specialists such as Wareing is timely, valuable and, in the near future, may be scarce. While cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the US, the number of board certified cardiovascular-thoracic surgeons continues to decline. According to Wareing, the lengthy training, the restrictions of managed care, the escalating malpractice insurance rates, declining reimbursement, and the number of specialists retiring have all contributed to doctors in this highly specialized field of medicine (CVT surgeons) becoming “a vanishing breed.”
Apparently Scottsdale’s gain is a loss to others in Arizona. Wareing, unlike other such specialists who usually treat patients in multiple office locations, prefers to operate from a single location, devoting to his patients the time it would take to travel between offices. When questioned about the need for his services in surrounding areas, Wareing replies that his “heart is in Scottsdale.”
For more information on Thomas H. Wareing, M. D. contact Linda Farrington at (P) 480.947.7738, (F) 480.947.1712, or visit their Website at www. ScottsdaleCVTSurgeons. com
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