Your blog category
Congratulations to Dr. Christopher J. Kwolek and Dr. R. Todd Lancaster on being named Top Doctors™ 2022 by Boston Magazine! The region’s finest physicians, each nominated by their peers and rigorously vetted, received this coveted award. We are so proud of both Dr. Kwolek and Dr. Lancaster! Learn more here: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2022/01/25/top-doctors-boston-area/
As a part of our interview series with prominent medical professionals called “5 Things You Need To Know To Create a Highly Successful Private Practice” I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Daniel R. Gorin.
With over twenty years of experience running his own private practices, Dr. Daniel Gorin, founding partner of The Vascular Care Group and board member of Mangrove Management Partners, is well-versed in what it takes to make a practice successful. For the last eight years, he has been the lead vascular surgeon at The Vascular Care Group’s Hyannis location, one of the first outpatient endovascular care centers in Massachusetts. His center also serves as a key location for The Vascular Care Group, training new staff and serving as a support system for TVCG’s other locations.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you ended up where you are?
I have been in practice for over twenty years and have evolved along with vascular surgery as it has grown and changed. I have been lucky to have worked on the forefront of vascular surgery as it transitioned into a minimally invasive specialty that allows us to treat a large portion of our patients in outpatient care facilities. This shift separated me from those I was working with in general surgery whose specialties required them to be hospital employed. As they started to leave, I took over the practice and began wondering why my colleagues in vascular surgery were not taking advantage of the changes in the field and moving into outpatient care facilities like myself. As I built a vein center and an outpatient endovascular suite to accommodate vascular patients outside of the hospital, I did not see others in the New England area follow suit with the same trends that were occurring across the country. Many of these physicians were stuck in their circumstances with too heavy of a lift to make the move. Luckily, I met a group of individuals with similar goals for outpatient vascular care and we formed Mangrove Management Partners. Together, we developed a network of physicians called The Vascular Care Group (TVCG), where I am the executive partner.
With both Mangrove and TVCG, we were ultimately able to build the infrastructure to move talented vascular surgeons into private practice. Not only did this allow us to have more control over the care we were providing to patients but have more control over the way our practices are run. Over the past two years, this change has been successful and has grown TVCG from just me and my practice in Hyannis to a practice of 14 vascular surgeons and multiple other practices across Massachusetts.
I’m a huge fan of mentorship throughout one’s career. None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Who has been your biggest mentor? What was the most valuable lesson you learned from them?
All surgeons are trained through apprenticeships. I did my fellowship under Dr. James Menzoian who was the Chief of Vascular Surgery at Boston University when I was completing my residency. He was a big mentor for how I approach my job from a clinical standpoint.
When most surgeons are learning their craft, they do not get a chance to also learn the business side of surgery. However, I was lucky to have my father as a huge inspiration. He owned one of the largest ophthalmologist practices in Connecticut and as his practice continued to grow, he taught me how to successfully run a business. As I went into private practice, I did not initially open my own, I joined a general surgery practice as a vascular surgeon. My time there gave me the opportunity to observe my senior partners who had far more experience.
What made you want to start your own practice? Can you tell us the story of how you started it?
I was lucky to have built a very successful individual private practice. As that was very rewarding, I wanted to do something bigger in the larger community. I looked at my fellow colleagues in vascular surgery and wondered why they too were not joining or opening their own outpatient clinics. With the goal of building upon my clinic, I joined with a number of talented people to form Mangrove Management Partners and developed The Vascular Care Group into a partnership of respected Massachusetts vascular physicians with four full-service vascular care centers and five satellite offices, from Worcester to Cape Cod. Ever since, TVCG has been expanding and evolving at a rapid pace, providing superior patient care.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
A big change in my career occurred when I switched from being an individual private practice doctor to forming The Vascular Care Group, because it meant shifting from everything in the business revolving around me to a group where many other physicians and staff were involved. Instead of just worrying about myself and my own clinic, I became part of a larger network of specialized physicians as well as business professionals. We have transformed vascular care to be better for patients. We provide patients with easy access to patient centered care in their communities.
Because it is a “helping profession”, some healthcare providers struggle with the idea of “monetization.” How do you address the business aspect of running a medical practice? Can you share a story or example?
You have to remember that healthcare is a business. Every hospital is a business; it may be a nonprofit, but it has a fiduciary responsibility. Physicians in a large health system are several steps away from the business side of care, so they don’t feel the same fiduciary responsibility as a physician in private practice.
