SVS members can now use the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Participation Status Tool to check your preliminary eligibility status for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2019 performance period. The QPP Participation Status Tool currently shows preliminary 2019 eligibility status based on data from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018.  Later this year, CMS will update the tool to reflect final 2019 MIPS eligibility status based on data from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. 

The 2018 data submission period is open for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in the 2018 Quality Payment Program (QPP). Please note that your data must be submitted before the submission period closes on April 2, 2019.

The following two exceptions for data submission should be noted:

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FATAL RUPTURED AORTIC ANEURYSMS IN THE UNITED STATES (1999-2016). Journal of Vascular Surgery, February 2019.

CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 11, 2019 – Even though the number of deaths due to ruptured aortic aneurysms has decreased 68 percent in recent years, a significant number of deaths from ruptured aortic aneurysms occur in patients whose demographics exclude them from screening guidelines, according to a newly published study in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

By the end of this month, the Society for Vascular Surgery will be working out of its new headquarters in Rosemont, Ill., just minutes from O’Hare International Airport.

The SVS Foundation and the SVS Patient Safety Organization share SVS’ workspace. The Society also provides management services for the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery, the Society for Vascular Nursing and the Delaware Vascular Society.

From JVS: Researchers believe metformin, a commonly used prescribed oral hypoglycemic agent, may limit enlargement of abdominal aortic aneurysms, after analyzing patients of diabetic patients who are being treated in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The findings, outlined in an opensource article in the March Journal of Vascular Surgery, support holding clinical trials to test the drug’s effectiveness in limiting progression of early AAA disease. Read more through April 30 at vsweb.org/JVS-Metformin.

Apply by March 1 for SVS, SVS Foundation Awards

SVS is accepting nominations and applications through March 1 for its three highest honors, to be recognized at the 2019 Vascular Annual Meeting in June.

The SVS Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to the profession and SVS as well as exemplary professional practice and leadership.

The SVS Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery honors individuals whose contributions have transformed the practice or science of vascular surgery.

Young Erben, MD, has fully embraced SVS membership, joining an SVS committee and actively taking advantage of the benefits SVS offers.

March 1 is the first quarterly membership application for 2019. Dr. Erben urges all who are eligible to apply and enjoy the boost that membership can provide a career. For example:

Purchase tickets today for “Vascular Spectacular,” the elegant evening planned for Friday, June 14, at the Vascular Annual Meeting to benefit the SVS Foundation.

The ticket/donation website (vam19gala.givesmart.com) is now open. Members and friends may purchase their tickets there for the gala and, later, not only arrange to donate items for the Live Auction and Silent Auction but also peruse the listings to see if anything tickles their fancy. Bidding is expected to open sometime in May.

Encourages Other Young Surgeon-Scientists to Attend VRIC

Dr. Catherine Go had the opportunity last year to present her research at VRIC, answer questions about her work and talk collaboratively with others during the conference.

After her positive experience, she encourages other young researchers to attend this year’s Vascular Research Initiatives Conference with an eye toward submitting an abstract in 2020. (Abstract submissions are closed for this year’s VRIC, May 13, in Boston.)

Session by session, time slot by time slot, the 2019 Vascular Annual Meeting is coming together.

“Dr. (Vik) Kashyap and his Postgraduate Education Committee have finished selecting breakfast sessions and postgraduate courses, and the members are well on the way to finalizing workshops and concurrent sessions,” said Dr. Matthew Eagleton. He chairs the Program Committee, which oversees all the programming of the Vascular Annual Meeting.