ACP Accomplishments and Progress

Accomplishments 2010-2011

The organization, it's membership and the specialty indeed reached new heights this year. The Board of Directors and the many volunteers working on various committees initiated and completed many of the goals set out by ACP's strategic plan. Below you will find the accomplishments achieved over the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Members can view the full 2010-2011 Annual Report online by clicking here.

Annual Congress

The 24th Annual Congress was held in Orlando, FL at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World from November 4-7. Attendance for the event reached a new record with 973 regis- trants, up 9% from the 2009 Annual Congress. 72% if the attendees were comprised of ACP members.

The ACP Congress continues to attract both national and international recognition for its outstanding educational programs. It is known as one of the best avenues in the U.S. for physicians and medical professionals of all skill levels who are seeking a higher level of understanding of venous disease and desiring to deliver improved patient care.

The 2010 Congress Planning Committee, under the experienced direction of Dr. Melvin Rosenblatt, developed a program that provided attendees with an educational program, which met the needs of both the expert and novice phlebologist. It included an internationally known keynote speaker, twelve special interest sessions, eight in-depth instructional courses and ten symposia. The program covered both the basic and the newest scientific and practical clinical information on specific topics of interest in the field of phlebology.

Outreach

The ACP continued efforts to educate the medical community about phlebology and the organization by participating in a number of educational conferences and exhibit functions hosted by ancillary societies in 2010-2011. The ACP was showcased at the annual meetings of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)/Society of Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), the International Vein Conference (IVC), The American Venous Forum (AVF), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Venous Symposium in New York. Several ACP experts and leaders presented at the AVF, SVU, and IVC meetings on topics related to venous disease. The ACP continued outreach efforts to the academic and medical school communities by exhibiting at Duke University (a joint meeting was developed for Spring 2012) and the American Medical Association's Medical Student Section.

VENOUS TRAINING VIDEOS

The ACP commissioned training videos for use by members through the ACP website in order to fulfill on their mission to advance vein care and improve patient outcomes. The videos can be used to bridge gaps in knowledge or aid in presentations by faculty conducting training. Topics range from Ambulatory Phlebectomy Techniques to Sclerotherapy Basics in Vitro.

REGIONAL ULTRASOUND EDUCATION

The ACP added two new courses, which are of- fered regionally, to the schedule of live courses offered – Ultrasound Registry Review and Advanced Ultrasound Skills. The two courses were held February 19, 2010 in Paradise Valley Arizona.

CREATION OF THE IVIGRC

The ACP developed a coalition with the Amer can Venous Forum and Society for Interven- tional Radiologists to establish the Intersociety Venous Insurance and Government Relations Committee (IVIGRC). The goal of the coalition is to determine best practices for venous disease treatment and to affect insurance and government reimbursement for medically necessary phlebological procedures. The IVIGRC mission is to promote venous health by establishing evidence-based guidelines for best patient care and to encourage the use of these guidelines by the government and third-party payors as a resource for developing medical necessity criteria concerning the diagnosis and treatment of venous pathology, delineating reimbursement policies and credentialing standards, and promoting the use of needed data collection and quality outcomes measures for the treatment of venous disorders.

RPHS CERTIFICATION

In 2010, Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) launched the Phlebology Registry Examination and corresponding credential, the Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS). This credential program was a collaborative effort with the ACP, which approached CCI in 2007 to investigate the need for and ultimately develop a registry level credential for phlebology ultrasound. During our initial investigation, it was determined that the Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) and ARDMS credential Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) did not speak to the didactic and clinical expertise of phlebology ultrasound professionals—specifically the diagnostic nuances, clinical background, and therapeutic applications of this specialty. The RPhS serves as the credential for this highly specialized field.

A Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS) performs diagnostic tests and/or assists in nonsurgical, open surgical, and minimally invasive treatments utilizing in-depth knowledge of venous diseases, anatomy and pathophysiology to provide optimal patient outcomes and extend or enhance the quality of patients' lives. The specialization of sonographers in this area has been developing over the past 20 years, since the original inception of ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for varicose veins. With the significant growth in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) over the past decade, the numbers of sonography professionals specializing in Phlebology has grown.

Public Education

PBS SPECIAL

The overwhelming success of "Ask a Vein Care Expert", which aired on PBS in Arizona the prior year catalyzed the Public Education Committee to develop an initiative to produce a more comprehensive documentary on vein disease and treatment.