At one of our vascular conferences, a paper was presented that looked at these very expensive stents that we use to fix abdominal aneurisms. These procedures are done in the hospital and the overwhelming majority of the cost of the procedure comes from the stents. The researchers got doctors involved and looked at the cost of all the different devices and worked out a process to negotiate for lower prices. But this made me think that the best way we could achieve lower prices would be to pay the physicians a little more to do the procedure and have them buy the device themselves.
We have found that when physicians have “skin in the game” and have to research the medical devices they use and the financial investment in those devices, it can help them make the most economically responsible and best decisions for their patients. We, as physicians, need to make these important decisions but we also need to be impacted by these decisions. I think if you divorce yourself from the business end, you are doing no one a favor.
Managing being a provider and a business owner is a constant balancing act. How do you manage both roles?
Being a provider and business owner are one in the same when you run your own private practice. If I do not run a successful practice, I cannot take care of my patients. I am responsible not only for myself but for everyone who works with me at my practice. Therefore, everything I do as a physician generates the revenue that pays for all these moving parts. If I do not make responsible decisions to run a profitable practice, then my nurse or my scheduler cannot do their jobs. As a private practice owner, I am responsible not only for my patients but also for my staff who keep the entire place running. This is a huge responsibility that I take very seriously. There is no way to run a successful private practice as a physician when you separate being a provider and a business owner.
From completing your degree to opening a practice and becoming a business owner, your path was most likely challenging. Can you share a story about one of your greatest struggles? Can you share what you did to overcome it?
When I originally began practicing vascular surgery, it was not identified as a separate specialty. Most of the surgeons I was working with, including myself, were part of a multi-specialty surgical group. As my specialty matured, my colleagues found that their specialties would have a tough time surviving in the private practice model. Many of these surgeons were forced to join hospitals to accommodate their specialties. As they began leaving the practice, I had to navigate how to take over ownership of the bigger practice. As a business owner, I had to put myself in everyone else’s shoes and really understand their stressors and concerns as the practice was growing and changing.
Ok, thank you. Here is the main question of our interview. What are the 5 things you need to know to create a thriving practice, and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
1.) Work with great people.
When you work with talented and passionate people who align with your own personal and professional goals, you will achieve great things together.
2.) Support your people.
Empower those who work for and with you. Great leaders often use the term “we” and not “me,” so let your employees take credit for their successes and encourage them to learn from their mistakes.
3.) Always grow.
Never sit still or be content with where you are at. Be relentless in finding ways to improve. Successful businesses and practices foster a culture that encourages growth and celebrates change.
4.) Support your colleagues in your medical community.
Support the physicians in your specialty, work alongside them, and be a resource for others to benefit the greater good for patients.
5.) Be a sponge.
You do not know what you do not know. Be ready to learn, visit other practices, and formulate relationships so you can learn from people in other communities who are solving problems in new ways. Join your societies as well. I am a big supporter of the OEIS (Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society), an organization I have been a member and leader of since its early days.
As a business owner you spend most of your time working IN your practice, seeing patients. When and how do you shift to working ON your practice? (Marketing, upgrading systems, growing your practice, etc.) How much time do you spend on the business elements?
When I was a general surgery resident, our chief Dr. Peter Deckers, would always tell us when he saw us outside the operating room “it’s time for scholarship.” By this he meant, although you are not in surgery, find something to do to make your time productive. For me, in addition to my patient care, the business end of my practice is not separate. Whenever I have downtime, I am always trying to make use of it and work on my practice whether it be as simple as sending an email or making a call. My staff jokes that it is a really good idea to keep me busy because if I have a little downtime, I will come up with some project for us to do. You have to be engaged all the time and the business elements must be part of your thinking. This also goes both ways; on days I am not seeing patients, I am still a doctor. I either go to the hospital to see patients or talk with my nurse practitioners about another patient.
I understand that the healthcare industry has unique stresses and hazards that other industries don’t have. What specific practices would you recommend to other healthcare leaders to improve their physical or mental wellness? Can you share a story or example?
