Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger kicks off the #VICWhiteSocks challenge at the Hamilton County Courthouse. He challenges citizens of Hamilton County to participate and raise awareness of amputation.
September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month, and Vascular Institute of Chattanooga providers are participating in the #VICWhiteSocks Challenge to help educate the Tennessee Valley about PAD. They have pledged to closely partner with other community members and clinicians involved in the PAD care pathway to help ensure high-risk patients are properly diagnosed and treated before it is too late. Through this collaborative approach, health care providers will work together with a shared goal to assess disease progression and improve referral pathways for those with suspected PAD.
“PAD is largely under-recognized, and amputation rates associated with this disease remain unnecessarily high,” said Chris LeSar, MD, vascular surgeon and VIC’s founding physician.
“That’s why we are proud to organize the #VICWhiteSocks Challenge. Our providers are on the frontlines of care to advocate for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of patients suffering from the side effects of PAD. We also encourage everyone to be proactive in their own leg health by knowing the risk factors, classic warning signs and to ask their doctor to check their feet for signs of PAD.”
"#VICWhiteSocks Social Media Challenge will go throughout September, as a message of early PAD detection with one simple and visible tool: a white sock. The garment will be worn as a symbol of PAD and to create solidarity with the many patients who suffered from late stage PAD and required an amputation due to delayed treatment," officials said.
In partnership with clinicians in the area, Dr. LeSar and other community physicians will create awareness through participation in a social media campaign known as the “Docs in Socks” Challenge. Physicians will post a picture or video wearing one white sock on their personal or medical practice’s social media channels with the hashtag #DocsInSocks. Those who participate will also tag and challenge other clinicians, friends and loved ones to join the cause and show their support.
Other community leaders can participate using the hashtag #VICWhiteSocks.
While treatment for PAD varies based on the severity of disease state, only a physician can determine the best option for a patient based on his or her individual needs. For more information about PAD and treatment options, call 423-602-2750.