When Vascular Surgery Medical Director Tim Hodges, MD, arrived at Salem Health, he saw something that sparked an idea. The orthopedic team was reviewing their quality metrics — everything from pain management to length of stay. It wasn’t just impressive. It was inspiring. And it led him to ask: What would that kind of data-driven approach look like in vascular surgery?
In 2020, the answer was sobering.
“We were in the bottom 25th percentile for many areas,” Dr. Hodges said.
Fast forward to 2024: The Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) awards Salem Hospital three stars — the highest award — for its active participation in the Registry Participation Program. Then, in 2025? Three stars again.
That climb didn’t happen overnight.
Working alongside Wendy Sousa, data abstractor, and building on an initial framework by Renee Martizia-Rash, cardiovascular service line director, the vascular surgery team created a monthly VQI report card for each surgeon and the service line. They made quality data visible, and they talked about it — often. Morbidity and mortality reviews became a standing agenda item for quarterly section meetings.
Then came a turning point: Post-op carotid patients were spending too long in the ICU. The team launched a year-long project moving these patients to the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) instead. It not only reduced length of stay and ICU utilization but also earned Magnet Builder recognition and significant cost savings. They’ve since applied that model to lower extremity bypass care.
“I am proud to say that we have made significant improvements,” Dr. Hodges said.
The scope of their improvement is wide. They now monitor outcomes for carotid procedures (both open and endovascular), EVAR, TEVAR and amputation management. Recently, Salem Health approved adding the Aortic VQI module, expanding their ability to apply Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) criteria to complex aortic cases.
It’s easy to focus on the metrics — and they are impressive. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
“This effort is result of many people working to improve patient care and outcomes,” Dr. Hodges said. That list spans surgeons, APPs, the ICU, IMCU, Salem Hospital 4 East, Cath Lab, OR teams, MAs and more.
Christine Clarke, MD, Salem Health Medical Group’s chief medical officer, echoed that praise: “I’d particularly like to recognize Dr. Hodges for the initiative he has taken in creating multidisciplinary synergy, progressing his team and setting new standards within the medical group for our continuous improvement journey.”
Vascular surgery's story offers more than just recognition. It offers a model: Transparent data. Collaborative review. Measurable results. And above all, improves the health and well-being of the people and communities Salem Health serves.
This is what continuous improvement looks like — and what “Care with Respect” feels like in practice.
Operating under the Society for Vascular Surgery, the Vascular Quality Initiative is composed of 14 registries containing demographic, clinical, procedural and outcomes data from more than 1,000,000 vascular procedures performed nationwide and in Canada. The mission of VQI is to improve the quality, safety, effectiveness and cost of vascular health care.