News & Events

In these last two years, the world’s healthcare focus has centered around COVID-19. It is a global pandemic that has affected every one of our lives.  From healthcare to homecare, from the school to the courtroom, from economics to politics, no area has gone unaffected by the COVID-19 virus.  Concurrent with this pandemic, an unnoticed epidemic has been rushing through minority communities.  The epidemic of lower limb amputation.  

For generations the Big Six (Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity Peripheral Artery Disease, High Cholesterol, and Smoking) have vanquished Communities of Color.  All of these find the endpoint with wounds in the leg and feet.  Unfortunately, when the Big Six are diagnosed by a physician as affecting the lower extremities an overwhelmingly the first option considered is amputation. Salvage procedures are rarely mentioned and if so they are mentioned as secondary or tertiary choices. The unfortunate truth is that in many cases had the salvage option been given, the amputation could have been avoided. 

Technology has given us a device, the ABI machine, that can diagnose arterial flow issues early and thereby reduce the number of amputations. In an overwhelming number of cases the limb can be saved. The ABI device measures blood flow in the extremities thereby allowing for early detection and preventing the possible loss of a limb.  “If there is blood flow, the limb does not have to go.”  

This Health Initiative will educate our communities regarding this loss of limb epidemic and provide screenings using the ABI machine technology. Each participant can use their results to further discuss their status with their treating physician. Health screenings will be offered at various venues where the National Bar Association or NAABS meet. All participants at the meeting are welcome! If through this initiative we can save even one leg, then the efforts will have been worth it.

Dr. Gerard G. Guerin, DPM

President| NAABS, Inc.