Richard Taylor of the Taylor Media Group was contracted to produce the special in conjunc tion with the Arizona PBS station KAET. The documentary will expand on the previous vein care special to provide viewers background on the vein system, how it works, what happens when it breaks down and the various treatment options. A panel of prominent phlebologists has been assembled to take questions from a live studio audience about specific vein issues. The goal of the production is to roll the special out to PBS stations across the country. The initial show is scheduled to air in the Phoenix market with the national airing to follow shortly thereafter.

CO-SPONSORSHIP OF DUKE UNIVERSITY'S CME ACTIVITY

In 2011 the ACP and Duke University entered into a partnership to co-sponsor the continuing medical education (CME) activity "From Foam to Filters: What's New in Venous Disease" at Duke University. The activity is scheduled to be held February 2-4, 2012. It is intended to further the mission of the ACP of advanc ing vein care and to provide exposure for both organizations.

Grants & Awards

PHLEBOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The ACP launched their first fellowship pro gram at New York University in June. Funding, through a generous grant of the ACP Founda tion, provides $110,000 for a twelve-month postgraduate training in the AMA self-designat ed practice specialty of phlebology. Lisa Eden Giammaria was the 2011 inaugural recipient of the fellowship. Negotiations are currently taking place with Harvard and Duke Universities for 2012.

PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM

The ACP Phlebology Preceptorship Program, now in its second year, was designed to improve public health by facilitating the matching of healthcare providers with phlebologists. This program allows healthcare providers to receive individual training with phlebologists in a clinical setting.

The goal of this engagement is to enhance the provider's knowledge in specific areas in which the provider identifies a need. The Preceptor ship Program is not a substitute for basic knowl edge and it does not credential the provider in any manner.

WALTER P. DEGROOT CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP AWARD

The de Groot Fellowship is available only to ACP members. It exists to provide individu als with a $2,500 cash stipend to study with recognized phlebology experts throughout the world. The 2010 recipient was Markiyan Soloviy of Lviv, Ukraine.

JOBST RESEARCH AWARD FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PHLEBOLOGY

The JOBST Research award for the Advancement of Phlebology is available to both members and non-members who stimulate research in phlebology, utilizing a structured approach of developing aims, guidance and funding requirements. The amount of the award is $15,000.

ACP Foundation

The ACP Foundation continued to remain successful in its fundraising efforts in 2010-2011, allowing the Foundation Board in the past year to support education and research program in phlebology.

All ACP members are encouraged to support the ACP Foundation at any level to sustain the momentum and enthusiasm of its first five years in existence in funding needed education and research programs in Phlebology. To obtain more information about the ACP Foundation please visit www.phlebologyfoundation.org.

ACCME Accreditation
ACP Public Awareness Campaign
Public Education DVD under development
Leadership Mentoring Program
Research Grants
Research-In-Practice Grant
Research Trainee Grant
Junior Faculty Grant
BSN JOBST Research Award for the Advancement of Phlebology
Walter P. de Groot MD Clinical Phlebology Fellowship
ACP Phlebology Preceptorship Program (25 approved programs)
NYU Fellowship Program
2010 Scholarship Program (31 scholars attending this year's Congress)
The First Phlebology Ultrasound Credentialing Exam
Intersociety Venous Insurance and Government Relations Committee (IVIGRC)
MGMA Survey Data Collection
Alliance against Venous disease Burdens (AVB)
Phlebology Practice Accreditation - IAC
Intersociety Venous Insurance & Government Relations Committee (IVIGRC)

Accomplishments 2009-2010

2010 - The Year in Review

The past year has been one of many accomplishments and some challenges for the ACP. The list below represents highlights of the achievements of the numerous committee volunteers, leadership, and staff of the College. The ACP Board of Directors thanks everyone involved for their dedication, service, and success in reaching the goals as defined in the ACP's Strategic Plan.

Accomplishments:

ACCME Accredidation

New CME Manager hired (Pam Beaton)

Public Awareness Campaign

Chicago Tribune article distributed in May
PBS Special "Ask a Phlebology Expert" aired in June
Microsite launched (www.healthyveins.org)
Widget created and made available
ACP Blog activated (www.phlebology.org/acpblog)
Radio interviews with Dr. Nick Morrison and Diana Neuhardt, RVT
New York Times article featured ACP members
Social Media presence through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter
Webinars under development

Public Education DVD under development
Leadership Mentoring Program launched in November
Research Grants

Research Trainee Grants - Haruka Itakura, MD and Nishith Singh, MD
Junior Faculty Investigator Grant - Ellen Dillavou, MD
BSN JOBST Research Award - Todd Berland, MD
Walter P. DeGroot Clinical Phlebology Fellowship Award - Todd Berland, MD

