Joseph P. Hughes, RVT RVS FSVU

Vice President of Education and Quality Assurance
Phoenix Cardiovascular, Inc.
Doylestown, PA

How long have you been in the vascular technology profession?

I started working in the vascular technology profession in 1985.

What made you decide to enter vascular technology as a career?

I was a courier for American Medical Imaging Corporation (AMIC), a company that performed mobile ultrasound, and the technologists in all of the modalities would show me tapes of their studies, and I audited several classes at the company. The modality that interested me the most was vascular. When I was offered a chance to enter the vascular technology training program at AMIC, I jumped at it.

When did you become certified by ARDMS?

I received the Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential in 1990.

What do you like best about your current position?

As VP of Education and Quality Assurance, I have the opportunity to affect the way patient care is delivered by helping technologists gain knowledge and experience, as well as hone their critical thinking skills. And although this sounds corny and cliché, I also have the opportunity to continue the legacy of high quality and excellence that was instilled in me by my mentors (they know who they are). I hope that someday I affect the technologists that I work with in the way that my mentors affected me.

When did you join SVU?

I joined SVU, then SVT, in 1989.

Have you served on an SVU Committee, if so, which one(s) and when?

I have served on several SVU Committees, including the Government Relations, Academics, Abstracts, Education, Continuing Medical Education, Awards, and Guidelines Committees. Being a part of these SVU Committees has been invaluable to me and my career. Not only have I been able to give back to the profession like the others on the committees, but I have learned so much. The projects that I have worked on have taught me things that have been of tremendous benefit to me, my employers, and my patients. I urge SVU members to get involved with a SVU Committee.

Are you a member of an SVU Affiliated Chapter?

I have been a member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Vascular Chapter (NEPVC) since 1995.

What positions, if any, have you served at that chapter and when?

I have served on the NEPVC Program Committee (1995-present), and also have been Treasurer (1997-1999), and President (2001-2003).

How do you think SVU and its Affiliated Chapters can work better together in the future?

In the past year, the SVU has added a couple of new services for the Chapters including website development and a list serve to increase communication between the chapters and SVU; both have been great tools. I feel that consistent communication between the Chapters and SVU will benefit all members. When issues affecting the profession surface, the SVU needs to get information to and support from the Chapters. Communication is essential and both the Chapters and the SVU need to keep up the lines.

Why did you decide to run for the SVU Board of Directors?

Several years ago I was approached about running for the Board. But I didn’t feel worthy of that position at the time. I was already serving on SVU Committees and felt that there were others better qualified than I to “direct” the Society. But then after talking to some of the Board members, and others that I respected, they showed me that my knowledge and experience, as well as my perspective, might add something to the Board. So I agreed to run. Although I ran three times before being elected, I was never discouraged. So, if someone asks you to run for the Board, there is a reason that you are being asked. Others in the leadership feel that you have something to offer, so accept the honor and run for the Board of Directors. The Board always needs new ideas and perspectives.

What do you like best about serving on the SVU Board of Directors?

The best thing about being on the SVU Board of Directors is being in the presence of people who are truly dedicated to improving the profession, both for the membership and for patients. The diversity of backgrounds and experience brings a multitude of perspectives that has the potential of shaping governmental policies and the practice of non-invasive vascular testing for years to come. I’m really impressed with the work that is done by VOLUNTEERS. It is truly amazing what these people do on their own time.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the vascular profession today?

This is a great question. There are many things, but there are a few that stand out. If more educational programs that are dedicated to Vascular Sonography are not developed, and only cursory vascular education is the standard, then patient care will suffer. With the aging baby boomer population reaching a critical age range for vascular disease, it is important that well-educated, qualified personnel enter the field to take over for the aging technologists in our field (no offense to the aging technologists). Another issue is declining reimbursement. The government does not recognize vascular technology / sonography as it should and could, therefore efforts need to be made to increase awareness of the profession and the importance of knowledgeable, well-trained vascular technologists / sonographers. These two issues will be critical to our survival as vascular professionals in the coming years, and the SVU is playing a crucial role in these areas.

How can SVU better serve its members in the future?

The SVU already serves its members well in many areas, including Government Relations and Education. The SVU needs to continue its activities in the Coalition for Quality in Ultrasound (CQU), on the CAAHEP, ICAVL, CCI and ARDMS Board of Directors, and with the various other organizations that strive for excellence in providing patient care. The SVU staff, Steve, Missi, India, and Lynn, do a tremendous job in serving all of the members of SVU and will continue to support the membership.

Any other comments you would like to add about your membership in SVU?

I truly believe that if it were not for those SNIVT, SVT, and SVU members who have come before me, volunteering their time, money and effort to promote the field of vascular technology/ultrasound, I would not have a job right now in a profession that I love. I have been honored to work closely with some of these individuals and I am humbled by the dedication and commitment to quality and patient care of these people. The reason these people are special is because they have given their valuable time and effort to make sure that we are all able to work in a profession that we love and that impacts people’s lives on a daily basis. I encourage every member to get involved, if not to give back to the profession and the Society, but to become inspired by those who have worked so hard for the profession. If you get involved, you help shape the changes that will come.

What is your wife’s name and how many children do you have, their names and ages?

My wife Karen and I have four children, Stacey (23), Brett (20), Caitlin (10), and Grace (8). We live in Center Valley, PA, near Allentown.

What do you do for fun and relaxation when not working?

Relaxation? What’s that? Actually, when I’m not working, I play 8-ball on a pool team (we’re fighting to get in the playoffs right now) and I love to be outside hiking and biking (lots of places to do both in PA). That’s all fun. But to relax, I like to write – fiction, non-fiction, essays – and play video and computer games with my kids. I am also completing my Bachelors of Healthcare Science in Management and Leadership degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, PA.