This issue of BJN's IV Therapy Supplement sees the start of a what we hope will be a long and fruitful collaboration between the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) and the journal. In this supplement, BJN is reprinting in full three articles previously published in our association's publication, the Journal of the Association for Vascular Access (JAVA).
The first article reports on the use of alcohol with chlorhexidine gluconate to disinfect central line hubs (pages S24–S26), the second looks at the acceptability of peripheral venepuncture versus external jugular venepuncture for liver patients (pages S27–S34), while the final article assesses the validity of using the difficult intravenous access (DIVA) score to predict the likely success of intravenous (IV) placement in the emergency department (pages S35–S40).
The groundwork for our new partnership was laid last autumn in Las Vegas during my conversation with MA Healthcare's Publishing Director Andy Iafrati and Managing Director Anthony Kerr in the Exhibit Hall down in the bowels of the Caesars Palace Convention Center during the AVA's 34th annual meeting.
The three of us exchanged pleasantries, ideas, business cards and what eventually became a shared vision. Andy and Anthony's professionalism and forward–thinking stood out in the midst of a chaotic week in Sin City, where AVA welcomed its largest and most diverse audience ever.
We spoke about how we could help one another by sharing content, through our peer? reviewed journals, using the BJN's international footprint as the leading general clinical journal for nurses at all levels of experience and AVA's quarterly publication, JAVA, to disseminate valuable vascular access research to nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, physician assistants and more. The idea of promoting this critical education as far as humanly possible is why we have announced what I am sure will become a fruitful partnership for all subscribers.
Founded in 1985 by Suzanne Herbst in the USA, AVA is an association of health professionals that stands at the forefront of the emerging vascular access specialty. Its goal is to protect and save lives by establishing best practices in vascular access and promoting patient advocacy during all stages of a vascular access procedure. AVA's multidisciplinary membership of 3000 clinicians advances research, provides professional and public education to shape these practices, and enhances patient outcomes. The association works with a range of industry partners, including device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and many others. These relationships bring about evidence–based innovations in vascular access, which are disseminated through numerous avenues.
In addition to JAVA, AVA also produces a quarterly electronic newsletter, Intravascular Quarterly (IQ), which enables vascular access professionals to keep a finger on the pulse of the association. Readers can access editorials from AVA's board of directors, learn about the latest technological advancements in vascular access devices (VADs) and read about innovations the organisation has in the works through donations that support the AVA Foundation.
AVA's publications arm extends further into the digital world through the ISAVE That Podcast, the first podcast dedicated strictly to the vascular access space. AVA conducts interviews with leaders in the specialty, reviews, discusses research and emerging trends, and tackles clinical controversies head on by providing a platform for voices on all sides of controversial topics.
One of season 2's most popular podcast episodes dissected professional tennis star Sir Andy Murray's peripheral intravenous catheter placement used for his hip resurfacing surgery. An international panel of 10 vascular access experts from different disciplines within the specialty discussed the IV care depicted in Murray's Instagram photo that he shared from his hospital bed and the response it received globally.
When it is not breaking down barriers in the podcast world, AVA supplies other educational materials to its members and the general public. This includes the 2020 Resource Guide for Vascular Access: AVA's Recommended Study Guide for Vascular Access Board Certification. It is available in print and in digital format, and provides essential information for any vascular access clinician, complete with high–definition images, videos, illustrations and engaging animations to give the reader a more in–depth understanding of the concepts. The guide can also give clinicians a head start on studying for their vascular access board certification (VA–BC™) examination.
AVA's ISAVE That Line campaign focuses on bringing the critical principles and concepts of VAD management directly to the bedside. It emphasises a back–to–basics approach that is crucial for reducing infection risk and improving the care and maintenance of these devices. Available in two formats (one for the clinician, the other for patients and caregivers), the ISAVE That Line campaign epitomises everything that AVA is about.
As we embark on this new journey together, I anxiously anticipate the future. I am confident that this partnership between AVA and BJN will have a significant impact on the practice of thousands of clinicians and look forward to seeing it blossom internationally.
I want to thank Andy, Anthony, and the rest of the BJN team for their generosity and professionalism throughout this entire process and am excited for 2020!
To learn more or to join the AVA, visit www.joinAVAnow.com, listen to an episode of the ISAVE That Podcast (streaming on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play Music, iHeart Radio and Pandora), check out the latest issue of IQ, or visit the JAVA website, https://www.avajournal.com