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The IAC Standards and Guidelines
for Vein Center Accreditation:

Superficial Venous Evaluation and Management

 

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of the Vein Center Standards

Part C:
Quality Improvement

Section 2C: Quality Improvement Measures

STANDARD – General QI Measures

 

2.1C           Facilities are required to have a process in place to evaluate the QI measures outlined in sections 2.1.1C through 2.1.5C.

 

2.1.1C            Procedure Appropriateness

 

2.1.1.1C             The facility must evaluate the appropriateness of the procedures performed and categorize as:

 

i.               appropriate/usually appropriate;

ii.             may be appropriate;

iii.           rarely appropriate/usually not appropriate.

 

2.1.1.2C             Appropriate indications for the procedures must be measured for consecutive cases over a time period which results in no less than 5% of the annual volume of cases.

 

i.               For smaller volume facilities, a minimum of 30 cases must be reviewed.

 

2.1.2C            Technical Performance of the Procedure:

 

2.1.2.1C             completeness of the procedure;

 

2.1.2.2C             documentation of adverse technical events such as equipment or device failure;

 

2.1.2.3C             failure to perform the procedure;

 

2.1.2.4C             quality of the diagnostic ultrasound;

 

2.1.2.5C             reflux Doppler measurement;

 

2.1.2.6C             diameter measurements;

 

2.1.2.7C             adherence to the facility protocols.

 

2.1.3C            Patient Safety

 

2.1.3.1C             Accuracy of patient identification:

 

i.               Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment or services.

 

2.1.3.2C             Medication safety:

 

i.               Label all medication with name, concentration and expiration date.

ii.             Premixed pharmacologic and/or anesthetic agents must be labeled with content, concentration and expiration date if not prepared immediately before use.

 

2.1.3.3C             Infection control measures consistent with CDC and OSHA guidelines.

 

2.1.3.4C             Adherence to National Patient Safety Goals must be documented.

 

 

2.1.4C            Medical Record Completeness and Timeliness:

 

2.1.4.1C             Time from completion of procedure to signature of final documentation completed within two weeks.

 

2.1.5C            Procedure Outcomes

 

2.1.5.1C             The facility must have a written policy and process to track and document the outcomes of all patients evaluated and/or treated; this includes patients referred to a wound care center.

 

2.1.5.2C             Must document all procedural outcomes in the patient medical record.

 

2.1.5.3C             Must document all adverse events that occur within (30 days) post-procedure in a centralized location or in retrievable electronic medical records for review (download the Vein Center Procedure Complications list at https://intersocietal.org/document/procedure-complication-list-vein-center);

 

2.1.5.4C             Review of each case requiring referral outside the center for treatment of complications.

 

(See Guidelines below for further recommendations.)

 

 

Section 2C: Quality Improvement Measures
Guidelines

 

2.1C       Quality of life measurement is encouraged.

 

Example of vein-specific quality of life instruments include CIVIQ, VEINES Sym/QoL, the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Score and the Specific Quality-of-life and Outcome Response-Venous [SQOR-V]) questionnaire.