Everything you need to know about Legs For Life^®

Why was the Legs For Life program developed?

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) affects an estimated 8 to 10 million people in the US. Individuals with PAD are at greater risk for heart attack, stroke, and loss of limbs, yet awareness among the general public and primary care physicians regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this disease is extremely low.

Recognizing this problem, the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) developed Legs For Life®, a public education/community wellness program that screens people who may be at risk for PAD and helps them take the next step in resolving the pain they are experiencing. The PAD screenings at participating Legs For Life sites are offered at no charge as a community service. The program's mission is to improve the cardiovascular health of people in our communities.

The primary goals of the Legs For Life program are to educate the public, to educate primary care physicians and the medical community, to identify patients at risk, and to strengthen collaborative relationships among health care professionals who treat this condition.

Legs For Life was founded by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) in 1997, piloted in 1998, and launched nationally in 1999. Collaborating organizations include the American Diabetes Association, American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA), the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention of the American Heart Association, and the Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN).

What happens during a Legs For Life screening?

During this national screening week, a team of health professionals and volunteers will hold one- or two-day patient screenings that are free to the public.  Using a questionnaire and Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test results obtained at the screening, members and their colleagues counsel patients on PAD prevention and their risk for PAD.  Using a questionnaire or ultrasound many sites also screen for AAA and/or provide education about the disease. Patients screened are referred on to their primary care physicians for additional diagnosis and treatment.  At minimum, a doctor and nurse should be on site to float between patients.

When are screenings held?

Screenings can be held at any time, but SIR has declared September as Legs For Life – National Screening Month for PAD Leg Pain. September is when the large majority of our sites participate in Legs for Life, in part because of national advertisements for PAD that attract patient interest.

When should I register?

Legs for Life screenings may be held throughout the year, so you may register at anytime.

What is included in my Legs For Life Kit?

You can select one or all of the modules listed on the Legs For Life registration form at no additional cost.  Supplemental materials such as additional forms and waiting room dvds can be ordered for an additional charge.   Depending on which module you select on the Legs For Life registration form, the following items are included in each kit:  

Item

Basic Starter Kit: 150 (25 sheets) LFL ABI Stickers; 150 Form P1: PAD Registration Form & Questionnaire in triplicate (2 pages); 150 P2 Forms: PAD PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate; 25 Posters; and Patient Information Brochures: 150 PAD brochures, 150 AAA brochures, 50 Varicose Vein brochures, & 50 What is an Interventional Radiologist brochures

AAA Screening SURVEY: 150 A2 Forms: AAA Registration Form Survey Only in triplicate and 150 A1 Forms: PAD/AAA PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate

AAA Screening ULTRASOUND: 150 A3 Forms: AAA Registration w/ Ultrasound in triplicate and 150 A1 Forms: PAD/AAA PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate

Venous Screening SURVEY: 150 V1 Forms: Venous Registration & Questionnaire (2 pages) in triplicate and 150 V2 Forms: Venous PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate

Venous Screening ULTRASOUND: 150 V1 Forms: Venous Registration & Questionnaire (2 pages) in triplicate, 150 V2 Forms: Venous PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate, and 150 V3 Forms: Ultrasound Screening Form in triplicate

Stroke Screening PHYSICAL EXAM: 150 S1 Forms: Stroke Registration & Questionnaire (2 pages) in triplicate, 150 S2 Forms: Stroke Risk Screening with Physical Exam (2 pages) in triplicate, and 150 S3 Forms: Stroke Risk PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate

Stroke Screening ULTRASOUND: 150 S1 Forms: Stroke Registration & Questionnaire (2 pages) in triplicate, 150 S3 Forms: Stroke Risk PCP Recommendation Letters in triplicate, and 150 S4 Forms: Stroke Risk Screening with Ultrasound in triplicate

 

How much does it cost to become a registered site?

Registration costs $500. You may pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or check.

Checks should be made out to: SIR Foundation

Mail checks to:
SIR Order Direct
PO Box 342
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

Can I get a receipt for my payment?

Once your payment has been processed, a receipt will automatically be sent to the primary contact's email.  

What do I do once I register?

Once you register and payment has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email that will direct you to the Legs For Life administration page and provide you with the required user name and password.  

The Legs For Life administration page includes:

• Directions on how to list your site's screening date, time, and location information
  
• Legs For Life Step-By-Step Guide (A complete guide on how to advertise for and run your Legs For Life screening!)
  
• Customizable sample program materials and forms (i.e. fact sheets, sample letter to Primary Care, Referring Physicians, & Practice Office Managers) -Sample promotional materials (i.e. newsletter, media news/press release) -Legs For Life high resolution logo (EPS format)  

What are PAD, AAA, Venous Disease and Stroke?  

PAD: Information , Self-test
AAA: Information , Self-test
Venous Disease: Information , Self-test
Stroke: Information , Self-test  

I'm a patient, how do I find a Legs For Life screening?

Where can I find a screening near me?

The majority of Legs For Life^® screenings take place every year in September during PAD awareness month, but screenings may be offered at any point during the year. Check the database for sites that have volunteered to do the screening. Each year new volunteers appear. Please follow the instructions below if you can’t find a site near you.

What happens if they are full or I cannot find a screening near me?

Go to the SIR Doctor Finder . Put in ONLY your STATE and AREA OF EXPERTISE (PAD) and hit SEARCH. Scroll down and you should find a list of Interventional Radiologists in your area. Give Interventional Radiology specialists near you a call and ask if they will be doing a Legs For Life^® screening in the near future. If they aren’t ask them how you can get tested for PAD. You should have an ABI (Ankle Brachial Index test) to see if you have PAD. You can also go to your primary physician and ask him to do an ABI test.