It is simply not healthy to center your whole life around your career. Vascular care is my career, so of course I am proud of what I do and am excited by it, but it does not define me as an individual. It is extremely important to have a life outside of my career. For example, singing is a huge passion of mine. For over 25 years, I have been a member of a small acapella group in the Boston area called The Works. We started the group when I was a vascular fellow and it is comprised of phenomenal musicians, all of whom are successful professionals in various fields. None of them are physicians and they do not want to talk about medicine when we are together, so this is truly my time away from my day job. Once a week, I drive to the Boston area, rehearse for a couple of hours with people I consider family, and spend time focusing on music. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a pause on our performances, but we will be at the American Acapella Alliance in Bar Harbor, Maine in May 2022.
It is vital to have hobbies, especially when your job is as demanding as mine is. Music is very important to me, and I make sure to devote time to it as much as possible. Whether your passion lies in music or sports or anything else, I recommend keeping it in your life.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story about how that was relevant in your own life?
I was out to eat with a great friend of mine, fellow vascular surgeon, Dr. Bob Tahara. He practices in rural Pennsylvania and is one of the only vascular surgeons for four hours in any direction. Bob and I met at a course in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was snowing and below freezing, but we made it with our group to a steakhouse. After ordering some wine, the waiter told us about the specials: ribeye steak and a special filet mignon, and both sounded delicious. I turned to Bob and said, “the special sounds great but I really love ribeye.” Bob replied with a quote from the author Robert Heinlein who said, “when given the choice between being a live jackal and a dead lion, I always choose to be a live lion.” He turned to the waiter and said, “I will have the special but with ribeye.”
The life lesson is don’t let other people define your life choices. Be a live lion, make your own choices, and forge your own path.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-gorin-688b2a41/
https://vascularcaregrp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Works-Bostons-Favorite-A-Cappella-Singing-Group-181771048718/
(L. to r.) Congressman James McGovern sat down with Dr. Stephen Hoenig, Mangrove Management Partners CEO Mark Rowe, and Dr. Sebastian DiDato at The Vascular Care Group in Leominster in December to discuss concerns over Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cuts and how they can affect patient care. (COURTESY THE VASCULAR CARE GROUP)
LEOMINSTER — U.S. Rep. James McGovern visited The Vascular Care Group in December to listen to staff concerns about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announcing cuts to various sub-specialties, including vascular care.
“As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise, these cuts will only further the strain on health care systems as patients delay preventative care and arrive in already overloaded emergency rooms,” said Dr. Stephen Hoenig, lead physician at The Vascular Care Group.
Hoenig is a longtime vascular surgeon and founding member of the practice group. He said that ultimately the cuts “disproportionately impact independent physician practices who care for patients with critical, life-threatening conditions.”
“On average, a procedure done at my office is about 28% less than what’s billed at a large health care system,” he said. “Thus, to further cut us when we are already helping to keep costs down is hard. This, in turn, could ultimately limit the number of services available to patients and largely impact disadvantaged communities.”
Congressman James McGovern (l.) visited The Vascular Care Group in Leominster in December and spoke with staff about concerns over Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cuts, including Dr. Sebastian DiDato, Dr. Stephen Hoenig, and Mangrove Management Partners CEO Mark Rowe. (COURTESY THE VASCULAR CARE GROUP)
Hoenig and his colleagues at the center invited McGovern to visit to discuss the pressing issue and ask for his help when it comes to lessening the impact of the cuts.
“It was an important step in ensuring representatives understand the impact of the (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) cuts and work to make changes that will protect patients,” Hoenig said. “Congressman McGovern listened intently, he clearly understands the challenges and we certainly hope that by being here he can help bring further action to stem the cuts. Efforts are underway in Congress now and hopefully he can advocate on this matter, which I believe he will do and for which I’m grateful.”
“It was wonderful to meet with Dr. Hoenig and his team, who are bringing state-of-the-art vascular care to the greater Leominster area,” McGovern said. “I admired their dedication to innovative patient care and their commitment to our community hospitals, and I will continue to advocate for fair Medicare reimbursement rates for the critical services provided to patients by Dr. Hoenig and other surgeons throughout the Second District.”
The team at The Vascular Care Group provides state-of-the-art outpatient care, making peripheral vascular and venous treatments more convenient and patient-centric.
“This practice is playing an increasingly important role in minimizing strain on larger health systems and reducing the cost of care for patients who do not require treatment in a hospital,” Hoenig said. “Patients without access to good care, or those who ignore their symptoms, will suffer from life-threatening issues that could result in limb removal or even death.”
