BY DAVID RIGBERG, MD, AND KRISTYN MANNOIA, MD

Attendees had a “spectacular” evening at the 2019 SVS Foundation Gala, and organizers urge all members attending the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in June to keep that Friday evening clear for this year’s event.

The 2020 SVS Foundation Gala will be held Friday, June 19, at the recently renovated Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, the VAM headquarters hotel. SVS members had the chance during the 2019 gala to bid on a stay at the Fairmont.

Register today for the 2020 Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Monday, May 4, in Chicago.

The conference emphasizes emerging vascular science and encourages interactive participation of all attendees. VRIC Chicago 2020: “From Discovery to Translation” takes place at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, the same venue for the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions (May 5‒7).

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is undertaking a new study to take an objective, qualitative and quantitative approach when assessing the importance and financial impact of vascular services to health systems.

SVS members have said that the lack of identity for vascular services as a leading service line represents a fundamental threat to the specialty. In many markets, health system administrators are unaware of the importance of vascular surgery, its impact on patient safety and the value of the support it provides to many other service lines within an organization.

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has two dedicated member-supported service organizations fulfilling very distinct needs: the SVS Foundation and the SVS Political Action Committee.

Because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updates healthcare billing codes annually, vascular surgeons need to have updates as well. It is important they have the knowledge and understanding required to correctly apply these billing codes to receive reimbursement for their services to their patients.

With the expiration of the fourth edition of the Vascular Educational Self-Assessment Program (VESAP4) on July 31, owners have a bit more than six months to complete all modules and claim credits.

Those who want to purchase the educational product similarly should be aware of this expiration date; content and exams will not be available as of Aug. 1.

BY JEFFREY SIRACUSE, MD

As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee (two years), I have been able to attend both CPT and RUC meetings in conjunction with the American Medical Association (AMA).

BY CHERRIE ABRAHAM, MD

Audra Duncan, MD, is professor of surgery at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, and vascular surgery division chair since 2016. Prior to being named chair, she was on the faculty at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Duncan has led multiple educational and research committees, including as program director of the Mayo Vascular Surgery Residency and Fellowship; chair, Institutional Review Board; and chair of the American Board of Surgery Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination Committee.

BY MALACHI SHEAHAN III, MD