OUR IMPACT

To Educate is to Empower: Increased education and awareness of venous disease among healthcare professionals

• Venous2020, including the Day of Science and AVF Annual Meeting welcomed more than 400 attendees from 19 countries. More than 100 abstracts were submitted and many were referred to the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders (JVS-VL) for publication.
• AVF leadership presented Venous sessions at a range of venues including the ACP Annual Congress, VEITHsymposium, Venous Symposium, SVS Vascular Annual Meeting and European Venous Forum Annual Meeting.
• More than 100 Residents, Fellows and Medical Students benefitted from AVF Early Career educational programs this past year. These included 2 Fellows and Residents Courses and a new Early Career Session at the 2020 AVF Annual Meeting.

New Knowledge Improves Lives: Support cutting-edge research and clinical innovation in venous and lymphatic disease that will advance patient care

• The AVF-JOBST Research Grant entered its 25th year.  The research developed by grant recipients has helped advance the understanding and treatment of venous disease.
• The impact factor for our medical journal, the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders (JVS-VL) grew significantly from 1.619 to 2.696 – the highest of any venous publication. It’s now ranked 47th out of all surgical journals and in the top 25% of all ranked medical journals!

Advocate for Access: Promote evidence-based best practices to ensure patients have access to the highest quality care.

• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Compression Therapy After Invasive Treatment of Superficial Veins of the Lower Extremities, led by Fedor Lurie, were published in the JVS-VL.
• Led by Dr. Elna Masuda, we completed the first phase of a multi-society collaboration committed to addressing inappropriate venous care for patients.  Initial Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) results were presented at the 2019 AVF Annual Meeting and the final document has been published in the JVS-VL.
• Endovenous Heat Induced Thrombus (EHIT) Guidelines, led by Dr. Lowell Kabnick, have been submitted for publication.
• Our Health Policy Committee (HPC) has worked on several letters addressing the need for coverage for non-thermal techniques, specifically mechanic-chemical treatment of axial venous insufficiency.
• A joint letter with SVS and AVLS was sent to the SDMS regarding the cleaning of Ultrasound equipment.
• The AVF was invited to join Evidence Street, used by Blue Cross Blue Shield to collect research and evidence to help them create their policies on treatment and reimbursement for their patients.
• Members of the HPC met with CMS to discuss ways in which AVF could better provide information used to determine policy. When the HPC became aware of local LCDs not supporting point of service care, AVF members responded in collaboration with ACP AVLS in person to publicly held meetings and with written responses. When CMS made proposed cuts to supplies used to treat venous disease, the AVF responded.
• The Ethics Committee created and introduced the AVF Member Pledge as a commitment to observing and promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct in their professional affairs.

Empower and Enable Vein Care to Improve Quality of Life & Reduce Disability: Educate those who are unaware of venous and lymphatic disease and increase access to care for the underserved.

• Beginning in July 2019, the AVF began monthly digital distribution of the VEIN Specialist Newsletter and has expanded to each more than 3,500 individuals interested in enhancing venous and lymphatic health.
• The Venous Patient Outreach Survey (vPOS) Committee has convened and is formulating a patient survey to identify what venous care information patients are looking for, where they are looking for it, and how they prefer to receive it.  We will use this critical data to design a patient education program to meet the actual needs of our future patients.
• Dr. John Blebea is leading the authorship of a new Patient Guide to Venous Disease.