When it comes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cuts, the surgeon said some endovascular procedure codes are being cut by up to 20%.
“There’s legislation in Congress now that would limit those cuts to single digits, which seems to be a best-case scenario at this stage, which is unfortunate,” Hoenig said. “My practice is a member of the CardioVascular Coalition, and we are working with them and the medical societies in order to inform Congress about the importance of withholding theses cuts as it is in the best interests of patients and physicians.”
Hoenig said “it was a pleasure” having McGovern at their Leominster center, one of nine locations across the state, and “being able to show him first-hand how I, my team, and my partners are trying to change the paradigm of the delivery of care helped to put into perspective how we can provide better outcomes and patient experiences at a lower cost.”
“Congressman McGovern truly listened to us, spent time with our team and patients, and I thank him very much for being an advocate on Capitol Hill during a time when Medicare continues to put pressure on reimbursements for surgical procedures in office-based settings,” Hoenig said.
He went on to say that he appreciates that McGovern “took a particular interest” in getting to know him and his staff “and to truly understand what we do.”
“A lot of physicians across the country are making noise about this, but (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) will sometimes only respond if forced to by Congress,” Hoenig said. “What I truly hope Congressman McGovern can help further champion is fundamental change so this year-after-year cycle of proposed cuts by (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), followed by intense lobbying, followed by Congressional intervention can eventually result in something more predictable over longer periods of time.”
Congratulations to Dr. Edward Arous who was recently appointed to the Society for Vascular Surgery Young Surgeons Section Steering Committee! The committee’s mission is to foster and accelerate the learning and career development of young surgeons within the first 10 years of practice. Dr. Arous is one of 12 young surgeons on the committee. Learn more
LEOMINSTER — Longtime vascular surgeon and founding member of The Vascular Care Group, Dr. Stephen Hoenig recently completed a successful percutaneous femoral-popliteal artery bypass at its Merriam Avenue location, the first procedure of its kind in the state in an outpatient setting.
“With any new procedure there is always freshman anxiety,” Hoenig said of the breakthrough procedure. “I have an excellent team that gave me confidence and assisted in every part of the process.”
The procedure is used to treat a blocked femoral artery, the largest artery in the thigh that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the leg. According to a press release, the percutaneous bypass graft is used to restore blood flow to the lower leg and foot using a minimally invasive technique that avoids hospitalization and long recovery.
“Although I did not invent this procedure, I am proud to bring it to my community,” Hoenig said. “This, along with many of the minimally invasive procedures we now perform in the outpatient facility, I believe, are transformative in the world of vascular surgery and patient care. It gave me great joy and satisfaction to provide this service to my patients.”
Vascular surgeon and founding member of The Vascular Care Group Dr. Stephen Hoenig (far right) with his team, including Dr. Sebastian DiDato (second from left), who recently helped him successfully complete a percutaneous femoral-popliteal artery bypass at the Leominster location, the first procedure of its kind in the state in an outpatient setting. (COURTESY THE VASCULAR CARE GROUP)
Vascular surgeon and founding member of The Vascular Care Group Dr. Stephen Hoenig and his medical team recently completed a successful percutaneous femoral-popliteal artery bypass at the Leominster location, the first procedure of its kind in the state in an outpatient setting. (COURTESY THE VASCULAR CARE GROUP)
Hoenig said they have now completed the minimally invasive procedure, which decreases recovery time, on two patients under mild-conscious sedation.
“Both patients watched the procedure being performed on the monitor and had only minimal discomfort,” he said. “This procedure assists in keeping patients out of the hospital where they otherwise may have required a three-to-five-day hospitalization for recovery. My patients walked out of my office one hour after the procedure.”
According to a press release the procedure was part of an investigational device exemption trial called Detour2 Continued Access (NCT04625660), sponsored by Endologix LLC. The trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the PQ Bypass System for a percutaneous femoral-popliteal bypass procedure. The PQ Bypass System was designated as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Device in 2020.
The Vascular Care Group’s Merriam Avenue Leominster location, where Dr. Stephen Hoenig and his medical team recently completed a successful percutaneous femoral-popliteal artery bypass, the first procedure of its kind in the state in an outpatient setting. (COURTESY THE VASCULAR CARE GROUP)
“By offering this type of minimally invasive procedure in the outpatient setting, we can help patients avoid a surgical incision, hospitalization and postoperative recovery,” said Hoenig. “The patient was discharged … after the procedure with no discomfort and only two small, quarter-inch access incisions. This clearly changes our approach to limb threatening disease. I feel privileged to be one of the first vascular surgeons in Massachusetts to perform the procedure.”
