BY BETH BALES
The fifth edition of the Vascular Educational Self-Assessment Program (VESAP), with a substantially enlarged section on vascular ultrasound and imaging, is expected to be introduced by Aug. 1. VESAP4 will expire on July 31.
Several changes and additions, not to mention the current travel situation, make VESAP5 valuable and set it apart from earlier versions.
These include a vastly expanded section for diagnostics and imaging, available as a separate purchase, which when successfully passed, satisfies the three-year CME requirement of American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) to maintain Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) certification. There also are topics that align with VSCORE (the SCORE curriculum specific for vascular surgery training programs and followed by the Vascular Surgery Board).
VESAP5 covers 13 topic areas important for vascular surgeons, including the four vascular lab modules.
“VESAP5 will be useful in providing innovative and effective education through all career phases, from trainee to senior vascular surgeon,” said Amy Reed, MD, co-editor. She co-edited VESAP4 with Gregory Modrall, MD.
More than 97% of the questions are new. “Consequently, they are based on current practice, trends and guidelines,” she said. “In addition, each section covers all the relevant areas that one would need to study to prepare for any exam or recertification or to enhance one’s own knowledge. And it’s been structured in accordance with the VSCORE topics.”
The program also is an important source of continuing medical education (CME) credits, the doctors said. “It’s going to be a while before our surgeons can obtain CMEs in person,” said Reed. “Travel has become difficult, if not restricted entirely,” said Modrall. “Between that, restricted reimbursements and the limited funds now available for CME-related travel, VESAP5 is an excellent way to get your CMEs.”
VESAP5 Vascular Lab, which includes the four lab modules, includes 200 questions and offers 30 CME credits. VESAP5 includes both a learning and an exam mode. Owners can use learning mode to practice and can view the correct answer to questions, as well as the rationale and references. Exam mode is used for taking the exams themselves, as well as earning credits.
Meanwhile, the vascular diagnostics section, produced in cooperation with the Society for Vascular Ultrasound, can “serve as an excellent study guide for the RPVI (Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation) exam,” according to Reed.
“It is considerably more comprehensive, with more extensive material than in past versions of VESAP,” said Modrall.
The program is valuable not only for those preparing for the RPVI exam, but also for other specialists who require imaging CMEs for continued RPVI certification, he said. “CMEs specific to ultrasound are often difficult to find and access,” he said.
VESAP5 will expire three years after its introduction. As Vascular Specialist noted in May, VESAP5 will include a companion mobile app (for Apple devices only) for offline use that syncs with the desktop version when internet connection returns. For more information, visit vsweb.org/VESAP.