This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

It seemed time to start an appointment thread about American Access Care. This is the 31 clinic group that Dr. Sclafani has joined.

I have an appointment for the end of January at the Brooklyn AAC with Dr. Sclafani. Anyone else?

8 December at Chicago.

Dia linn!

Donnchadh

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here's the Chicago AAC doctor, Dr. Makris: http://www.americanaccesscare.com/ourdo ... akris.html

It's always good when they're described as thought leaders.

Not to intrude, but since I started working mid-October as American Access Care's CCSVI Service Line Manager, responsible for the administrative end of making quality CCSVI treatment available nationwide, I thought it might be appropriate to pop in here, say "Hi" and invite any questions or comments you might have by either PM or otherwise...

Hi, Holly,

It's nice to have your input!

Which cities are involved in the roll out of CCSVI care? Can you also list the dates that they will be available to treat patients? Can we start scheduling appointments for testing and/or venograms now?

Do we still go through you to schedule an appointment or is that done with the individual facilities? Maybe also give us a contact phone number for each site, or are you still the main contact (and our favorite scheduler)?

Also, do we need to coordinate follow up care? Is the follow up done with a GP or a neurologist?

[Insert happy dance here!]

It's nice to have your warm welcome!

I'll get back to you Monday with the latest update on roll-out, but anyone interested can get the ball rolling if they would like by emailing me at CCSVI@aac-llc.com to get registered with AAC nationwide. Since I'm currently inundated with email because I emailed the universe (well...maybe just the solar system) promoting the generation of a new, up-to-date waiting list specifically for Dr. Sclafani, for now please just put "SEND AAC NATIONWIDE FORM" in the subject line of the email with nothing in the body of the email. I'll send you back the same form I've been sending out for Dr. Sclafani, only instead of filling in Sclafani/Brooklyn for you I'll leave it blank for you to fill in per the instructions about availability in other locations that I'll include. (Of course, you can still fill in Sclafani/Brooklyn if that's what you would like! And if you've already sent me back the new form I started sending out a week ago for Dr. Sclafani you don't need to fill out another, even if you would like to explore going to another AAC clinic.)

If interested in an AAC location other than Brooklyn, I will be overseeing the administrative end nationally and perhaps assisting by sending you a link or paper version of our online survey to complete before and again at regular intervals after treatment. But the local AAC center will handle your actual scheduling there. (They're lovely people, and very prompt.) Other than following up with the AAC physician who treats you, the follow-up in place at this point consists of follow-up ultrasounds and your completing our online survey at regular intervals so we can monitor your progress.

After all the frustrating months working for Dr. Sclafani when he was shut down, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to find myself in this position and how grateful I am to American Access Care for approaching me with an offer for this particular job!!!

Holly, it's good to see you on TIMS again! You've certainly streamlined the process---wow. I don't really have a question (I got a message from you yesterday that was clear) but just wanted to welcome you back.

Patrice

Those months were pretty frustrating, weren't they! (IRBs, shmIRBs.)

2-3000 people will be getting treated for CCSVI by AAC in the next year and you're to coordinate so much of this? I can't even imagine. I think they were fortunate to get you (as are we all). The amazing Holly....

I am wondering about the doppler ultrasound and if that is scheduled the day before the appointment? (This would be for Brooklyn.) Is there another one the day after?

Holly, congratulations on your new position and welcome.

A magnificent match. A wonderful worker. A fantastic fit. An empathic employee. A perfect pairing. An omniscient offer. A CCSVI career. An excellent endeavor. A great gal. A terrific team. A lovely lady. A jammin' job. A happy hiring!

~HP

I found an answer to my doppler question, a TIMSer sent me a link to a blog:
http://soobiz-live-love-laugh.blogspot. ... chive.html

Sorry it took me an extra day to get back to you but I was getting clarification from the top...

AAC’s initial roll-out will include the following locations with AAC’s experienced Board Certified Interventional Radiologists:

California (SanDiego) Dr. Zachary Rattner
Connecticut (Fairfield) Dr. Melvin Rosenblatt
Georgia (Atlanta) Dr. Kevin Sullivan
Illinois (Oak Brook) Dr. Angelo Makris
Maryland (Towson) Dr. Craig Suchin
New Jersey (Union) Dr. Eric DeLaura
New York (Brooklyn) Dr. Salvatore Sclafani
North Carolina (Cary) Dr. Stephen Loehr
Pennsylvania (South Philadelphia) Dr. Lou Domenico
Virginia (Richmond) Dr. Jamie Urso

For the time being registering with me at CCSVI@aac-llc.com so I can refer you to the requested AAC clinic is better than calling the clinics directly.

Shucks and thanks, Patrice! Especially for your compliment on my efforts at streamlining. I feel very hard-hearted at times, and would really love to take more time with each individual email but just putting "SEND AAC NATIONWIDE FORM" in the subject line of the email with nothing in the body of the email seems like the only way I can be fairest to the greatest number of people right now and get caught up on my email.

Thanks, Cece...and loved your "shmIRBs"! Know you since found the answer but FYI for all here's the current Brooklyn scheduling paradigm starting in January:

Ultrasounds:
Thursdays, Fridays & some Mondays & Saturdays

Treatments:
Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays

Holly, is the plan to eventually get doctors in ALL AAC locations up and running? (like the one in Pittsburgh) ... a lot of people contact me about Pittsburgh doctors regularly - or for follow-up.

And while there have been liberations done in the region (maybe I shouldn't have said that out loud) ... it's been tough sledding and very hush hush (due to the "famous" and "powerful" neurology heads at our local hospitals.

'Course I didn't ask for a penny more than my former salary and I'm working twice as hard BUT... Seriously I'm beside myself with happiness to have the opportunity many never get: a job doing something I really, really care about. Someone made a terrible mistake today in terms of scheduling their time efficiently: they asked me what I'm now doing for a living. An hour and a half later I had both of us in tears. Conviction and determination bring out strong feelings in people...

But I digress. Thank you, HP, for your gracious acknowledgement!