SIR 2014 Presidential Address

SIR Scott C. Goodwin, M.D., FSIR
SIR President 
March 25, 2014

We are living through some of the most dramatic changes in America's health care system since the advent of Medicare—the Affordable Care Act—potential changes to the SGR formula—more regulation by accrediting bodies with an ever increasing emphasis on documentation and quality.

Navigating Today’s Medical Landscape
The Society of Interventional Radiology continues to work for its members and is navigating a path to success for our specialty during this time of changes in the national health care environment.

In response to nationally mandated expectations of improved quality at lower cost, SIR has pursued multiple pathways to help ensure the future success of interventional radiology. SIR is collaborating with colleagues from other specialties to prevent or limit payment rate reductions. SIR remains an active participant in the national CPT coding process and the accompanying code valuation, which takes place as part of American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) activities. We have invested hundreds of volunteer hours and staff resources in ensuring that our coding and valuation strategy is grounded on sound data driven by what is optimal for patient care. We have worked long and hard, and we have been able to preserve excellent value for interventional radiology treatments.

SIR and SIR Foundation have carefully examined various activities in order to ensure that they are consistent with our strategic goals, with an eye on ensuring that the Society’s and the Foundation’s pursuits are fully aligned. The Society established the Payment, Research and Policy Task Force (or PReP) to identify and prioritize data development and research needs to improve patient care in the long term and to help lead to a more efficient reimbursement system. Task force members are working to identify areas where IR is expected to excel—the focus will be on demonstrating exceptional quality, safety, efficacy and value. They are reviewing what services are most valuable to patients and interventional radiologists in order to prioritize where efforts would have the most impact.

SIR and SIR Foundation recognize the critical need for IR evidence-based data to ensure proper support from lawmakers, as they move away from a fee-for-service system toward a system that rewards quality, efficiency and innovation. It is time to demonstrate the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our treatments.

Transforming Interventional Radiology
We are addressing evolving health care system concerns at the same time as we are celebrating the transformation of the field, as evidenced by interventional radiology becoming a primary specialty in medicine. Longitudinal care has been advocated for and envisioned by leaders in the field for decades, and we are now at the tipping point of a transformation to a fully clinical practice specialty.

The acknowledgement of interventional radiology as a unique clinical specialty has long-lasting implications for the future. We know that this benefits our patients and our practices and strengthens the future of the specialty. Our unique skill set as superb clinicians, expert proceduralists and excellent imagers—a convergence of talents, abilities and interests—has positioned interventional radiologists to be at the forefront of modern medicine. SIR fought hard to bring about American Board of Medical Specialties approval and enthusiastically supports the changes that are coming in practice and in IR residency training. One step has been for SIR to become a sponsoring member of the American Board of Radiology, guaranteeing a prominent voice in developing the professional standards for the IR residency.

Creating an IR Residency Program
The training paradigm for interventional radiology is undergoing an exciting change—one that will ensure that future interventional radiologists provide optimal image-guided care for patients. SIR wants to ensure that trainees are equipped with the tools they need to deliver this care as clinicians, proceduralists and imagers. The creation of the IR residency within the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education will take time and effort, and there will be a gradual transition phase over several years. .

SIR will continue to need your support—and your feedback—as the training program unfolds. The program’s implementation will take time, and the Society is committed to ensuring its success.

Collaborating Strategically
Another effort is SIR’s engagement in strategic collaborations, such as with the American College of Radiology and its Task Force on the Implementation of the Clinical Practices of Interventional Radiology and Interventional Neuroradiology. SIR is working to enhance and promote the growth and sustainability of IR and INR clinical services within the practice of radiology and within the health care system.

The Society’s strategic action plan centers on addressing: clinical education; developing evidence and quality registries; creating financial models to address sustainability and patient access to IR; and increasing awareness of the importance of interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology to major stakeholders through an educational campaign and by co-publishing articles demonstrating IR and INR value and productivity, as well as clinical scenarios and strategies.

Convergence—or moving toward union—was an apt theme for SIR’s 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting. It attested to interventional radiology’s multidimensional nature in daily practice and as a global specialty. It enunciated SIR’s collective and confident actions, which embrace change. There is an undeniable convergence at work—revolving around you, SIR, the SIR Foundation and the international community of interventional radiology.

Interventional radiology has experienced a rapid global expansion over the past 50 years. SIR continues to work for the global advancement of the profession so that patients around the world will have access to, and benefit from, IR procedures. SIR’s International Task Torce provides guidance to the Society leadership on key international issues, programs and activities. The task force initiated the SIR International Scholarship Program, which is building relationships with future international IR leaders and fostering the development of IR in countries where it does not currently exist. The task force also facilitates U.S. observerships for international IRs, visiting faculty for international meetings and delegations. SIR collaborates with many of the more than 40 IR societies around the world. SIR also supports the exchange of scientific knowledge through our flagship publication, the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, and an excellent Annual Scientific Meeting.

SIR is fortunate to have many passionate, enthusiastic and energetic volunteers. We also have a very hard-working, capable staff, led by Susan E. Sedory Holzer. They all deserve our thanks for their hard work this past year, which has led to so many wonderful successes.

It has been an honor to serve as your president. Throughout my entire professional life I’ve been involved with SIR, and I encourage you to volunteer with the Society. Together, we see the value of our specialty and its continued potential in raising the quality of medical care. Together, we will navigate interventional radiology’s path to continued success at home and abroad.