Quality
SVS sustains and advances high-quality vascular care through its determination of appropriateness, engagement in quality improvement efforts, commitment to scientific methodology, and creation of quality measures to solidify the specialty.
SVS is committed to improving the quality of vascular care for our patients. Through its committees and programs, the society is addressing the ever-changing healthcare environment to reflect the needs of the vascular specialists and the patients they serve.
Quality is a large component of the SVS mission to advance excellence and innovation. Quality collaborates with education, advocacy, research and social awareness to address health issues plaguing patients.
Vascular Surgery MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Feedback and SVS Response
The Vascular Surgery MVP Feedback from the CMS public comment period has been posted to the CMS website. The SVS is very grateful for all the feedback that was given. After reviewing the MVP candidates, the feedback for the Vascular Surgery MVP was consistent with other MVP candidates and issues previously identified by CMS. Read our response to specific items brought to our attention.
How Medicare Quality Requirements Will Impact Reimbursement & Practical Tips to Successfully Meet Them
On Feb. 29, the SVS hosted the webinar, How Medicare Quality Requirements Will Impact Reimbursement & Practice Tips to Successfully Meet Them.
Vascular surgeons have repeatedly acknowledged financial threats to the specialty secondary to changes in reimbursement and government policies, specifically those involving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Vascular surgeons must be empowered to navigate current and future requirements and regulations to both ensure continued high-quality care for their patients and also to preserve their financial viability. All providers who submit claims to CMS, regardless of practice setting, are required to submit quality measures as part of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) or through an Alternative Payment Model (APM). While many SVS members may not be directly involved with QPP reporting currently, there are new requirements anticipated in the near term that have direct implications for all.
Vascular surgeons are encouraged to watch the webinar recording to fully understand these policies, and how to comply with them, to prevent reimbursement penalties with the rollout of the future CMS rules.
Supporting documents:
- How Medicare Quality Requirements Will Impact Reimbursements (Webinar Slides)
Quality Improvement Toolkits
The SVS Quality Improvement Committee has created toolkits to help physicians improve patient care and outcomes. Select a toolkit to get started.
Quality Improvement
SVS Quality Improvement Mission is to help all SVS members engage in quality improvement initiatives that are meaningful for patients, feasible for vascular specialists in all types of practice, and demonstrable to payors or other interested parties.
“Success will come to those practitioners and organizations who successfully make the transformation from the current practice of assuming quality to actually measuring and improving it.”
In 1997, Dr. Goldstone spoke these words to emphasize the importance of quality improvement in vascular care. To learn more about Dr. Goldstone’s vision, please read his International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter Presidential Address.
Join us! The Quality Improvement Forum on SVS Connect is a space for open conversation about quality improvement with your colleagues across the country.
Watch now: Hear from Dr. Jessica Simons, Chair of the Quality Improvement Committee.
Announcement
Ashley Vavra, MD, MS, Fred Weaver MD, Leila Mureebe, MD and Grace Wang, MD, MS presented Quality Improvement: Using a Data-Driven Approach to Improve Care and the Bottom Line at VAM on June 18th. Their presentation covered working knowledge of QI key terms and concepts, metrics and improvement science. The speakers discussed attributes of registry participation as well as how to conduct a quality improvement project. Aside from registry participation, the group spoke about how to conduct improvement projects without participating in a registry. For more in-depth information, please view the PowerPoint Presentation.
Appropriateness
SVS is committed to maximizing patient health outcomes through the decision-making process based on available resources.
Characteristics between Evidence Based Resources
| Clinical Practice Guidelines | Reporting Standards | Appropriate Use Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluates evidence in scientific literature | Provide consistency of definitions and classifications | AUC is the tool to determine if an intervention is appropriate for the patient’s condition as determined by a through literature search and determination by an expert panel |
| Assesses benefit and harms of treatment | The goal of the panel is to determine if the intervention benefits outweigh the harm | |
| Allows for individual customization of care per provider | AUC typically follows the publication of a CPG |
The first SVS AUC on Intermittent Claudication has been accepted for publication in April 2022. The next AUC topic will be carotid disease.
Appropriate Use Criteria
The first SVS AUC on Intermediate Claudication has been submitted for publication in April 2022. The next AUC topic will be carotid disease.
External AUC SVS Members participate on:
- AUC- ACR Radiologic Management of Mesenteric Ischemia
- AUC-ACR Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm or Dissection Follow-Up
- AUC Vascular Claudication-Assessment for Revascularization
- ACR AUC-Dialysis Fistula Malfunction
- ACR AUC-Radiologic Management of Iliac Artery Occlusive Disease
- ACR AUC-Sudden Onset of Cold, Painful Leg
- ACR AUC-Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- ACR AUC-Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm or Dissection Interventional Planning and Follow-up
- ACR AUC-Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Additional Resource
Learn more about the SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee and the resources they have created for SVS members and vascular care professionals.