Mobile lower leg vascular assessments
Professional in-home circulation assessments for residents throughout Qualicum Beach, Parksville, and surrounding mid-Vancouver Island communities.
In-home lower leg circulation assessment
A qualified provider will come to your home to assess the circulation in your lower legs. This assessment includes a skin and tissue assessment, an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test and, when clinically indicated, a Toe-Brachial Index (TBI) test. This assessment may take up to one hour.
The results will be sent to your family physician or nurse practitioner to help them determine whether compression therapy is appropriate and what level of compression may be safest for you.
Your family physician or nurse practitioner can also use data from this assessment to support diagnoses and to determine whether a referral to a specialist, such as a vascular specialist, is indicated.
$225
Health care in your home.
At Mid Island ABI, we believe access to care should not be limited by mobility or travel challenges. By providing professional lower leg vascular assessments in the comfort of your home, we help make care more accessible, convenient, and timely for clients living in the central Vancouver Island region.
FAQs
What services do you offer?
We provide a comprehensive lower leg assessment in the comfort of your home. During the assessment, the nurse collects objective information about the circulation and overall health of your lower legs and feet. This includes evaluation blood flow, sensation, and any skin or tissue changes that may be related to conditions such as venous insufficiency, arterial insufficiency, or neuropathy.
The assessment results are compiled into a detailed report that the nurse will share with your physician, nurse practitioner, or NSWOC (Nurse Specialty in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence) to assist them with diagnosis, treatment planning, and decision-making regarding compression therapy and wound care.
1
What is an ABI and why is it important?
2
ABI stands for Ankle-Brachial Index. It is a non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. This comparison helps determine how well blood is flowing in your legs and feet.
ABI testing can help identify peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. It is also an important tool for determining whether compression therapy, such as compression stockings or compression wraps, can be used safely and effectively.
If compression is too weak, symptoms such as swelling, discomfort, and skin changes related to venous disease may not improve and may worsen. If compression is too strong for someone with reduced arterial blood flow, it may further restrict circulation and cause harm.
TBI stands for Toe-Brachial Index. Like an ABI, it is a non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in your toe to the blood pressure in your arm. A TBI provides additional information about blood flow to the feet and lower legs.
A TBI is often performed when ABI results may not be reliable. In some people, the arteries in the legs become stiff or calcified and are difficult to compress, which can result in falsely elevated ABI readings. This is more common in individuals with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and advanced vascular disease.
Because the arteries in the toes are less likely to become calcified, TBI testing can provide a more accurate assessment of circulation when ABI results are unclear or suspected to be unreliable.
3
What is a TBI?
Do I need a referral from my physician/nurse practitioner?
4
No. You do not need a referral from your physician or nurse practitioner to book a lower leg vascular assessment.
Clients, family members, caregivers, and other support persons can request an appointment directly through this website by clicking “REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT” and submitting a form with your name and contact information. A Mid Island ABI representative will reach out to you to complete your intake. Appointments will be scheduled based on geographic location and availability to support sufficient travel throughout the service area.
As Mid Island ABI is a private nursing service operating outside of Island Health and the publicly funded healthcare system, assessments done by Mid Island ABI are not covered by MSP.
Coverage through extended health benefits varies by insurer and individual policy. Some plans may provide reimbursement for nursing services performed by a Registered Nurse, while others may not. Clients are encouraged to contact their extended health provider to determine whether this service is eligible for reimbursement under their plan.
Mid Island ABI cannot bill directly to extended health benefits providers at this time. A receipt will be provided so that clients can seek reimbursement. Payments may be made by debit, credit, or cash.