When Jae’s mother faced amputation due to Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) an advanced stage of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in rural Louisiana, she refused to accept it as the only option. Despite being told there were no alternatives, Jae discovered the truth: not all PAD specialists have the skills to treat advanced cases.

This episode comes at a crucial time. A May 2025 study from @SCAI reveals Black patients with CLI face a 46% higher chance of amputation and are 10% less likely to see vascular specialists before treatment.

CLI is more deadly than breast, colon, and prostate cancer COMBINED—and outcomes worsen dramatically after amputation.

Listen as Jae shares how she: • Fought against medical gaslighting • Found help through the @GlobalPADAssociation’s Leg Saver Hotline (1-833-PAD-LEGS) • Connected with CLI specialist Dr. Amit Amin who successfully opened her mother’s arteries

This story could save someone’s leg—or life. Share widely.

#SaveALeg #PADAwareness #HealthcareEquity #CLI #PeripheralArteryDisease #PatientAdvocacy

When Jae’s mother faced amputation due to Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) an advanced stage of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in rural Louisiana, she refused to accept it as the only option. Despite being told there were no alternatives, Jae discovered the truth: not all PAD specialists have the skills to treat advanced cases. This episode comes at a crucial time. A May 2025 study from @SCAI reveals Black patients with CLI face a 46% higher chance of amputation and are 10% less likely to see vascular specialists before treatment. CLI is more deadly than breast, colon, and prostate cancer COMBINED—and outcomes worsen dramatically after amputation. Listen as Jae shares how she: • Fought against medical gaslighting • Found help through the @GlobalPADAssociation’s Leg Saver Hotline (1-833-PAD-LEGS) • Connected with CLI specialist Dr. Amit Amin who successfully opened her mother’s arteries This story could save someone’s leg—or life. Share widely. #SaveALeg #PADAwareness #HealthcareEquity #CLI #PeripheralArteryDisease #PatientAdvocacy

All of us have the power to create change. The advances in technology are now such that if you have an idea, it’s easier than ever to execute on it. “Kym McNicholas On Innovation” shares the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from around the world who will inspire you to create your own financial independence. The show also features some of the most advanced technologies you’ve never heard of that could be have an impact on your life, your business, and your career. 

Regular featured segments include “The Edge” which highlights businesses that are game-changing in the enterprise. Plus, each week in “HealthTech”, you’ll hear about a company that’s creating better, safer, faster, and cheaper technologies that will improve patient care and lower costs. And in our “Female Seeking Startup” series hear the success stories of some of the most powerful women who are creating game-changing technologies.

Produced and Published by The Innovators Network (http://TheInnovators.Network)

The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.

The Heart of Innovation

When Jae’s mother faced amputation due to Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) an advanced stage of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in rural Louisiana, she refused to accept it as the only option. Despite being told there were no alternatives, Jae...

Critical Limb Ischemia: Black Patients Face 46% Higher Amputation Rates - One Family’s Fight to Save a Leg

Peripheral Artery Disease impacts 10M+ Americans — and nearly 70% don't know they have it.

Congress has relaunched the PAD Caucus to address preventable amputations and gaps in screening and care.

On The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I debrief with Dr. Bob Tahara, Dr. Andrew Klein, Dr. David Alper, patient advocate Dawn-Marie Hernandez, and Harlem Globetrotter Larry "Shorty" Coleman, who lost a leg to PAD.

PAD is the leading cause of preventable limb loss and a major predictor of heart attack and stroke.

Early detection saves limbs — and lives.

