The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) was developed by the Society for Vascular Surgery in 2011 to improve the safety and effectiveness of 12 common vascular procedures (Box). The VQI operates within the structure of a patient safety organization, which protects the quality improvement activities as patient safety work product and thus provides a degree of privilege and confidentiality for the data. Because the VQI is a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery patient safety organization, comparisons with regional and national institutions can be performed.

The VQI registries include carotid artery stenting, carotid endarterectomy, endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair hemodialysis access, infrainguinal bypass, inferior vena cava filter, lower extremity amputations, open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, peripheral vascular interventions, suprainguinal bypass, thoracic and complex endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and varicose vein treatment. As of July 2017, 390 270 procedures were captured.¹ A total of 431 participating institutions represent more than 3200 physicians throughout the United States and Canada. There are 18 regional quality improvement groups that promote ownership of the quality improvement process and practical implementation of new clinical processes. Approximately 40% of the participating institutions are community hospitals, 29% are teaching hospitals, and 31% are academic hospitals.² Multiple physician specialties are represented within the database.