Articles & Press Releases

News From SVS

SVS members: have you ever dreamed about planning and running an event to help improve your community’s vascular health?

With her research, Omaida C. Velazquez, MD, searches for "what’s missing today that we can make available for tomorrow’s patients." She presented at the 2017 Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, discussing gene therapy and peripheral arterial disease. Abstracts are being accepted through Jan. 10, 2018, for the May 9 conference.

If you work with PAs, please urge them to apply

Thanks to requests and feedback from physician assistants, the SVS has created a new membership section for PAs. In just a short time, we have already seen a significant and heartwarming response from incoming members.

“Early Carotid Endarterectomy Performed 2 To 5 Days After the Onset of Neurologic Symptoms Leads to Comparable Results to Carotid Endarterectomy Performed at Later Time Points.” Journal of Vascular Surgery, December 2017.

Don't be taken by surprise, learn what disability insurance you need

With a new year on the horizon, SVS members might want to do a wellness check – not of their health, but of their disability insurance coverage to see if they are significantly under-insured.

Off-line Access Comes to VESAP4

A mobile app, for Apple products only, is now available for the approximately 600 users of the fourth edition of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program, which debuted in mid-August.

Veterans Studied for Cognitive Changes 

After the turkey, after the frenzy of post-holiday shopping, do something for others by donating to the SVS Foundation on #Giving Tuesday.

Two big initiatives and enhancements are on tap for the Vascular Quality Initiative for 2018:

November is American Diabetes Month

CHICAGO, Illinois, Nov. 9, 2017 – If you have diabetes and think you are otherwise healthy, it can be easy to ignore the doctor’s good advice.

It’s nearly time for many SVS members to renew their liability insurance. This year, members have access to a top-notch plan for their practices and institutions.

ADDING LEADERSHIP TO THE LEARNING PORTFOLIO OF A VASCULAR SURGEONBY NASIM HEDAYATI, MD ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEEThis is the latest column in this year’s series highlighting the evidence-based behaviors and attributes that define great leadership.

Do you have insights to share on trauma? Diabetes? Perhaps you’ve completed research on AAAs and possible treatment differences for men and women you want to highlight, or you want to help others with the intricacies of coding and billing.

The SVS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in September on two important Proposed Rules affecting vascular surgeons: the 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS).

Optimizing the vascular team has been a major theme of the SVS this past year during Ron Fairman’s presidency, and SVS President Dr. R. Clement Darling III has substantially accelerated the pace of activity during his current term. In a historic decision, on Oct.

BY MALACHI G. SHEAHAN III, MD DEPUTY MEDICAL EDITOR, VASCULAR SPECIALIST

“Comparison of Percutaneous Versus Open Femoral Cut Down Access for Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.” Journal of Vascular Surgery, November, 2017

“Contemporary Outcomes of Elective Iliocaval and Infrainguinal Venous Intervention for Post-Thrombotic Chronic Venous Occlusive Disease." Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Diseases, November, 2017.

Enjoy Member Benefits, Perks of Belonging to SVS

The 2018 dues statements recently were emailed to all members.

CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 17, 2017 – Are electronic cigarettes, which have been booming in popularity over the past 10 years, safer than regular cigarettes?

Consider Business, Disability Insurance, Plans for Staff

SVS members who are in private practice care not only for their patients but also their employees, with attendant financial obligations.

News From SVS | First Data Collection Year Coming to an End

SVS members have a narrow window remaining to participate in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) this year and avoid a 4 percent Medicare reimbursement penalty in 2019. The final 90-day reporting period began Oct. 2.

Don’t get too comfortable with today’s knowledge on the Quality Payment Program. Some changes are being proposed for 2018, mostly related to increased reporting requirements to avoid the 5 percent Medicare payment penalty in 2020.

As Executive Director of SVS, one of my priorities, and great joys, is to find opportunities to meet and talk with SVS members locally in their own communities and practices. I hear a lot of ideas expressed at meetings of course, but seeing things first-hand, and talking to partners and team members about their local issues and practice environments and their needs, helps me to understand how SVS can best help.