Editor’s Message

Abstract

Our association began in 1985, and a newsletter titled BAVIEWS eventually led to a journal published in 1990. Under the name Journal of the Vascular Access Networks (JVAN), the National Association of Vascular Access Networks (NAVAN) produced its first journal. In 1994 NAVAN leaders published under the Journal of Vascular Access Devices, and in 2003 the journal name changed to reflect the change in the association name we know today. After almost 25 years of producing a journal, we have been through many editors, several publishers, and multiple cover designs.Along the journey, we have had interim editors who stepped up to fill a role they never expected to have as part of their healthcare career. I want to extend a thank you to all who brought the journal to 2023. Every person added their passion and perspective to the publication we have today. I want to offer a special acknowledgment to Lori Kaczmarek. Lori agreed to fill the editor gap for a couple of months, and two years later, she could finally hand the job over to me. THANK YOU, Lori, for your continued dedication to the Association for Vascular Access and its journal.JAVA, pronounced JĀVÂ, is not created by one person or publishing system. Our journal represents the best of our association; therefore, it is a member’s responsibility to contribute to its success. The highest priority for JAVA is the need for high-quality research articles. We have many seasoned researchers and authors among our membership, and I want to encourage all of you to consider JAVA as a publication option.If publishing a high-level research study seems beyond your ability, start with submitting a case report on something extraordinary or unique involving vascular access. Also, consider that the AVA Foundation offers assistance at no charge to those members interested in mentoring for presentations, posters, quality improvement, research, or publication. Contact the foundation at AVAFoundation@avainfo.org.For those who choose to submit their manuscripts to other journals, and there are reasons to do that, consider referencing articles published in JAVA. You will increase our impact score by citing JAVA articles in your publication and improve our position for expanded indexing.To increase the influence of JAVA, it would help if you shared the journal with your colleagues and other healthcare associations. Let people know your association publishes a journal that provides the necessary facts to achieve AVA’s mission: To advance the global practice of vascular access through awareness, advocacy, and education to improve healthcare outcomes.JAVA must also serve as a member benefit. Therefore, as I move forward in this new role, I will strive to create a journal that AVA members consider a benefit to their practice. For example, experts will write columns to provide readers with a resource to advance their vascular access and research knowledge.In this first issue, I am introducing “Foundational Support,” a column supported and written by the board representatives of the AVA Foundation. The foundation believes this will assist our membership in understanding, creating, completing, and publishing the research they feel is essential to improve patient safety.A future column will glean hot topics and questions from vascular access social media posts. While social media has offered an excellent forum for networking and solutions to common problems, some vascular access questions require an expert peer-reviewed and referenced reply. In addition, legal and ethical issues faced by vascular access professionals elicit many deep concerns about our specialty. Therefore, I hope to introduce a column to further members’ understanding of legal and ethical matters.In conclusion, I have been an author and a reviewer in several journals and am certified in vascular access, infusion, and clinical research, but the role of editor-in-chief is a new challenge. I am open to suggestions and criticism, but please understand that either may be followed by my request for you to help make JAVA better. Please contact me at javaeditor@avainfo.org or mlhawes@datatowisdom.net.