“Evaluation of Thrombolysis Using Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis with Concomitant Femoral-Popliteal Venous Segment Involvement.” Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, September, 2017.

The SVS Patient Safety Organization and M2S, in conjunction with the SVS, presented a webinar last month on getting started in the Medicare reimbursement program, including the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

For those who couldn't attend, it is posted, along with the presentation slides, on the Vascular Quality Initiative website's home page. View it today to get up to speed on MIPS and MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015). 

GOOD NEWS FOR BASEBALL PITCHERS, OTHER ATHLETES

Large national study finds vascular surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome is safe

CHICAGO, Illinois, August 1, 2017 – A national study has confirmed the safety of decompression surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, also known as TOS. It’s good news for patients whose vascular surgeon has recommended surgery.

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) executive board has established a task force to explore developing a vascular certification program for inpatient and outpatient centers.

Before departing for the July 4 recess, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1215, “Protecting Access to Care Act,” 218-210, a bill that SVS supports. The legislation is modeled after medical liability reform laws already in place in Texas and California, among other states that have a positive effect on increasing access to care and keeping health care costs affordable for patients and physicians.

At the 2017 Vascular Annual Meeting (May 31-June 3), the SVS Foundation awarded a number of basic and clinical research grants.

SVS Foundation and American College of Surgeons Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
Karen Woo, MD; University of California, Los Angeles; Outcomes of Dialysis Vascular Access in the Elderly

HOSPITALS WITH MORE UNINSURED PATIENTS HAVE HIGHER FAILURE TO RESCUE RATES FOR OPEN AORTIC SURGERY

“Effects of Hospital Safety-Net Burden and Hospital Volume on Failure to Rescue After Open Abdominal Aortic Surgery,” Journal of Vascular Surgery, August, 2017.

CHICAGO, Illinois, August, 2017 – As Congress debates funding Medicaid and the uninsured, a new vascular study finds that hospitals with a high ratio of those two patient groups are less able to save patients who develop serious surgical complications.

Eat like an Italian (minus the pizza)

Nutrition Tips for Better Vascular Health

CHICAGO, Illinois, July 24, 2017 – Mediterranean cuisine has gotten a lot of attention for its potential impact on cardiovascular health. In fact, newer research in the Moli-Sani Study has added to the mounting evidence that certain food choices of Italians who live in the Molise region correlated with 37 percent fewer deaths during the research than those who didn’t make those choices.

This month’s leadership spotlight is on Joseph L. Mills, MD, FACS, Professor and Chief of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Dr. Mills has been President of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (now VESS), Western Vascular Society, and the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS). He has a strong interest in education and is a past-chair of the Vascular Surgery Board (VSB) of the American Board of Surgery (ABS), and a member of the Surgery Residency Review Committee (RRC) of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. We discussed his approach to leadership from the viewpoint of the Kouzes/Posner trait of ‘Encouraging the Heart.’

Two disability insurance plans offered to SVS members The famous Lloyd’s of London has insured hands (the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards), legs (Betty Grable and others), chest hair (Welsh crooner Tom Jones), nose (Jimmy Durante), tongues (Gene Simmons of Kiss and others), voice (Bruce Springsteen), even beards (Macy’s Santa). It insured the Titanic, issued the first motor vehicle policy and covers Richard Branson’s private spaceship.