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E-Letter from SVS. April 2004.

VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2

Your Vote is Needed - Don't Miss the Annual Business Meeting

The Society for Vascular Surgery will conduct its Annual Business Meeting in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, June 4, 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. PST at the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 204 A-C.

Included in the meeting will be votes on new Active, Corresponding, and Honorary members, a membership dues increase and a bylaws change to enable the new SVS Professional Conduct Program.

Vascular 2004 is Biggest Annual Meeting Yet

Be sure to join your colleagues in Anaheim, June 3-6, for the Vascular 2004 Annual Meeting.  There are several sessions that you won't want to miss this year - the following are highlights:

Post-Graduate Course: Endovascular Symposium, "Broadening Endovascular Horizons - the Next Generation" - Simulated training course to be held in conjunction supported by Cordis Endovascular.

Breakfast Sessions - Thursday, June 3 - "The Thoracic Aorta is the Next Frontier in Endovascular Therapy" - supported by Medtronic; Friday, June 4 - "Pharmacotherapy for the Vascular Surgeon" - supported by Otsuka; Saturday, June 5 - "Live Cases: Carotid Stenting" - supported by Cordis Endovascular

Debate Sessions - Friday, June 4 - 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Joint sessions with the Society for Vascular Ultrasound - Friday, June 4 - "Coding/Reimbursement: an update of AAA Screening for 2004 & 2005" & "Issues of Interest in Dialysis Access"

This year's Industry Sponsored Symposia are listed below:

Wednesday, June 2

6:00-7:30 a.m. - "Optimizing Outcomes in Antibiotic-Resistant Surgical Infections," Pfizer, Inc.

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - "Path to Patency," Abbott Laboratories, and "Challenges in Engineering: The Aorta, Carotid and SFA," Bard Peripheral Vascular.

Thursday, June 3

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. -  "Endoluminaries," Cook, Inc., and "Endo AAA," W.L. Gore and Associates.

Saturday, June 5

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - "Managing Serious Gram-Positive Infections in the Surgical Patient: A Gallery of Data," Pfizer, Inc.

New Professional Conduct Program to Address Fraudulent Expert Witnesses

Recognizing the problem of fraudulent expert witnesses testifying against vascular surgeons, the SVS Board of Directors approved in April the creation of an SVS Professional Conduct Program.  The program, which is based on the successful model created by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, will provide a way for SVS members to bring complaints of unprofessional conduct of any nature, including false advertising, unscrupulous business practices, substance abuse or failure to retain qualifications, in addition to fraudulent expert witness testimony.  The program is expected to be operational by late 2004.

Bylaws Vote in June Needed to Implement the Program

In order to enable the Professional Conduct Committee, a change in the SVS Bylaws has been brought forward by the Board of Directors and will be voted on by the membership at the June SVS Annual Business Meeting.  The proposed bylaws changes include adding specific mention of the Committee in Article VIII, Section 5, as follows:

"The Professional Conduct Committee shall consist of three to five active members, who shall serve for three year terms and who will be eligible for reappointment.  The chair shall be designated by the President.  The Committee will be responsible for impartially investigating charges of unprofessional conduct brought by members against other members, and recommending disciplinary actions, when appropriate, to the Board of Directors."

Along with the program, the SVS Board also approved a new position statement, "Guidelines for Testimony by Vascular Surgeons Serving as Expert Witnesses in Litigation" .

Modest Dues Increase Proposed for 2005

At the April 1, 2004 Society for Vascular Surgery Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved for membership vote a modest $50 dues increase for Active and Corresponding Members along with new dues and fees for the following:  Candidate Members - $50 annual dues; Senior Members - $150 annual dues; Application fee for Active and Corresponding Membership - $100. 

The rationale for the proposed changes includes the addition of many new programs and services that are currently underway:

Professional Conduct Program to Address Fraudulent Expert Witnesses

Advocacy efforts in support of Medicare ultrasound screening benefit for detection of AAA

The outreach program to primary care physicians to position vascular surgeons as their "partner in vascular health"

Addition of new education offerings (2 coding courses in 2004)

Continued enhancements and expansion of the VasuclarWeb

Increased communications to members

The Board also took into consideration comparative dues information from other medical societies, the current costs to carry a member and the value of benefits provided.  The membership will vote on the increase at the Society for Vascular Surgery's Annual Business Meeting on Friday, June 4 in Anaheim.

SVS Membership Growth Continues

G. Patrick Clagett, MD

One of the goals of the new SVS is to become a grassroots organization representing all vascular surgeons throughout North America.  Currently, there are 1,895 Active and Senior Members.  There are also 238 Candidate Members, most of who are in vascular training and are in the "pipeline" to become new members. 