#PeripheralArteryDisease#PAD#AmputationPrevention#HealthPolicy#HeartHealth

Peripheral Artery Disease impacts 10M+ Americans — and nearly 70% don't know they have it. Congress has relaunched the PAD Caucus to address preventable amputations and gaps in screening and care. On The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I debrief with Dr. Bob Tahara, Dr. Andrew Klein, Dr. David Alper, patient advocate Dawn-Marie Hernandez, and Harlem Globetrotter Larry "Shorty" Coleman, who lost a leg to PAD. PAD is the leading cause of preventable limb loss and a major predictor of heart attack and stroke. Early detection saves limbs — and lives. <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/peripheralarterydisease" target="">#PeripheralArteryDisease</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/pad" target="">#PAD</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/amputationprevention" target="">#AmputationPrevention</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healthpolicy" target="">#HealthPolicy</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hearthealth" target="">#HeartHealth</a>

PAD Caucus - Spreading Awareness

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips feature multiple patients courageously sharing their lived experiences with Peripheral Artery Disease, including rare and often misunderstood cases that challenge what patients are told is "possible."

Pamela's story highlights a critical gap in PAD care. After being told by a large hospital system that amputation was inevitable, she reached out to the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline. Through patient advocacy and care coordination, the underlying contributors to her disease were identified, including the role climate played in worsening her symptoms. Her decision to relocate to a warmer environment helped stabilize her condition and avoid limb loss, proving that earlier intervention and individualized care matter.

Francine's journey offers another rare perspective. Diagnosed at just 48 despite being a runner, personal trainer, and fitness instructor, she was found to have a full occlusion in her left leg and intermittent blockages in her right. After undergoing a femoral-popliteal bypass, multiple stents, and angioplasty procedures, Francine transformed her lifestyle through the Dean Ornish program and a low-fat vegan diet. She has since completed four half marathons and continues teaching group fitness, yoga, and Reiki.

Theresa's story exposes how often PAD is dismissed, even when the warning signs are clear. With a family history of PAD, Theresa recognized the symptoms early. At 46, she sought help after developing walking pain, only to be told repeatedly that it was a back problem and that she was "too young" to have PAD. A Doppler study was performed but interpreted as normal. For five years, as her symptoms worsened and her walking distance shrank to less than ten metres, she continued to advocate for herself before finally insisting on a vascular referral.

Within minutes of meeting a vascular consultant, Theresa was diagnosed with severe PAD. Imaging revealed a 100 percent blockage in her right leg and 80 percent in her left. Angioplasty provided temporary relief, but restenosis occurred quickly. A second procedure resulted in arterial injury, requiring placement of a 30-centimetre stent in her right thigh. Despite ongoing pain, Theresa developed remarkable collateral circulation, so robust that it complicated intervention attempts. Today, she remains closely monitored by a responsive vascular specialist and manages her condition with vigilance, pacing, and rest. She also notes a meaningful improvement in walking pain after starting Wegovy, an observation she continues to discuss with her care team.

Equally important, Theresa speaks candidly about the emotional toll of PAD. A special education teacher who loves to travel, she feared the disease would take away the life she loved, as it had for her father. After a period of isolation, she made a conscious decision that PAD would be part of her story, but not the author of it. She now works full time, travels when she can, adapts when needed, and lives by a powerful truth: she controls PAD, not the other way around.

Together, these stories reinforce a message too many patients never hear in time: Leg pain, cramping, and difficulty walking are not normal aging. They are warnings. 👉 Tune in to hear these powerful patient stories and learn why early diagnosis, self-advocacy, and conservative options like structured walking can change outcomes and save lives.Calls to Action 

📞 In the U.S.? Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS to talk with someone about possible circulation issues in your legs.

🌐 Learn more about PAD and conservative treatment options Visit padhelp.org to understand PAD, early symptoms, and access our free proprietary structured walking program, available to everyone.

👥 Join our PAD Facebook Support Community Connect with patients and caregivers at padsupportgroup.org.

👍 Support the show Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications at youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart so you never miss an episode.

#PeripheralArteryDisease #PADawareness #HeartHealth #AmericanHeartMonth #LegPainIsNotNormal #CirculationMatters #VascularHealth #StructuredWalking #PatientStories #PreventAmputation #StrokePrevention #HeartDiseaseAwareness #TheHeartOfInnovation #TheWayToMyHeart

In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips feature multiple patients courageously sharing their lived experiences with Peripheral Artery Disease, including rare and often misunderstood cases that challenge what patients are told is "possible." Pamela's story highlights a critical gap in PAD care. After being told by a large hospital system that amputation was inevitable, she reached out to the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline. Through patient advocacy and care coordination, the underlying contributors to her disease were identified, including the role climate played in worsening her symptoms. Her decision to relocate to a warmer environment helped stabilize her condition and avoid limb loss, proving that earlier intervention and individualized care matter. Francine's journey offers another rare perspective. Diagnosed at just 48 despite being a runner, personal trainer, and fitness instructor, she was found to have a full occlusion in her left leg and intermittent blockages in her right. After undergoing a femoral-popliteal bypass, multiple stents, and angioplasty procedures, Francine transformed her lifestyle through the Dean Ornish program and a low-fat vegan diet. She has since completed four half marathons and continues teaching group fitness, yoga, and Reiki. Theresa's story exposes how often PAD is dismissed, even when the warning signs are clear. With a family history of PAD, Theresa recognized the symptoms early. At 46, she sought help after developing walking pain, only to be told repeatedly that it was a back problem and that she was "too young" to have PAD. A Doppler study was performed but interpreted as normal. For five years, as her symptoms worsened and her walking distance shrank to less than ten metres, she continued to advocate for herself before finally insisting on a vascular referral. Within minutes of meeting a vascular consultant, Theresa was diagnosed with severe PAD. Imaging revealed a 100 percent blockage in her right leg and 80 percent in her left. Angioplasty provided temporary relief, but restenosis occurred quickly. A second procedure resulted in arterial injury, requiring placement of a 30-centimetre stent in her right thigh. Despite ongoing pain, Theresa developed remarkable collateral circulation, so robust that it complicated intervention attempts. Today, she remains closely monitored by a responsive vascular specialist and manages her condition with vigilance, pacing, and rest. She also notes a meaningful improvement in walking pain after starting Wegovy, an observation she continues to discuss with her care team. Equally important, Theresa speaks candidly about the emotional toll of PAD. A special education teacher who loves to travel, she feared the disease would take away the life she loved, as it had for her father. After a period of isolation, she made a conscious decision that PAD would be part of her story, but not the author of it. She now works full time, travels when she can, adapts when needed, and lives by a powerful truth: she controls PAD, not the other way around. Together, these stories reinforce a message too many patients never hear in time: Leg pain, cramping, and difficulty walking are not normal aging. They are warnings. 👉 Tune in to hear these powerful patient stories and learn why early diagnosis, self-advocacy, and conservative options like structured walking can change outcomes and save lives.Calls to Action 📞 In the U.S.? Call the Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS to talk with someone about possible circulation issues in your legs. 🌐 Learn more about PAD and conservative treatment options Visit <a title="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpadhelp.org&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770856740000000&usg=AOvVaw2W0sbrvs6EYcFoNHegDFYU" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpadhelp.org&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770856740000000&usg=AOvVaw2W0sbrvs6EYcFoNHegDFYU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">padhelp.org</a> to understand PAD, early symptoms, and access our free proprietary structured walking program, available to everyone. 👥 Join our PAD Facebook Support Community Connect with patients and caregivers at <a title="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpadsupportgroup.org&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770856740000000&usg=AOvVaw34gXWVbNcXZEG2fiKN4nWH" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpadsupportgroup.org&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770856740000000&usg=AOvVaw34gXWVbNcXZEG2fiKN4nWH" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">padsupportgroup.org</a>. 👍 Support the show Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications at <a title="http://youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart" href="http://youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart</a> so you never miss an episode. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PADawareness #HeartHealth #AmericanHeartMonth #LegPainIsNotNormal #CirculationMatters #VascularHealth #StructuredWalking #PatientStories #PreventAmputation #StrokePrevention #HeartDiseaseAwareness #TheHeartOfInnovation #TheWayToMyHeart

