The best vein visits are conversations. Bring a short list of questions so you leave knowing what is going on in your legs, what the tests showed and what your choices are. Here are ten that help most people at First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI) and anywhere else.
About your diagnosis
- 1. What is causing my symptoms?
- 2. Is this cosmetic, medical or both?
- 3. Do I have chronic venous insufficiency, and how much?
- 4. Did the ultrasound show any clot or blockage?
FCCI's ultrasound can show valve function, abnormal segments and blockages, so ask your doctor to explain what it found in plain words.
About treatment
- 5. Which treatment do you suggest, and why?
- 6. What happens if I wait?
- 7. What will recovery look like for my job and routine?
FCCI's options include endovascular laser, phlebectomy and sclerotherapy for surface veins, plus IVUS, venography, venoplasty and stents for deep veins. Not everyone needs a procedure.
About cost and logistics
- 8. What will my insurance cover for this?
- 9. Which office will I go to?
- 10. Can my follow-up be a TeleVisit?
FCCI accepts most major insurance and posts a self-pay fee schedule. TeleVisits work through a text link with no app needed.
Bring a helper
A spouse, adult child or friend can take notes while you listen. Two sets of ears catch more. Many seniors at FCCI bring a family member.
If you forget something
Call 904.493.3333 during office hours. FCCI asks that both urgent and non-urgent questions come in between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. For emergencies, call 911.
After the visit
Take five minutes in the car to write down what you heard: what the test showed, what the doctor suggested and what you need to do next. If a procedure is on the table, ask for any written instructions and when your follow-up is. If you change your mind or need more time, that is okay. Good vein care works best when you understand the plan and feel ready for it, not rushed into it.
About the Vein Clinic at FCCI
Here is one answer before you even ask: FCCI has served Northeast Florida since 2002, and its Vein Clinic is staffed by board certified endovascular and vascular physicians. FCCI calls it Jacksonville's only comprehensive vein clinic, with cardiology, sleep, wound care and lung specialists in the same building.
Another answer: your scan is done by registered vascular technologists in a lab accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, and vein treatment is outpatient, which FCCI says keeps costs reasonable.
Getting ready for your visit
- Call 904.493.3333 to book, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fill out the New Patient Registration form (Patient Resources page) and write your questions in the margin
- Bring your ID, insurance card and a list of your medicines
- Wear shorts or loose pants so your legs are easy to check
- Write down when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse
- Need to reschedule? FCCI asks for at least 24 hours' notice
Save your questions and health details for the visit or a phone call. Online forms are not the place for them.
Got your list of questions ready? Call FCCI at 904.493.3333, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or request a time on our Book page. The free 20-minute vein screening at 7011 AC Skinner Parkway, Ste 160 on the Southside is a good chance to ask a few. Sudden leg swelling with chest pain or shortness of breath means call 911.
