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The Vein Center Named Among Best Hospitals by Minnesota Monthly

Originally published in Minnesota Monthly.

Nature can be cruel sometimes. Just ask anyone with bulging varicosities or spider veins. Nearly 40 million Americans (mostly women) suffer from varicose or spider veins.

In some cases, it’s a purely cosmetic issue, and in others, the veins can be painful. Regardless of the type of vein disease, the staff at the Vein Center of St. Paul Radiology in Eagan wants people to realize they don’t have to feel self-conscious or uncomfortable in shorts anymore — there are quick and painless procedures available to treat problematic veins.

“One of our patients was in her 70s and had been living with vein disease for 30 years,” says Dr. Timothy C. Goertzen, an interventional radiologist at the Vein Center. “Once she had the procedure done, she wondered, ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’”

Varicose and spider veins develop when tiny valves in the vein fail as a result of age, pregnancy, obesity, heredity, or standing occupations.

The board-certified physicians at the Vein Center are the region’s leading specialists in the comprehensive management of vein and artery disorders. The fact that other vein center doctors refer patients to them speaks volumes about their reputation, as does the fact that they are a national training center.

They treat over 500 patients a year, who are either referred by their primary care physician or take matters into their own hands and call the clinic directly without a referral. They will then come in for a consultation, during which time they’ll receive a detailed venous ultrasound exam.

“We pinpoint the source of the problem and tailor a treatment plan for each patient, taking the time to listen to their concerns,” Dr. Goertzen says. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, he explains, because “every patient is unique.”

The Vein Center offers the best of both worlds: The state-of-the-art technology of a hospital setting combined with the convenience and efficiency of an outpatient clinic. Once a procedure is determined, patients return to the Vein Center for treatment and any follow-up care.

The knowledgeable staff members love what they do and it shows. They’re not only experts in the field, they treat patients with compassion and respect and go to bat for them when necessary (such as calling the patients’ insurance companies for pre-certification and acting as their advocates).

“We’re all dedicated to the treatment of vein disease,” Dr. Goertzen comments. “This job is so rewarding. The patients are extremely appreciative. When our patients undergo treatment, they feel we performed some sort of miracle.”