THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rod@welchco.com


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: October 21, 2014 12:26 PM Tuesday; Rod Welch

VA Cardiology meet Karen on test coronary CTA standard of care response to treatment hiking.

1...Summary/Objective
2...Testing Standard of Care Evaluate Response to Treatment
3...Response to Treatment Testing Standard of Care for Evaluation
4...Standard of Care Testing Evaluate Response to Treatment
5...Planning EPC and CTA Testing for Regression Atherosclerosis
........History Considering Coronary CTA and EPC Tests
...............Mileage 2014


..............
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SUBJECTS
VA Podiatry Review Metatarsalgia Pain Balls of Feet Order Custom Ort                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
1103 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
1103 -    ..
1104 - Summary/Objective                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
1105 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
110501 - Follow up ref SDS 29 0000. ref SDS 28 0000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
110502 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110503 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110504 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110505 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110506 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110508 -  ..
1106 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
1107 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
1108 - Progress                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
1109 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
110901 - Testing Standard of Care Evaluate Response to Treatment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
110902 - Response to Treatment Testing Standard of Care for Evaluation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
110903 - Standard of Care Testing Evaluate Response to Treatment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
110904 - Planning EPC and CTA Testing for Regression Atherosclerosis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
110905 - 
110906 - Follow up ref SDS 29 0082.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
110907 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110908 - Met with Karen in Cardiology on 2nd floor of Building 200.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
110910 -  ..
110911 - Karen received a copy of the letter to Doctor Tang (with copy to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
110912 - Doctor Alba), submitted on 141008 1349. ref SDS 39 AK6J                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
110914 -  ..
110915 - She offered congratulations on hiking Half Dome, despite turning back                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110916 - before reaching the top due to feet injuries, reported on 140917 0540,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110917 - ref SDS 38 0001, and cited in the letter to Doctor Tang. ref SDS 39                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110918 - ST60  Karen seemed supportive of cardiology patient maintaining                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110919 - physical exercise hiking 300+ miles per month with 11 mile daily hikes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110920 - that increase HDL and EPC labs for regression of atherosclerosis, also                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110921 - presented in the letter to the VA on 141008, ref SDS 39 ST68, and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
110922 - discussed with Karen previously on 140805, ref SDS 29 0082, citing the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
110923 - meeting with Doctor Alba on 140519 0800. ref SDS 14 WS4L                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
110925 -  ..
110926 - Karen asked why coronary CTA with calcium score and EPC tests are                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
110927 - needed to evaluate regression of atherosclerosis?  She asked what                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
110928 - value would be added to diagnosis and treatment from testing coronary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110929 - CTA and calcium score testing?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
110931 -  ..
110932 - This same question was asked by the doctor in the office next door to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110933 - Karen's last week, when Karen was on vacation during a brief visit to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110934 - the Cardiology Department in conjunction with getting treatment in the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110935 - Podiatry Department on 141009 0900. ref SDS 40 VQ31  Karen's language                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
110936 - using terms "added value to diagnosis and treatment," were also                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
110937 - expressed by Doctor Feingold during the meeting on 140519, ref SDS 14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
110938 - M16K, and later in Doctor Alba's letter a month later on 140612 1048.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110939 - ref SDS 18 X45G  The uniformity of language reflects compliance with                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
110940 - published policy guidance, rather than reasoned application of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
110941 - guidance to particular patient circumstances.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
110943 -  ..
110944 - We reviewed Karen's comments when we met on 140805, that testing is                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
110945 - standard of care to assess response to treatment, ref SDS 29 2Y3I,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
110946 - shown in analysis of Doctor Alba's letter on 140731 1048, ref SDS 25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
110947 - 545J, and citing prior research submitted to the VA on 140626 1652.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
110948 - ref SDS 19 MZ33                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110950 -  ..
110951 - At that time on 140805, Karen planned to continue considering ideas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
110952 - and make appropriate inquiries for VA doctors (which are actually                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
110953 - UCSF) to sign off on ordering EPC and coronary CTA with calcium score,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110954 - which was discussed in the letter to Doctor Alba on 140710 1348.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
110955 - ref SDS 14 DX7K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110957 -         ..
110958 -        History Considering Coronary CTA and EPC Tests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
110959 -        