ACP Phlebology Preceptorship Program [25 approved programs]
NYU Fellowship Program
2010 Scholarship Program [31 scholars attending this year's Congress]
The First Phlebology Ultrasound Credentialing Exam
Intersociety Venous Insurance and Government Relations Committee (IVIGRC)
MGMA Survey Data Collection
Alliance against Venous disease Burdens (AVB)

Accomplishments 2008-2009

2009 - The Year in Review

Accomplishments:

The second annual Phlebology Review Course – Dallas (Neil Khilnani)
Hemodynamics Course – Scottsdale (Nick Morrison)
Advanced Sclerotherapy Course – Las Vegas (Marlin Schul)

Annual Congress (New Sessions) – Palm Desert (Lowell Kabnick)
Interactive debates
Oral poster presentations
New symposia added:

Procedural Complications
Adding Cosmetic Procedures to Your Practice
International Symposium with Spanish to English translation

ACP Symposium at UIP World Congress (Nick Morrison)
Joint project between the SVU, GE Healthcare, and the ACP to produce ultrasound educational DVD’s. (Diana Neuhardt)
Development of an ACP Phlebology Preceptorship Program (Steve Elias)
Creation of a new Section for Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants (Elizabeth Coll)
Core Curriculum for Phlebology Nurses Manual (Terri Morrison & Barbara Deusterman)
Resident Training Scholarship Program – 40+ attending the November Congress this year (Marlin Schul)
ACCME Accredited Provider Application Process – Spring/Summer of 2010 (J. Gordon Wright)
ACP Phlebology Fellowship Training Program – (UCSD) – (Lowell Kabnick)
High Definition Video Editing of existing footage for on-line educational programs (Richard Vasquez)
Development of a consensus document on Foam Sclerotherapy (Suman Rathbun)
Education grants for Insurance Medical Directors to attend the Congress (Peter Benson)
New Public Awareness Campaign (Diana Neuhardt)
Leadership Development Training Program (John Mauriello)
Phlebology Sonography Credential (Joe Zygmunt & Diana Neuhardt)
Blue Cross / Blue Shield Task Force to address Mass. Ablation Policy (Julie Stoughton & Diana Neuhardt)
Expansion of the ACP Board to include non-physicians (ACP Board)
Inclusion of Non-Physicians as voting members (ACP Board)
Awarded the 2013 World Congress Meeting in Boston, MA. (ACP Board)
Nick Morrison Elected to Vice President position on the UIP Council (UIP)

Accomplishments 2006-2007

The Board of Directors of the American College of Phlebology is pleased to report on the many accomplishments of the volunteer leadership and staff in carrying out the mission of the College this year. Education and research are our primary purposes and, in striving to reach those goals, we met many of the objectives contained in the 2006-2007 Tactical Initiative Plan including specialty recognition, board certification, regional advanced topical workshops, and fellowship programs.

Annual Congress

In 2007, Annual Congress attendance skyrocketed with attendance reaching 768, 17% higher than the 2006 Congress. Members accounted for approximately 70% of attendees, while non-members account for 30%. The Starr Pass Marriott was a superb location but was limited in the number of available rooms for attendees. Attendees enjoyed the marvelous landscape and luxurious accommodations. Next year, we are planning ahead to accommodate as many attendees as possible by increasing our block of rooms at the Marco Island Marriott.

The ACP Congress continues to attract national and international recognition for its outstanding educational programs. It is known as one of the best venues in the U.S. for physicians and medical professionals of all skill levels who are seeking a higher level of understanding of venous disease and desiring to deliver improved patient care.

The 2007 Congress Planning Committee, under the experienced direction of Dr. John Mauriello, developed a program that provided attendees with twelve enhanced interactive sessions; an internationally-known keynote speaker; twenty-two abstract presentations in four sessions; eight in-depth instructional courses; and ten excellent symposia. The program covered not only the basics but also the newest scientific and practical clinical information possible on specific topics of interest in the field of phlebology. Each year feedback from the previous year’s attendees provides the basis for improvements and changes in our Annual Congress Program. The 2008 Program Committee will review the 2007 evaluation results to help determine which topics are most important to our members.

Outreach

The ACP continued efforts in 2007 to educate the medical community about phlebology and the College by participating in a number of educational conferences and exhibit functions hosted by ancillary societies. The ACP was showcased at the exhibit functions of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Society of Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), and the International Vein Conference (IVC). Several ACP experts and leaders presented at the AOA, SVU, and IVC meetings on topics related to venous disease. In addition, Dr. Nick Morrison and Ms. Diana Neuhardt were invited to represent the ACP at a meeting of the Coalition on Quality Ultrasound (CQU). Continued outreach efforts are fostering a better understanding of venous disease within the medical community at large, and garnering interest in attending the College’s educational meetings while increasing our membership.

