Proposed Changes to IAC Vein Center Standards By Khanh Q. Nguyen, DO, RPVI, IAC Board of Directors
T
he Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) provides accreditation programs for vein treatment and management. The IAC programs for accreditation are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting health care and all support one common mission:Â Improving health care through accreditationÂŽ. At the most recent IAC board meeting, members discussed two significant changes to the current standards. These changes are currently in a comment period and will likely go into effect by the Fall of 2020. The first major change deals with providing guidance for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in accredited Vein Centers. The second change pertains to adding an additional pathway for qualification for the Medical Director and/or Medical Staff. Under the revised Vein Center Standards, APPs may perform the following superficial vein skills: patient evaluation and management, visual sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, and saphenous vein ablation under the personal supervision of a qualified medical staff member. Personal supervision is defined as the Physician is in attendance and in the room during the procedure. An APP may also perform certain skills with direct or general supervision within the vein center after qualifying in at least one of three pathways summarized in the Table below. Direct supervision is defined as the Physician must be present in the office suite, immediately available, and general supervision is defined as Physician presence is not required during the procedure but should be available by phone.
9