110960 -        Defer EPC and CTA testing...................... 140731 1048, ref SDS 25 GY4K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110961 -        Testing standard of care response to treatment. 140731 1048, ref SDS 25 546K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110962 -        VA in loop..................................... 140731 1048, ref SDS 25 545J                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110963 -        VA again recommend 2nd opinion Doctor Egan..... 140731 1048, ref SDS 25 QU4F                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110964 -        Doctor Egan did not respond.................... 140731 1048, ref SDS 25 X45G                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110965 -        Patient requests support Doctor Egan........... 140710 1348, ref SDS 22 DX7K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110966 -        VA recommends 2nd opinion from Doctor Egan..... 140703 1938, ref SDS 21 H233                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110967 -        Request referral for 2nd opinion on CTA........ 140626 1652, ref SDS 19 MY51                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110968 -        No grounds refuse CTA assess atherosclerosis... 140626 1652, ref SDS 19 MZ33                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110969 -        CTA for CABG common assess atherosclerosis..... 140626 1652, ref SDS 19 MZ54                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110970 -        VA no grounds failure order CTA assess plaques. 140612 1048, ref SDS 18 Y68L                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110971 -        Follow up on ordering CTA atherosclerosis...... 140610 0903, ref SDS 17 LJ61                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110972 -        Request CTA assess atherosclerosis plaques..... 140529 0942, ref SDS 16 QG38                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110973 -        Justification coronary CTA order............... 140520 0732, ref SDS 15 VQ48                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110974 -        Request EPC lab predicate to CTA............... 140515 2043, ref SDS 13 YM61                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
110975 -        Original research on........................... 131125 0005, ref SDS 6 N73K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
110977 -  ..
110978 - Today, we recalled again meeting with Doctor Shunk in Karen's office                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
110979 - on 131121.  At that time, we discussed testing for regression of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
110980 - atherosclerosis. ref SDS 5 MS7G  Doctor Shunk cautioned against doing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
110981 - an invasive procedure, like the angiogram study, ref SDS 5 8D6N, which                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
110982 - he performed on 091021, ref SDS 1 7L43, and which then led to CABG +4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
110983 - the next day, performed by Doctor Tseng, and her team on 091022.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
110984 - ref SDS 2 PQWU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
110986 -  ..
110987 - Karen asked why coronary CTA with calcium score and EPC tests are                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
110988 - needed to evaluate regression of atherosclerosis?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
110990 -  ..
110991 - Explained testing can show treatment has caused regression of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
110992 - atherosclerosis hiking 300 miles per month for 6 months up until end                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
110993 - of June...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
110995 -                ..
110996 -               Mileage 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
110997 -               
110998 -               130902....Aug................. 297     4916 ...... ref SDS 3 554N                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
110999 -               130929....Sep................. 225     4305 ...... ref SDS 3 419J                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111000 -               131103....Oct................. 373     5757 ...... ref SDS 3 6F9N                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111001 -               131201....Nov................. 172     2899 ...... ref SDS 3 XRPV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111002 -               131229....Dec................. 234     3324 ...... ref SDS 3 XXQY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111003 -               140202....Jan................. 347     5393 ...... ref SDS 3 YWST                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111004 -               140302....Feb................. 234     3681 ...... ref SDS 3 PYWS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111005 -               140330....Mar................. 207     3313 ...... ref SDS 3 RXPR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111006 -               140427....Apr................. 310     4402 ...... ref SDS 3 RXVV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111007 -               140601....May................. 322     5338 ...... ref SDS 3 SXWV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111008 -               140629....Jun................. 156     2337 ...... ref SDS 3 ZW4N                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111009 -               140803....Jul.................  81     1023 ...... ref SDS 3 I37G                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111010 -               140831....Aug................. 140     1998 ...... ref SDS 3 236I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111011 -               140928....Sep................. 136     2855 ...... ref SDS 3 XWUY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111013 -  ..
111014 - Karen observed that cardiology urges patients to maintain physical                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
111015 - activity walking 20 miles per week, about 80 miles per month.  She                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
111016 - made a joke that hiking 300 miles per month may reflect mere masculine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
111017 - impulse.  She feels that regardless of patient motivations, walking                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
111018 - and running are innately healthy, noted as well by research on 131125                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111019 - 0005. ref SDS 6 8X4N                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
111021 -  ..
111022 - Karen recalled tests show extended endurance training hiking 300 miles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
111023 - per month over the past year has significantly improved patient lipid                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
111024 - profile, shown in labs on 140514 0950. ref SDS 12 W25L                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
111026 -  ..
111027 - Mentioned research on 131125, also indicates extended endurance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
111028 - exercise, e.g., hiking 300 miles per month, induces regression of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
111029 - atherosclerosis, which reduces CVD risk. ref SDS 6 XY7L  However,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
111030 - besides favorable response to treatment, hiking 300 miles per month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
111031 - also caused significant side effects, reported to Doctor Alba in the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
111032 - meeting at the VA on 140519 0800. ref SDS 14 CC8O                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
111034 -  ..
111035 - At that time on 140519, the VA medical team considered that if                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
111036 - coronary CTA calcium score testing show significant regression of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
111037 - atherosclerosis has occurred, in the same way lipid labs have                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
111038 - dramatically improved, then this evidence of response to treatment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
111039 - could allow treatment to be reduced as no longer necessary at the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
111040 - current level.  Reducing treatment would reduce severe adverse side                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
111041 - effects. ref SDS 14 635O                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
111042 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
111043 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
111044 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
111045 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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111052 -