An all-inclusive and transparent view of a vascular program's direct impact on its health system

Abstract

The overall profitability of a comprehensive vascular program is tremendously positive. This study verifies that new vascular-specific referrals are a significant catalyst for revenue.

We care

“…39 Vascular surgical care specifically will be one of the most significant contributors to hospital margins. 40 Furthermore, in our new value-based health care system, physician leadership is going to be increasingly important, really critical, for hospitals to achieve their financial targets, which will be directly linked to achieving quality outcomes, rather than case volumes, as was the model historically. 41 The SVS record of leadership in publishing clinical practice guidelines, and defining appropriate care, and in promoting quality care will afford our members the credibility and the respect of the administrators in their institutions and will give vascular surgeons a strategic advantage in competing with the part-time vascular practitioners in other specialties, despite our minority status.…”

Too small to fail: The prisoner's dilemma

“…Vascular cases cumulatively account for a large number of procedures, especially when including outpatient volumes and surpass the number of cardiac surgeries. 5 There is significant revenue generated by vascular patients naive to the health system.…”

Application of Porter's Five Forces Model and generic strategies for vascular surgery: should be stuck in the middle?

“…The economics of care of patients with vascular disease has changed and vascular programs have been shown to be profitable to their health systems. 1 Although only 15% of peripheral vascular disease patients require an intervention, over one million inpatient vascular cases were performed in 2008 and this is extrapolated to rise by another 72% by 2030. 2 Catheter-based and open vascular procedures generate nearly half the revenues produced by cardiac procedures and are equivalent to the revenues generated by the cardiac catheterization labs or by open heart procedures.…”