With this new procedure, The Vascular Care Group is providing new technologies and techniques to community physicians working outside of large research centers, enabling greater access to medical innovation in a safe, efficient, patient-friendly setting. It marks another step in granting communities access to cutting-edge technology on a local level at a lower cost, without requiring a trip to a major city, or a long hospital stay.
Hoenig has been a vascular surgeon for 22 years and helped found The Vascular Care Group in January 2020, which has nine locations across the state.
LEOMINSTER, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Vascular Care Group (TVCG), a state-of-the art practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, today announced the hiring of Sebastian DiDato, MD, FACS, RPVI, MPH to its Leominster, Mass. location. Dr. DiDato will support the practice’s mission to provide comprehensive vascular care for patients in the area with aortic disease, peripheral vascular disease, carotid disease, mesenteric vascular disease, dialysis access and venous disease.
“I believe the transition to expanded outpatient care is the future of healthcare across specialties, including vascular disease,” said Dr. DiDato. “In the outpatient setting, we see a streamlined process where patients interact with the same staff members throughout the course of their treatment. Our minimally invasive techniques are intended to send patients home within 60 minutes following their procedure, instead of hours. I have also seen improvement in overall patient outcomes as we can easily follow up after treatment and encourage better health practices in our local community.”
Dr. DiDato has experience treating patients across New England, and previously worked at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire and Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, Mass. He is also an active member of several professional organizations including, American College of Surgeons, New England Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Surgery, and Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. DiDato has authored multiple research publications and participated in conferences across the country. His clinical interests include treatment of aortic aneurysms, carotid artery disease, venous disease and wound care.
TVCG centers its treatment model around optimizing the patient experience, providing advanced vascular interventions outside of the traditional hospital setting, and reducing costs for patients and payers. With nine locations in Massachusetts, TVCG is bringing lifesaving vascular care to local communities and making state-of-the-art treatment more accessible.
About The Vascular Care Group
The Vascular Care Group (TVCG) is a growing group practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular disease. The practice brings together decades of expertise among a team of vascular specialists offering unparalleled care in Massachusetts at four full-service vascular care centers with five satellite offices, from Worcester to Cape Cod. Their comprehensive services cover a broad range of conditions from non-invasive vascular testing to complex vascular surgeries, including a full spectrum of open and endovascular procedures performed in-office and at affiliated hospitals throughout the state. Each care center has united some of the area’s leading vascular specialists with a focus on superior patient care. More information about the practice can be found at https://vascularcaregrp.com/.
LEOMINSTER, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Vascular Care Group (TVCG), a state-of-the art practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, today announced Stephen J. Hoenig M.D. successfully completed a percutaneous femoral-popliteal artery bypass at the Leominster, Mass. location of TVCG, marking one of the first such procedures in an outpatient setting in the state. TVCG has centered its treatment model around optimizing the patient experience, providing advanced vascular interventions outside of the traditional hospital setting, and mitigating unnecessary expense. The success of this cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure marks another step toward that mission.
The procedure was part of an investigational device exemption (IDE) trial called DETOUR2 Continued Access (NCT04625660), sponsored by Endologix LLC. The trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the PQ Bypass System for a percutaneous femoral-popliteal bypass procedure. The PQ Bypass System was designated as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Device in 2020.
“By offering this type of minimally invasive procedure in the outpatient setting, we can help patients avoid a surgical incision, hospitalization and postoperative recovery,” said Dr. Hoenig. “The patient was discharged two hours after the procedure with no discomfort and only two small, quarter-inch access incisions. This clearly changes our approach to limb threatening disease. I feel privileged to be one of the first vascular surgeons in Massachusetts to perform the procedure.”
Dr. Hoenig performed the procedure in his Leominster vascular center. The patient was placed under light conscious sedation and was sent home to recover a few hours later. This advancement in treatment was performed in concert with Vascular Breakthroughs, a clinical trials management platform.
“This is an impressive achievement for both Dr. Hoenig and The Vascular Care Group,” said Dr. Paul Gagne, founder of Vascular Breakthroughs, the clinical trials research organization supporting Dr. Hoenig. “The procedure expands the possibilities of vascular care in the outpatient setting and provides patients with better outcomes in a patient-friendly environment.”
The percutaneous bypass graft is used to restore blood flow to the lower leg and foot using a minimally invasive technique that avoids hospitalization and long recovery. With this new procedure, The Vascular Care Group is providing new technologies and techniques to community physicians working outside of large research centers, enabling greater access to medical innovation in a safe, efficient, patient-friendly setting. It marks another step in granting communities access to cutting-edge technology on a local level at a lower cost, without requiring a trip to a major city, or a long hospital stay.
The PQ Bypass System is limited by federal law to investigational use only and is not available for sale.
About The Vascular Care Group
The Vascular Care Group (TVCG) is a growing group practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular disease. The practice brings together decades of expertise among a team of vascular specialists offering unparalleled care in Massachusetts at four full-service vascular care centers with five satellite offices, from Worcester to Cape Cod. Their comprehensive services cover a broad range of conditions from non-invasive vascular testing to complex vascular surgeries, including a full spectrum of open and endovascular procedures performed in-office and at affiliated hospitals throughout the state. The care center has united some of the area’s leading vascular experts with a focus on superior patient care. More information about the practice can be found at https://vascularcaregrp.com/.
About Vascular Breakthroughs
Vascular Breakthroughs was founded by Paul J. Gagne MD, FACS, RVT in 2012 to provide a research infrastructure for physicians not affiliated with an academic institution. The organization has put new technologies in the hands of physicians working in the community, thereby improving access to novel treatments for patients and expanding the reach of cutting-edge research. Vascular Breakthroughs provides administrative support for all aspects of the implementation of a clinical trial, including recruitment, all phases in the initiation of a new trial and in the execution of a trial. More information about Vascular Breakthroughs can be found at https://vascularbreakthroughs.com/.
WELLESLEY, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Vascular Care Group is proud to announce the opening of the Newton-Wellesley Vascular office at 981 Worcester St. in Wellesley, Mass. The state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot facility is designed to provide comprehensive vascular care for patients throughout New England with aortic disease, peripheral vascular disease, carotid disease, mesenteric vascular disease, dialysis access and venous disease.
“It is exciting to see the continued growth of office-based procedures”
The nationally accredited facility includes two state-of-the-art advanced imaging suites to safely perform outpatient procedures, dedicated ultrasound rooms to perform comprehensive vascular lab testing, comprehensive examination rooms and a sophisticated training and education facility. Christopher J. Kwolek, MD, MBA, FACS and R. Todd Lancaster, MD, MPH, two board-certified vascular surgeons with training from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, lead the site.
Dr. Kwolek has been named one of Boston Magazine’s ”Top Doctors” and one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly for several years and has practiced in Boston for over 20 years. He has served as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and as the Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program Director at Massachusetts General Hospital. He established the first integrated vascular residency program at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital and served as the Chief of Vascular Surgery and the Chair of Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Dr. Kwolek has been internationally recognized as a leader in the development of new techniques and devices for the treatment of aneurysm disease, carotid artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, and has served as the principal investigator for over 30 clinical trials evaluating invasive surgical techniques. He has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and continues to serve as an invited national and international speaker and member of multiple advisory boards.
Dr. Lancaster has been named one of Boston Magazine’s “Top Doctors” for the last three years and also recognized by Castle and Connolly as a Top Doctor. He has over 15 years of surgical experience and is currently the Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital; he also serves as the Director of Quality and Safety for Vascular Surgery and Cardiovascular Center, Co-Medical Director of the Vascular Laboratory, and Associate Director of the Elfers Cardiovascular Center. He has served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and sits on the Executive Council for the New England Society for Vascular Surgery. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and his research interests include patient-centered care, patient-outcomes and safety following vascular surgical procedures. His clinical interests include treatment of peripheral arterial disease, carotid arterial disease, aneurysmal disease and all forms of venous disorders.
“We believe that this model, which is focused on providing outstanding, patient-focused care in the outpatient setting is the future of healthcare,” said Dr. Kwolek. “We will continue to work closely with our local hospitals to manage complex patients in the hospital, however, many patients can now receive safe, timely and cost-effective treatment in the outpatient setting. Over the past 24 months, we have seen numerous patients delay their care or reschedule procedures due to lack of beds or staffing. We have also witnessed patients move from large, tertiary hospitals to the community hospitals, and from the community hospitals to the outpatient setting. Working in this setting provides benefits for our patients, our clinicians and the health care system. It is estimated that care in the office-based setting is 30%-40% more cost effective than care provided in the hospital. Thus, we provide access for our patients to the latest technology, deliver value to the healthcare system and more control of the schedule to our clinicians. By joining a larger network of practices, we can also collaborate across facilities to determine the best practices and ultimately, work to change the way that vascular care is delivered.”
“It is exciting to see the continued growth of office-based procedures,” said Dr. Lancaster. “Outpatient vascular centers offer a highly personalized experience that put the patient at the center of the care model where they need it most, right in their community. We believe we can encourage healthier behaviors and more timely care by making treatment options more convenient for the patient.”
To learn more about The Vascular Care Group, please visit vascularcaregrp.com.
About The Vascular Care Group
The Vascular Care Group (TVCG) is a growing group practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular disease. The practice brings together decades of expertise among a team of vascular specialists offering unparalleled care in Massachusetts at four full-service vascular care centers with five satellite offices, from Worcester to Cape Cod. Their comprehensive services cover a broad range of conditions from non-invasive vascular testing to complex vascular surgeries, including a full spectrum of open and endovascular procedures performed in-office and at affiliated hospitals throughout the state. The care center has united some of the area’s leading vascular experts with a focus on superior patient care. More information about the practice can be found at https://vascularcaregrp.com/.
HYANNIS, Mass. — The Vascular Care Group (TVCG) is celebrating the eighth-year anniversary of its first vascular care center in Hyannis, MA. TVCG is a fast-growing practice that currently has four vascular centers and five satellite offices, specializing in minimally invasive, outpatient vascular procedures and comprehensive vascular care. Opened in 2013, the Hyannis center has provided the Cape Cod community with state-of-the-art treatments for a wide range of peripheral vascular and venous conditions, and has been an anchor for the outpatient care movement in New England.
Daniel Gorin, M.D., RVT, FACS is the lead physician at the Hyannis clinic, and one of the founding partners of TVCG. He has performed thousands of office-based vascular procedures. He was a charter member of the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS) and is a national leader in advocating for outpatient vascular care.
“The last eight years have shown the benefits and staying power of outpatient care for vascular disease,” said Dr. Gorin. “We put the patient at the center of our care model. In addition, our physicians get to work in an environment that lets them focus on what they were trained to do: take great care of patients. This lets us attract the best vascular specialists, ensuring that our communities and our hospitals have top notch vascular care.”
There have been nearly 100,000 visits to the Hyannis center since it opened. Over 16,000 patients have received care in the center, and more that 1,600 procedures have been performed in the outpatient interventional suite. By decentralizing care and managing conditions that do not require treatment in an emergency department, outpatient clinics help hospitals run more efficiently while providing patients with streamlined service. Access to outpatient care also decreases the financial burden on our healthcare system by lowering costs for patients and payer networks.
Furthermore, Dr. Gorin and his team have performed more than 1,600 surgeries at Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospital during this period. “We are committed members of the medical community in Cape Cod. Every day we partner with our hospitals; we provide emergency call coverage and perform surgeries in an in-patient setting whenever that is the best treatment for our patients.”
In 2017 the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS) established a national registry to collect data on the safety, efficacy, and quality of the care that outpatient centers provide for patients with peripheral vascular disease. A study was recently published that reviewed the registry data based on nearly 20,000 peripheral endovascular interventions performed in these centers. It showed strong safety indications with extremely low rates of overall complications (0.62%) and major adverse events (0.51%), validating the value that outpatient vascular centers bring to patient care.
To learn more about the Vascular Care Group, please visit vascularcaregrp.com.
About The Vascular Care Group
The Vascular Care Group (TVCG) is a growing group practice committed to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular disease. The practice brings together decades of expertise among a team of vascular specialists offering unparalleled care in Massachusetts at four full-service vascular care centers with five satellite offices, from Worcester to Cape Cod. Their comprehensive services cover a broad range of conditions from non-invasive vascular testing to complex vascular surgeries, including a full spectrum of open and endovascular procedures performed in-office and at affiliated hospitals throughout the state. The care center has united some of the area’s leading vascular experts with a focus on superior patient care. More information about the practice can be found at https://vascularcaregrp.com/.