ACP Accomplishments and Progress

Accomplishments 2008-2009

2009 - 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:

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)

www.acpcongress.org

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.