Published: June 08, 2006
Vein Associates of America, Inc. Closes Acquisition of Alabama Vascular & Vein Center
Vein Associates of America, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: VNAA), operator of advanced medical facilities devoted exclusively to the
treatment of vein disease, announced today the closing of its acquisition
of Alabama Vascular and Vein Center from its founder John R. Kingsley, MD,
FACS, RVT. Dr. Kingsley's practice becomes part of the Vein Associates'
network of medical facilities and Dr. Kingsley was appointed Chairman of
the Board of Directors at Vein Associates upon the closing of the
acquisition. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Eric Luetkemeyer, CEO of Vein Associates of America, said, "This
acquisition cements Dr. Kingsley's practice as the keystone in the Vein
Associates' network. The business will provide us a positive EBIDTA
immediately, and the clinic is one of the busiest that I have seen. Recent
additions to the practice include an extra 3,000 square feet of revenue
producing space and another Physician, Dr. James Isobe, MD, FACS, RVT. The
productivity and efficiencies that they have sustained are impressive.
Their level of patient care is first rate and the culture in the office is
a 'Team Building' experience for all employees and Physicians. John has
done an excellent job of building his business and is excited about the
opportunity to take what he has accomplished at the local level and move
that to a national level. That said, the primary reason for this
acquisition is the clinical talent, real world experience, clinical
leadership and training ability of Dr. Kingsley. Not only is he recognized
as one of America's Top Surgeon's, but he has also trained dozens of other
vein surgeons and through this purchase, we hope to have access to their
abilities and talents as well."
Dr Kingsley said, "This sale brings a market reach for my practice that I
would not otherwise have. Vein Associates will be able to give my patients
the kind of care upon which I insist. Because they believe, as I do, that
personal medical care should be personal and that if what we are doing as a
group is not helping people, then we are in the wrong business. Their
entire focus and full-time commitment is the care of the patient's varicose
veins, spider veins, or hemorrhoids. Unlike most offices, they do not
dilute this focus by performing countless other procedures. They are
specialists who give their patients special treatment."
Dr. Kingsley received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of
Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. Upon completing his
internship and residency in surgery at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in
Bethesda, Maryland, he worked as a physician and surgeon for the United
States Navy, earning a Navy Commendation Award for his work in the Medical
Corps. A Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Kingsley was
certified in both vascular surgery and general surgery. In 1998 he was
certified as a Registered Vascular Technologist.
Recognized as one of the Top Surgeons in America by the Consumers' Research
Council of America, Dr. Kingsley has written numerous scientific
publications on general surgery, vascular disease and vascular surgery. A
member of the Alabama Vascular Society, the American College of Surgeons
and the American College of Phlebology, he is regarded as one of the top
vascular surgeons in Alabama and the United States for the treatment of
vein disease.
Dr. Kingsley also teaches seminars on the new standards of care in the
modern era of vascular treatment. His seminars on duplex ultrasound, laser
and sclerotherapy treatment have emerged as modern strategies for treating
vascular disease.
Vein Associates specializes in the treatment of vein disorders, which are
increasingly common owing in part to the aging of the American population.
The most common disorders are varicose veins, spider veins and hemorrhoids.
To treat varicose veins, the physicians at Vein Associates largely rely on
endovenous laser therapy and or radio frequency ablation. With endovenous
laser therapy, physicians use a high-resolution color ultrasound to
accurately diagnose and treat the location of the troublesome veins. Once
located, a fiber-optic laser is inserted into the vein and will use
concentrated energy to collapse it. The laser is then slowly withdrawn and
the vein closes. The vein quickly becomes harmless fibrous tissue and is
gradually absorbed by the body, successfully eliminating the varicose vein
altogether. Alternatively, the doctor may use radio frequency ablation.
In this treatment, physicians use a bipolar generator and catheters with
sheathable electrodes. Similar to laser therapy, ultrasound is used to
locate the troublesome veins. Once located the catheter is inserted into
the saphenous vein above or below the knee. The catheter emits radio
frequency energy, which heats and collapses the vein walls. As the heat
energy causes the vein walls to collapse the catheter is slowly removed
along the vein until the entire vessel has been treated. Radio frequency
is less invasive than traditional surgical stripping and with less downtime
for patients.
The treatment of spider veins is a bit different, relying on sclerotherapy.
Developed and used by physicians since the early 1930's, sclerotherapy has
been the most effective treatment method for eliminating unsightly and
embarrassing spider veins. Sclerotherapy uses a fine and nearly painless
needle. Treatment involves injecting a small amount of a sclerosing
solution into the affected veins. Veins dry up and become absorbed by the
body's natural healing process. Sclerotherapy alone cannot always find all
the small feeder veins that cause spider veins. For more effective and
longer-lasting results, Vein Associates has developed a new method to
locate these superficial feeder veins. With the use of an advanced device
called the Veinlite, physicians are able to locate these hard to find veins
using a method called Transilluminated Sclerotherapy(TM). The Veinlite
transilluminates or "lights up" the skin so the feeder veins can be easily
spotted. Sclerotherapy is then used to eliminate the veins, thereby making
the treatment of the overlying spider veins more effective.
When treating hemorrhoids, from which 78% of the population will suffer at
one stage or another in their lives, Vein Associates utilizes a unique,
FDA-cleared treatment for which it has the exclusive rights. Called the
KM-25, physicians perform a minimally invasive procedure for severe
hemorrhoids called Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation or HAL for short. Over
200,000 procedures have been performed over the past five years and
published studies have shown it to be 95% effective in the permanent
elimination of hemorrhoids that would normally require a traditional
hospital hemorrhoidectomy.
The KM-25 device is gently inserted into the anal canal and arteries that
feed the hemorrhoids are located by listening to the sound transmitted via
the "Echo Sounder," which is connected to the instrument. The physicians
then ligate or "tie-off" the arteries. Once the lifeline is cut off, the
hemorrhoid can no longer survive and eventually dries and dissolves. The
procedure does not require the use of anesthesia or medication and patients
return to a normal lifestyle almost immediately.
As an alternative, Vein Associates may use Infrared Coagulation, a safe,
effective nonsurgical treatment for hemorrhoids. A small probe connects to
the area above the hemorrhoid and exposes the tissue to a quick burst of
infrared light. This coagulates the veins as they enter the hemorrhoid
causing it to shrink and recede. This modality is reimbursed by Medicare
and most Health Insurance carriers.
About Vein Associates of America, Inc.
Vein Associates Of America, Inc. operates advanced and well-equipped
medical facilities devoted exclusively to the treatment of vein disease in
Boca Raton, Tampa, Orlando, and Heathrow Florida; Lexington, South
Carolina; Long Beach Island, New Jersey; Kerrville, TX; Birmingham, AL and
Edina, Minnesota. The Company has established and is rapidly expanding
highly specialized, professional medical treatment centers comprised of new
and effective techniques available in vein treatment. For more
information, please visit our website: http://www.noveins.com and Dr.
Kingsley's at http://www.alabamavascular.com.
Safe Harbor Statement: Forward-looking statements in this release with
respect to Vein Associates Of America, Inc. business, financial condition
and results of operations, as well as matters of timing and the prospective
terms of the transaction described are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed
in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain
delays beyond Vein Associates Of America's control with respect to market
acceptance of their technology and/or products, whether financing will be
available, the effect of the application of acquisition accounting policies
as well as certain other risk factors which are and may be detailed from
time to time in Vein Associates Of America's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
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