The ACS, with the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), has launched a new national quality verification program to help participating hospitals improve outcomes and deliver the best treatment for patients receiving vascular surgical and interventional care in an inpatient setting.
The Vascular Verification Program (Vascular-VP) leverages the strengths and expertise of the ACS and SVS to provide an evidence-driven, standardized pathway for instituting and growing a quality improvement and clinical care framework within a hospital’s vascular program.
"Vascular-VP builds upon the ACS’s longstanding commitment to surgical quality. By utilizing the existing infrastructure of the College’s quality programs and working closely with the SVS to address vascular-specific provider and patient needs, we have built an important program that will help all participating hospitals improve the quality of care they provide,” added Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, ACS Executive Director & CEO.
A Vascular-Specific Program
Vascular-VP was developed by experts who recognize the depth and breadth of vascular care and treatment. Multiple levels of participation (Comprehensive and Verified) help ensure the program can be established in a variety of inpatient hospital settings and encompasses all aspects of vascular care at an institution.
The program provides hospitals with a framework for patient education and informed consent, as well as the organizing principles for developing comprehensive patient services in the hospital and beyond, including allied health and patient support services.
Program Standards
The Vascular-VP program standards manual is the fundamental basis for the program. The manual, Optimal Resources for Vascular Surgery and Interventional Care (2023 Inpatient Standards), addresses elements of vascular surgical care and quality, including:
- Institutional commitment
- Program scope and governance
- Resources for facilities, equipment, services, and personnel
- Clinical care
- Data abstraction and analysis
- Quality improvement
- Education and research
“This program can truly be transformative throughout the entire hospital,” said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, Director of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. “Vascular-VP helps strengthen a hospital’s safety and continuous improvement culture to enhance patient outcomes with greater reliability and standardization of care.”
Hospitals interested in becoming a Vascular-VP institution can apply today.
