ALPS and SVN Partner to Transform Limb Preservation through Enhanced Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Public Awareness

California, August 23, 2024 – The American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN), marking a significant stride forward in the mission to prevent avoidable amputations. This strategic alliance is designed to harness the collective expertise of vascular nurses, podiatrists, and wound care specialists to revolutionize limb preservation and deliver comprehensive care to at-risk patients.

The Society for Vascular Nursing is a distinguished professional community dedicated to advancing the care of individuals living with vascular disease. By integrating their front-line education and best practices into ALPS’s multidisciplinary efforts, this collaboration is poised to significantly enhance the quality of vascular care, directly supporting ALPS’s mission to eradicate preventable amputations within the next generation.

Karen Bauer, President of SVN, highlighted the vital role of vascular nurses in limb preservation, stating, “Vascular nurses and advanced practice nurses are crucial in many healthcare settings and in a diverse range of roles. We are in prime positions to promote team-based and seamless vascular care across the continuum and offer a unique and holistic perspective in the management of all vascular patients, especially those with lower extremity disease. We are very excited to collaborate with ALPS in efforts to promote early recognition of patient PAD risk factors, optimal patient education and teamwork to encourage prevention, and timely management of PAD to help prevent limb loss. We look forward to a wonderful partnership with ALPS and DFCon!”

“Growing interdisciplinary teams is central to the vision of both societies, and we are thrilled to collaborate with the Society of Vascular Nursing to expand our impact on limb preservation,” said Katharine McGinigle, ALPS board member. “Through this partnership, we aim to break down traditional silos and foster a more cohesive, patient-centered approach that bridges the expertise of vascular nursing with podiatry and wound care. Together, we can ensure that patients receive the most comprehensive care possible, leading to improved outcomes and reduced limb loss.”

Key Objectives of the Partnership:

• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Strengthen the relationships between vascular nurses, podiatrists, and wound care specialists, promoting an integrated approach to limb preservation that improves patient outcomes.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch an annual public awareness campaign that aligns with disease-specific awareness months, educating the public about limb preservation and the importance of early intervention.
• Scholarship Initiative: ALPS will offer scholarships for SVN members to attend DFCon 2024, the leading international conference on diabetic foot care and limb preservation. This initiative will empower vascular nurses with advanced training, enabling them to bring cutting-edge practices back to their clinical settings.

Georgia Krehbiel, CEO of ALPS, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Our partnership with the Society of Vascular Nursing is a pivotal moment in our ongoing effort to advance limb preservation. By uniting our strengths in limb preservation with the specialized knowledge and skills of vascular nursing professionals, we are creating a model of care that is truly multidisciplinary. This collaboration not only enhances patient care but also sets a new standard in the fight against preventable limb loss.”

This partnership represents a bold step forward in the global effort to reduce preventable amputations. By equipping vascular nurses with the education and resources they need, and by fostering collaboration across disciplines, ALPS and SVN are working together to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients at risk of limb loss.