The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has been selected as one of six specialty societies nationwide to receive a competitive grant from the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), in partnership with The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF), to advance age-friendly approaches to specialty ambulatory care. The award positions the SVS at the forefront of a national effort to improve care for older adults with complex vascular conditions.
Through this initiative, the SVS will lead a multi-site collaborative effort to integrate the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework — What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility — into routine ambulatory vascular surgery practice. The project, titled “Implementation of the Evidence-Based 4Ms Framework in Vascular Ambulatory Care,” will engage seven ambulatory vascular practices to implement standardized 4Ms screening during patient visits, using straightforward intake tools and pocket cards to ensure that patient goals, medication safety, cognitive health and mobility are consistently evaluated.
“Integrating the 4Ms into routine vascular care helps ensure treatment decisions reflect both clinical outcomes and what matters most to patients,” said Reva Bhushan, MA, PhD, director of Clinical Guidelines and Quality Practice at the SVS and principal investigator for the project.
The catalyst for the grant program reflects a growing priority across medicine: As the population ages, specialists must be equipped to address not only the primary condition bringing a patient through the door, but the full constellation of needs that define quality of life for older adults. In vascular surgery, where patients frequently present with multiple chronic conditions and complex functional considerations, that challenge is especially pressing.
“Most vascular disease is associated with increased age. With the recent record U.S. life expectancy and increasing global longevity, we are seeing more aging patients with advanced vascular disease,” said Anil Hingorani, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, chair of the SVS Section on Vascular Ambulatory Care, and principal advisor for all participating study sites. “This grant is an important step to help vascular surgeons explore best practices for the ambulatory care of older vascular patients.”
The pilot program will gather data across participating sites to monitor adherence, identify barriers to implementation and guide continuous improvement. Findings will inform the development of a vascular-specific 4Ms implementation guide along with supporting educational resources — tools designed to equip vascular care teams to make age-friendly care a consistent standard of practice, not an exception. The project ultimately aims to improve patient-centered outcomes and strengthen the independence and safety of older adults living with vascular disease.
“The millions of older adults who visit specialists in outpatient settings for surgery, cancer care, or medical treatment deserve evidence-based age-friendly care aligned with what matters to them,” said Rani E. Snyder, MPA, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “We thank the CMSS and these participating specialty societies for their commitment to implementing the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework to help ensure that wherever older adults receive care, it is age-friendly.”
The grant program was administered by the CMSS and funded by the JAHF through a $1.5 million award to CMSS. Proposals were reviewed by an external advisory committee of national experts in age-friendly care, geriatrics, chronic disease and practice improvement. The CMSS — a coalition of more than 50 specialty societies representing nearly 1 million physicians — will serve as coordinating center to promote cross-specialty learning and collaboration, working alongside the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Best practices from the program will be made available through the CMSS Learning Center, its annual meeting and related resources.
“We’re grateful to The John A. Hartford Foundation for their partnership in ensuring that older adults receive outpatient specialty care that truly addresses their unique needs — care that honors their priorities and addresses the complex interplay of medications, cognitive health and mobility,” said Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP, CEO of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. “By bringing together leading specialty societies to adapt the 4Ms Framework for their disciplines, we’re building a collaborative that can transform how specialists approach care for aging patients across the country.”
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. As a leader in aging and health, the foundation focuses on creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.
SVS members and vascular care teams seeking additional information about the grant program — including details on the 4Ms Framework, the collaborative’s pilot sites, and how to access emerging implementation guidance — can visit the CMSS program page at cmss.org. Updates and resources will also be available through the SVS website at vascular.org as the project progresses.
