A vascular doctor treats blood vessels, the arteries and veins that carry blood around your body. An endovascular doctor treats those vessels from the inside, using thin tubes and imaging instead of large cuts. At First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI), board certified endovascular and vascular physicians lead the Vein Clinic.
Heart doctor, vessel doctor, or both
Cardiology started with the heart, but the field has grown. FCCI explains that cardiovascular medicine has created sub-specialties to keep pace with new advances. Its own list includes cardiovascular medicine, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, endovascular medicine, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography and non-invasive vascular medicine.
FCCI describes endovascular medicine simply: its endovascular specialists focus on the treatment of diseased blood vessels. Non-invasive vascular medicine covers testing that can find problems affecting blood flow in arteries and veins.
What the letters after the names mean
Doctor titles can look like alphabet soup. A few you will see at FCCI:
- FACC: Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
- FSCAI: Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
- FABVM: Fellow of the American Board of Vascular Medicine
- FSVM: Fellow of the Society for Vascular Medicine
- RVT: Registered Vascular Technologist, the credential for vascular ultrasound pros
FCCI's President, Dr. Yazan Khatib, holds FACC, FSCAI, FABVM and FSVM. Dr. Rabih Tabet trained in Vascular Medicine and Interventions at Yale New Haven Hospital and is certified in vascular interpretation.
Why that matters for veins
Vein problems are blood vessel problems. Deep vein trouble can involve clots or narrowed veins in the legs, pelvis or belly. FCCI treats deep veins with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), venography, venoplasty and stents. Those are endovascular tools. FCCI also says it is the only freestanding catheterization laboratory to focus on the treatment and management of clotted veins.
The lab behind the doctor
Your vascular doctor leans on ultrasound. FCCI's Non-Invasive Vascular Lab says it is the only one in Jacksonville solely dedicated to vascular testing, and its vascular testing is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. Registered vascular technologists run the scans, under technical director Dr. Jason Roberts, RVT.
Picking the right door
If your main worry is chest pain, start with a cardiologist. If it is your legs, a vascular or endovascular doctor is often the better first stop. At FCCI they work in the same building, so you do not have to guess perfectly.
About the Vein Clinic at FCCI
Now that you know what a vascular doctor does, here is where to find a whole team of them. FCCI has served Northeast Florida since 2002, and its Vein Clinic houses board certified endovascular and vascular physicians. Because cardiology, sleep medicine, wound care and pulmonary care share the building, a vascular question that turns into a heart question does not mean a new referral.
The vascular lab behind those doctors is IAC accredited and run by registered vascular technologists. Most vein procedures are done outpatient, which FCCI says helps keep costs down.
Getting ready for your visit
- Call 904.493.3333 to book, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Pick up the New Patient Registration form on the Patient Resources page before you meet your vascular doctor
- 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
Questions about your circulation are best asked in person or over the phone, not typed into a website form.
Want a vascular doctor to take a look? Call FCCI at 904.493.3333, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or book online through our Book page. You can also ask for the free 20-minute vein screening on the Southside at 7011 AC Skinner Parkway, Ste 160. If leg swelling ever comes with chest pain or breathlessness, skip the phone call and dial 911.