Education

ACCME Pre-Application Submitted and Approved

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) accreditation is a mark of quality for continuing medical education (“CME”) activities that are planned, implemented and evaluated by ACCME accredited providers in accordance with ACCME’s Essential Areas and Elements and Accreditation Policies. ACCME accreditation assures the medical community and the public that such activities provide physicians with information that can assist them in maintaining or improving their practice of medicine.

Under the direction of Dr. J. Gordon Wright, the Task Force for ACCME Accreditation successfully completed and submitted the pre-application in September. The pre-application allows the ACCME to evaluate the ACP’s existing programs and processes and provide feedback about areas needing improvement in order to become ACCME accredited. The accreditation process takes twelve to eighteen months to complete.

Advanced Education

The College held an intensive two-day advanced clinical symposium at the Morrison Vein Institute in Scottsdale, AZ in September for physicians and nurses interested in advanced practical experience for in-office diagnosis and treatment of superficial venous disease. The symposium offered duplex ultrasound evaluation of complex cases, ambulatory phlebectomy, duplex ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, compression, and the latest catheter based endothermal venous ablation techniques. Time was also spent on in-depth discussions about the business aspects of an active phlebology practice.

Phlebology Review Course Development

Under the direction of Dr. Neil Khilnani, the Professional Education Advisory Committee developed a phlebology review course, a valuable education opportunity for those interested in preparing for the board certification exam in phlebology or reviewing the essentials of venous disease and its care. The first course was offered February 29-March 1, 2008 in Dallas, TX. The next review course will be held in spring 2009, prior to the next certification exam in phlebology. Check the meetings page for information.

Board Certification Exam in Phlebology

The Board Certification Task Force and the item writing team, chaired by Dr. Steve Zimmet, made significant progress in developing a board certification exam in phlebology. The Task Force selected an outside organization to assist in the development of a comprehensive, high quality, psychometrically valid exam in phlebology; the ACP Foundation Board approved funding for the development of the exam; and the American Board of Phlebology became official with the election of officers at the Annual Congress in November. The first American Board of Phlebology certification exam was offered in May 2008. The 200-item, computer-based exam was delivered on the Pearson VUE testing system with over 4,000 authorized test centers worldwide. For more information regarding the exam please visit the American Board of Phlebology website.

Phlebology Curriculum Developed

The ACP published the first “Curriculum of the American College of Phlebology” in the fall 2006 issue of Phlebology. The development of the ACP curriculum was a collaborative effort of Drs. Bergan, Min, Morrison, Nguyen, and Zimmet. The curriculum describes which content is appropriate in educational programs and is a precursor to establishing the requirements of the academic fellowship program.

Academic Fellowship Program in Phlebology Created & Funded

The Fellowship Training Program Advisory Committee under the direction of Dr. Tri Nguyen developed a twelve-month postgraduate training program in phlebology. Approved programs will provide fellows with education and clinical training in all aspects of venous disease, per the ACP approved curriculum.

ACP Phlebology Fellowship Training Programs are approved only after demonstrating and fulfilling rigorous standards of training and excellence. New programs will have the distinction of being among the first formal training programs in the nation, receiving recognition by the ACP and receiving a funding grant to support a twelve-month phlebology fellowship.

Through a generous grant from the ACP Foundation, the College made funding available in the amount of $75,000 to the University of California San Diego for the first ever Academic Fellowship Program in phlebology to be directed by Dr. John J. Bergan.

Graduates of approved phlebology fellowships will be eligible to sit for board certification in phlebology. Information about the fellowship programs is available on the ACP Website in the Research section.

Three International Scholarships Awarded

The ACP International Affairs Advisory Committee, under the direction of Dr. Pauline Raymond-Martimbeau, created a scholarship program to assist international members in attending the 21st Annual Congress in Tucson, AZ. We are pleased to report that three scholarships were funded in the amount of $7,125. The 2007 recipients were from Venezuela, Guatemala, and Mexico.

2nd Edition of Fundamentals of Phlebology Published

Compiled and edited by Dr. Helane Fronek, the 2nd Edition of Fundamentals of Phlebology: Venous Disease for Clinicians was published in late October and released at the 21st Annual Congress meeting in November. The book is an excellent compilation containing seventeen informative chapters written by experts in the field on a variety of phlebological topics. It is a “must have” for every phlebology office and a “must read” for those involved with patient care: physicians, nurses, ultrasonographers, and allied healthcare professionals.