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
First Coast Cardiovascular Institute has cared for Northeast Florida since 2002. FCCI calls its Vein Clinic Jacksonville's only comprehensive vein clinic, and the only one in Northeast Florida to house a team of board certified endovascular and vascular physicians. Cardiovascular, sleep medicine, wound care and pulmonary specialists work under the same roof, so if your legs are fine but something else is going on, you are not starting over somewhere new.
FCCI's vascular testing is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, and registered vascular technologists perform the scans. Vein services happen in an outpatient setting, which FCCI says keeps costs low and visits convenient.
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 from FCCI's Patient Resources page
- 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
Please do not send health details through any online form. Share them with your care team at the visit or by phone.
Ready to get your legs looked at? Call First Coast Cardiovascular Institute at 904.493.3333, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or send an appointment request from our Book page. Ask about the free 20-minute vein screening at the Southside office, 7011 AC Skinner Parkway, Ste 160. If you ever have sudden leg swelling with chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.