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): How Early Diagnosis & Walking Saves Legs & Heart

A major Medicare billing issue is emerging across 24 states, and vascular specialists are warning it could delay—or deny—time-sensitive, limb-saving care for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, we are joined by two leading voices on the front lines:

🔹 Dr. Elliot Adams, Vascular Surgeon, whose office-based lab (OBL) is directly impacted by the denials

🔹 Dr. Bob Tahara, Vascular Surgeon and Past President of the OEIS (Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society)

Physicians are reporting that new Medicare CPT codes for modern PAD revascularization procedures—codes that replaced deleted legacy codes—are being denied by Medicare contractors Noridian and Novitas, despite being billed correctly. These denials affect procedures that often mean the difference between saving a leg or losing it.

If not clarified and corrected quickly, this issue could: • Block reimbursement for limb-salvage procedures in office-based labs • Delay urgent care for PAD patients • Increase preventable amputations and suffering

At the same time, patients are already calling our Leg Saver Hotline nightly due to delays and denials through Medicare Advantage plans—often in severe pain, afraid they're running out of time. This Medicare CPT issue risks compounding that crisis.

🚨 We need clinicians and patients to hear this—and to speak up.

👉 If you are a physician, clinician, or billing professional seeing these denials

👉 If you are a patient who has received a Medicare denial or delay for PAD care

👉 If you've been told a limb-saving procedure won't be covered

Please tune in. Your experience matters.

You can also email Kym@padhelp.org for info on joining the LIVE in studio discussion!

📞 NEED HELP OR SUPPORT?

Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS

If you've received a denial letter or are facing delays, call us. You are not alone. 

#peripheralarterydisease#padsupport#medicare#medicaredbilling#medicaredenials

A major Medicare billing issue is emerging across 24 states, and vascular specialists are warning it could delay—or deny—time-sensitive, limb-saving care for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, we are joined by two leading voices on the front lines: 🔹 Dr. Elliot Adams, Vascular Surgeon, whose office-based lab (OBL) is directly impacted by the denials 🔹 Dr. Bob Tahara, Vascular Surgeon and Past President of the OEIS (Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society) Physicians are reporting that new Medicare CPT codes for modern PAD revascularization procedures—codes that replaced deleted legacy codes—are being denied by Medicare contractors Noridian and Novitas, despite being billed correctly. These denials affect procedures that often mean the difference between saving a leg or losing it. If not clarified and corrected quickly, this issue could: • Block reimbursement for limb-salvage procedures in office-based labs • Delay urgent care for PAD patients • Increase preventable amputations and suffering At the same time, patients are already calling our Leg Saver Hotline nightly due to delays and denials through Medicare Advantage plans—often in severe pain, afraid they're running out of time. This Medicare CPT issue risks compounding that crisis. 🚨 We need clinicians and patients to hear this—and to speak up. 👉 If you are a physician, clinician, or billing professional seeing these denials 👉 If you are a patient who has received a Medicare denial or delay for PAD care 👉 If you've been told a limb-saving procedure won't be covered Please tune in. Your experience matters. You can also email Kym@padhelp.org for info on joining the LIVE in studio discussion! 📞 NEED HELP OR SUPPORT? Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS If you've received a denial letter or are facing delays, call us. You are not alone. <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/peripheralarterydisease" target="">#peripheralarterydisease</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/padsupport" target="">#padsupport</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/medicare" target="">#medicare</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/medicaredbilling" target="">#medicaredbilling</a> <a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" tabindex="0" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/medicaredenials" target="">#medicaredenials</a>

Critical Limb Ischemia: Black Patients Face 46% Higher Amputation Rates - One Family’s Fight to Save a Leg

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