Springing into action

Abstract

M arch is a very busy month here at the Journal of Wound Care. In addition to preparing this bumper March issue for you to enjoy, we are also in the middle of organising our 7th National Wound Care Conference, our annual Journal of Wound Care Awards, and our first-ever Journal of Wound Care Technology Forum. The theme of this year’s National Wound Care Conference is ‘the way forward for tissue viability’. Topics discussed include the practicalities of working with CCGs, the implications of the Department of Health policy for tissue viability practice, and the development of tools to measure patient experience and patient outcomes. The conference will be a valuable platform to facilitate the share and exchange of ideas between leading tissue viability practitioners. Our second-ever Journal of Wound Care awards will be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. These annual awards aim to recognise the wound care practitioners and researchers who, through demonstrating initiative and original thinking, have made a significant impact in his or her area of wound care, benefitting patient outcomes. We received an incredibly high calibre of entries for this year’s awards from more than 10 countries worldwide, and I’m sure our judging panel, made up of members of our editorial board, had a hard time choosing three of the top entries in each category. Congratulations to the shortlisted candidates, and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. A final shortlist of applicants for the 2014 awards can be found on page 124 of this issue. Finally, we will also be hosting the 1st Journal of Wound Care Technology Forum, with the aim of unveiling the current trends and innovations in tissue viability scientific research. This forum will provide an opportunity for scientists, clinicians and industry representatives to discuss the latest developments in wound care research, and will cover topics including the wound microenvironment, wound biofilms, in vitro and in vivo wound models, and biomaterial concepts. An article by Forbes last month drew attention to the increasing appeal of wound care-related medical advances to healthcare analysis and investors.1 This is fantastic news for wound care researchers; increased research funding will hasten the development of innovative new treatments. Our technology forum will ensure that clinicans and researchers are kept up-to-date with the latest in wound care treatment breakthroughs. References 1 Marcial, G. Overlooked advanced wound care market catches attention of healthcare analysts, investors. Available from http:// www.forbes.com/sites/ genemarcial/2014/02/03/ overlooked-advancedwound-care-marketcatches-attention-ofhealthcare-analystsinvestors/ [Accessed March 2014].