AVF E-News
Dear American Venous Forum Members:
We wanted to keep you abreast of the various initiatives and committee work of the Forum. If you'd like to become more actively involved, host a screening, learn more about the Venous Registry, etc., we'd love to hear from you - contact us at: info@veinforum.org
Annual Meeting
A very successful 23rd Annual Meeting was held at the Hilton Bay Front Hotel in San Diego, February 23-26th with over 500 in attendance, including vascular and general surgeons, interventional radiologists and cardiologists, phlebologists, vascular nurses and technologists, and others interested in venous and lymphatic disease.
New and existing committees have been active and quite productive, as have been the broad and varied AVF initiatives:
Inter-Societal Venous Government and Insurance Relations Committee (IVGIRC) established this year. This Committee chaired by ACP. The mission is to establish evidenced-based guidelines for appropriate venous care through the collaborative, inter-societal relations of dedicated venous clinicians among the American College of Phlebology, American Venous Forum and the Society of Interventional Radiology. To encourage governmental entities and third party payors to use these guidelines as a resource for developing medical necessity criteria, establishing reimbursement policies and delineating quality measures for the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease.
Research Committee
Committee is preparing a survey for AVF membership to better determine important areas of venous care that may have significant variability because of a lack of evidence based data/guidelines. Once survey results are collected and analyzed the data will be used to define and propose a randomized controlled research trial with industry sponsored funding that would provide evidence based data to apply to clinical practice. These projects could be assigned to junior or senior members of the AVF to lead as the principal investigators. This projectwill also include developing a mechanism with other societies (ACP, SVM) to increase the funding opportunities by enhancing the funding amount, combining separate grants in different societies that are sponsored by a single companyto make it into a substantial funding grant and increase the level and qualityof applications.
Outcomes Committee
Enrollment on the VCSS validation protocol is completed. The data is collated and at the statistician for review. The committee hopes to present the results available by meeting time. There has been our major push and the group responded well to getting over 150 patients enrolled and evaluated.
The Revision of the Venous Clinical Severity Score was published in JVS in November 2010 as a Special Communication from the AVF There have been many requests for copies of this document internationally. More requests from Europe than the US.
1) Rev VCSS is part of the ATTRACT Trial.
2) Rev VCSS is part of the Varisolve Phase 3 FDA Clinical Trial.
3) Rev VCSS is undergoing validation with Dr. Marston.
4) Rev VCSS is recommended Grade 1B in the Gloviczki "THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH VARICOSE VEINS AND ASSOCIATED CHRONIC VENOUS DISEASES Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum."
5) Rev VCSS is being considered by a joint committee of the AVF, ACP and SIR to be part of a consensus document for Medical Necessity Guidelines for insurance companies.
6) Rev VCSS is in front of the SVS Health Policy Committee that communicates with CMS and the Obama "Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute"
Practice Guidelines: "THE CARE OFPATIENTS WITH VARICOSE VEINS AND ASSOCIATED CHRONIC VENOUS DISEASES" Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum," has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.
Guideline topics for serious consideration:
1. Management of venous ulcers.
2. Placement and removal of vena cava filters.
3. Management of venous thoracic outlet syndrome.
4. Management of chronic venous occlusions.
Ulcer Initiative: The new PVS/Strategic planning committee under the Administrative council was created by the EC, and the members were appointed. The PVS/Strategic planning committee coordinates publication of editorials in multiple specialties journals and to reach out to wound healing organizations to work with us on venous ulcer initiative to reducevenous ulcers by 50% during the next decade.
The AVF's National Venous Screening Program (NVSP) continues with the mission of increasing public awareness of acute and chronic venous diseases through education, identification, and empowerment. In addition to educating the general public, the NVSP also seeks to inform the medical community about the importance of venous disease, provide an entry into the medical system for patients with established venous disease, and allow for the identification of venous specialists at the regional level. The screening process for participants consists of four simple steps: completion of a brief demographic questionnaire; assessment of venous VTE risk and venous-specific quality of life; abbreviated venous ultrasound exam; and lower extremity inspection for signs of chronic venous insufficiency. Participants receive a report card as well as disease-specific educational materials during the exit interview. Those screened are encouraged to share their results with their primary care provider.
Now in its third year, the AVF has expanded its National DVT Risk Assessment Screening Program. The mission of the AVF, DVT Screening program is to create a heightened level of national awareness about DVT and PE by promoting and administering a DVT risk assessment in a variety of health care settings. Our hospital partners realize and support these risk assessment events as it allows them to reach out to the local community and hospital staff with important health care information while positioning themselves as a trusted source of health information and healthcare services.
To date, the NVSP remains the only dedicated non-profit program screening for venous disease in the United States. Through its screening efforts the AVF brings the public and healthcare professionals the latest venous health information.
Registry
American Venous Registry (AVR) - Launches in 2011
The launch of the American Venous Registry is off to a great start. The centerpiece is the coverstory in the Jan/Feb issue of Vein Magazine. A full time professional administrator, Uchenna Onyeachom, was hired Sept. 27, 2010.
The AVR is the only online, nationwide registry dedicated to venous disease. The AVF provides a platform for physicians to share and evaluate data with the national aggregate toward the ultimate goal of improving patient care and shaping the future of venous therapy. The AVR will be comprised of five (5)modules:
Varicose Vein Module
This module is complete and live
Stent Module Committee:
Completion Deadline:June 2011
IVC Filter Module
This module is now complete and will be"live" in the coming weeks
Coming soon:
DVT Thrombectomy/Thrombolysis Module
Upper Extremity DVT Module
An orientation process has been developed.Process includes GoToMeeting orientation and distribution of a user's packet: AVR Welcome Letter, FAQs, IRB submission guidelines, technical support. A policy has been drafted for approval regarding AVF's assistance with high-volume centers.
Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHRT) has been contacted and it has been determined that the registry meets the meaningful use criteria necessary for certification as a CMS designated Electronic Medical Record. Approval was given authorizing the purchase ($1,000) toolkit and application for certifying the registry, additional cost will arise when the application is sent in. No additional costs for added modules.
Website
Boston Interactive has been hired to create an entirely new site in design and functionality. Website content has been categorized and prioritized into 3 phases. The committee has finalized the wireframe and look/layout. Content is currently being uploaded and/or re-written.
Education Council Update
Additional programs are planned for 2011. The committee is working on standardizing the talks and creating a library with the goal of having the talks standardized before the next course.
2011 AVF Medical Education Programs
Fellows Course in Venous Disease
- Friday, April 29 - Sunday, May 1; Host: Steve Elias, NY Presbyterian Hospital, NYC, NY
- Friday, December 2 - Sunday, December 4; Host: Peter Lawrence, UCLA , Los Angeles, CA
Vein Forum (attending physicians course)
- Friday, October 28 - Saturday, October 29; Chair: Tony Gasparis; Hotel TBD, Chicago, IL
Respectfully submitted,
Fedor Lurie, MD
AVF Secretary
October 12th, 2011