Your Primary Care Partner in Vascular Health: Dr. Julie Anderson’s Ask the Expert on Vascular Health

Navigating vascular health can feel overwhelming—from understanding lab results to choosing the right medications, and balancing lifestyle changes with day-to-day life. In our recent Ask-the-Expert session, Dr. Julie Anderson, family physician and past Minnesota AAFP chapter president, offered practical guidance for patients at every step. Below, we expand on her key points, enrich them with up-to-date resources, and suggest external partnerships that can support you along the way.

1. The Vital Role of Your Primary Care Physician

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are healthcare navigators—managing roughly 90% of patient needs in-house and referring out only when specialized care is required.

• Scope of Care: Dr. Anderson’s clinic spans pediatrics through geriatrics, soon adding behavioral health via telepsychiatry—a model you might look for in your own community.

• Specialist Referrals: Complex cases (e.g., unprovoked/recurrent clots, valve disorders, persistent arrhythmias) often require echocardiograms or vascular imaging. A good PCP network will include streamlined referral pathways to local centers of excellence—look for partnerships with major health systems or local academic hospitals.

The American Academy of Family Physicians’ “Choosing a Family Physician” guide offers checklists on what to look for in a PCP practice.

2. Warfarin vs. the New Anticoagulants

Dr. Anderson still manages warfarin herself—valuing the close patient contact it demands—but acknowledges that DOACs (like apixaban or rivaroxaban) offer fixed dosing and fewer lab visits. The choice often comes down to medical factors (valve issues, insurance coverage) and personal preference for hands-on care.

3. Making Sense of Your Numbers

Blood pressure, cholesterol (including LP(a)), INR or D-dimer—lab values can overwhelm. Your PCP’s role is to translate these into “what you need to watch” and “what you can adjust today,” helping you focus on the metrics that truly matter.

4. Small Habits, Big Impact

Beyond pills, tiny daily moves add up. After a pulmonary embolism, a gradual return to low-impact activity (walking, gentle cycling) is safe once you’re on therapeutic anticoagulation. Mindful swaps—like olive oil for butter—or brief breathing breaks can reinforce whole-body circulation and ease post-diagnosis anxiety.

5. Telehealth Is Here to Stay (with Caveats)

Virtual visits excel for follow-ups and medication checks—especially in the COVID era—but in-person screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies, physicals) remain non-negotiable. Dr. Anderson’s tip: always come prepared with a prioritized list of concerns and review your portal data ahead of time.

Want more? Watch the full video for Dr. Anderson’s detailed insights, patient anecdotes, and tips on shared decision-making in anticoagulation. And if you’ve got a follow-up question, drop it in our next Ask-the-Expert chat!