Referring Physicians: Rush Peripheral Vascular Disease and Peripheral Artery Disease Care

Rush cardiovascular and interventional specialists have expertise in treating all stages peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), combining both interventional and medicinal treatment. We offer comprehensive care to manage symptoms, keep disease from worsening and reduce future risk of adverse events like heart attacks and strokes.

Our specialists rely on the latest evidence-based treatment options. Their goal is to first focus on assisting patients with medical management and lifestyle changes that delay or prevent progression of disease. Patients have access to programs that can educate them on diet, provide supervised exercise and help with smoking cessation. In many cases, they can avoid complicated surgery or mobility impairment through these noninvasive care options.

For patients whose disease has progressed and requires further treatment, our specialists work across disciplines to find the best and safest options. Each patient is thoroughly evaluated and may be connected to cardiologists, vascular medicine specialists, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and limb preservation specialists who collaborate on further care. They offer minimally invasive procedures whenever possible, including stenting, atherectomy and catheter-based procedures such as intravascular lithotripsy.

And for patients who need surgical treatment, our board-certified vascular surgeons are experts in both complex open and endovascular techniques to treat the entire spectrum of arterial, venous and lymphatic disorders, including bypass surgery to restore blood flow.

Who Are Ideal Candidates for PVD and PAD Treatment at Rush?

Patients at any stage of PVD or PAD with even the most complex cases will find a comprehensive care team at Rush that can address their needs.

We can also provide second opinions to patients looking for confirmation of their diagnosis or for alternative treatments. In many cases, our team can explore less invasive options and help patients at advanced stages of disease avoid amputation or procedures that will limit their quality of life.

Why Refer Patients Here?

A team approach: Our care team combines interventional and medical treatment to explore all options. Each patient’s case is evaluated by specialists from multiple disciplines who collaborate on care.
Among the nation’s best: U.S. News & World Report includes Rush on its Best Hospitals Honor Roll and ranks our programs among the best in the nation for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery.
Limb preservation expertise: Many patients with critical limb ischemia and other limb-threatening conditions are told that their only treatment option is amputation. Our interventional physicians offer alternatives that help patients avoid limitations on mobility whenever possible. They’ve performed thousands of arterial interventions with over 95% success rates in reopening blocked or narrowed arteries.
Vascular Quality Initiative: Rush participates in the Vascular Quality Initiative, which improves safety and effectiveness of vascular care through collection and sharing of data on risks, variables and outcomes.
New research, clinical trials and treatments: Our specialists lead the way in PVD and PAD treatment through research and clinical trials. They can offer patients treatment options that are not available anywhere else. These trials help develop techniques that give patients better outcomes and reduce side effects of many current treatments that are widely used.
Care closer to where patients live: Rush University Medical Center in Chicago provides comprehensive care for PVD and PAD. But many of our services are available at our locations around the Chicago region and in Northwest Indiana, offering patients nationally renowned care closer to home.

What Is the Process for Referring a Patient?

If you’d like to refer a patient to Rush for PVD or PAD care, you can call our Provider Express Line at (312) 947-4725. You can also visit our Referring and Transferring Patients page to find an online provider referral form and learn more about the process.

Once your patient is referred to Rush, they will be seen within a week of contact. Most patients are seen sooner, usually within two business days. Care coordinators assist patients with navigating and scheduling appointments.