Our goal is to attract all eligible, practicing vascular specialists to our organization.  Eligibility criteria are broad and inclusive.  To quote from the Bylaws:  "Active membership may be granted to physicians residing in the United States and Canada who have demonstrated active interest in the field of vascular disease and achieved recognition by meritorious contributions to the knowledge of vascular diseases or to their treatment, or by a demonstrated commitment to the field through community service and excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases."  Two Active Members must sponsor a prospective applicant.

Starting in 2003, we mounted an aggressive campaign to increase membership.  We have obtained membership rosters from regional and local vascular societies throughout the country.  Mailings soliciting completion of SVS application forms have been sent to members of these groups who were not already members of the old SVS or the AAVS.  I am happy to report that almost 200 application forms have been received in the Chicago office for 2004.        

The membership drive will continue throughout 2004-05.  If you know of individuals who are qualified but are not yet SVS members, contact us at 800-258-7188 to have an application mailed to you. 

We are well on the way to becoming the most influential voice representing physicians who treat vascular disease!

The SVS would like to remember the following vascular surgeons who have recently passed away:  Dr. Frank H. Leeds, Dr. Alton E. Shader, Dr. Samuel Kaplan, Dr. John A. Hemmer, Dr. Raymond Krause, Dr. John J. Cranley, Jr., Dr. James M. Shannon, Dr. Demetre M. Nicoloff, and Dr. Harold M. Albert.

Approval is Close for Carotid Stent Placement Technology

The FDA will consider the J&J Cordis carotid stent and embolic protection device package in late April.  FDA approval is expected this summer.  The SVS submitted written comments for the hearings supporting the use of carotid stenting in high-risk patients and urging FDA to initiate additional research on the use of carotid stenting in lower-risk patients. 

New Vascular CPT Code Applications Submitted for 2005

Robert M. Zwolak, MD

2005 Category I CPT Code Applications have been submitted for the following procedures:

Transcatheter placement of intravascular stent(s), cervical carotid artery, percutaneous; with embolic protection

Transcatheter placement of intravascular stent(s), cervical carotid artery, percutaneous; without embolic protection

Arteriovenous anastomosis, open; by upper arm cephalic vein transposition
 
Endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm or dissection; using modular bifurcated prosthesis (two docking limbs)

Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous, radiofrequency; first vein treated

Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous, laser; first treated

2005 Category III Emerging Technology CPT Code Application submitted:

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm or dissection, abdominal aorta involving visceral vessels (superior mesenteric, celiac or renal); using fenestrated modular bifurcated prosthesis (two docking limbs)

Placement of visceral extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral vessels, each visceral branch

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm or dissection, abdominal aorta involving visceral vessels (superior mesenteric, celiac or renal); using fenestrated modular bifurcated prosthesis (two docking limbs), radiological supervision and interpretation

Placement of visceral extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral vessels, each visceral branch, radiological supervision and interpretation

SVS-led National Aneurysm Alliance Continues to Grow

Robert M. Zwolak, MD

SVS created the National Aneurysm Alliance in late 2003 to advocate for a Medicare ultrasound-screening benefit for detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms, which could save up to 15,000 American lives per year.

Alliance members now include: American College of Radiology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Echocardiography, American Vascular Association, Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Society for Interventional Radiology, Society for Vascular Ultrasound, Aneurysm Outreach, Inc., Boston Scientific, Cook Group, W.L. Gore, J&J Cordis, Medtronic, Medical Media Systems, NEMA, Philips, Siemens, and Sonosite.

Draft bill language is undergoing final revisions.  Bill introduction is planned for this spring.  The primary sponsors are:  Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), Rep. Jim Greenwood (R- PA), Senator Chris Dodd (D-T) and Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY).  There are currently 11 additional original cosponsors and more are being added weekly.  Vascular Coding Courses Being Offered

A few places still remain for the May 7th Vascular Coding Course in Chicago.  Information is also available at that location about the October 23rd course in Boston.

Mark Your Calendar

May 7          Vascular Coding Course, Wyndham Chicago, Chicago, IL

June 1         Deadline for Application for Lifeline Foundation/NIH K23 Award

June 3 - 6    Vascular 2004 Annual Meeting, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim,      CA           

June 4          SVS Annual Business Meeting, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

October 23   Vascular Coding Course, Marriott Boston Long Wharf Hotel, Boston, MA

2005

June 16 - 19 Vascular 2005 Annual Meeting, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL

2006

June 1 - 4     Vascular 2006 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA