Inside AVA: Notes from the Executive Team

INSIDE AVA:

NOTES FROM THE EXECUTIVE TEAM

Cate Brennan, MBA, CAE | Chief Executive Officer and Tonya Hutchison, CAE | Chief Operations Officer This column allows the AVA Executive Team to keep you up to date on new member benefits on the horizon, our educational activities, AVA programs, services, advocacy, and other issues of interest. AVA is your professional home, and we always want to hear from you on how we can improve our services. Please email at cbrennan@avainfo.org and thutchison@avainfo.org.

COVID-19 and the Delta variant continue to have a significant impact on our vascular access specialists, the healthcare industry, and AVA. The entire globe continues to struggle with infection and vaccination rates, and now, sadly, among children too young to be vaccinated.

On Aug. 10, the AVA Board of Directors made the difficult decision to make AVASM21 completely virtual. Here is the statement:

But despite the uncertainty of an ever-changing landscape, AVA continues to move ahead with developing valuable, innovative programs and services for both members and non-members. We are deeply thankful for the enormous amount of time, creativity, and leadership of our Board of Directors and volunteers; they do AVA’s important work while simultaneously juggling stressful “real” jobs. We are equally grateful to each of you for your dedication to AVA. We welcome your thoughts and ideas on how to improve today, tomorrow and the future.

AVA ANNOUNCES NEW GROUP MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

In July, AVA staff announced the new CARES by AVA membership campaign. CARES stands for Competency, Action, Results, Education,

Satisfaction.

The overall goal of CARES is to improve the vascular

AVA BOARD STATEMENT ON COVID-19

In consideration of current events related to COVID-19 and the safety of attendees, exhibitors, speakers, staff and other external partners, the AVA Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to change the face-to-face scientific meeting, set to be in Orlando, FL, to a completely virtual event. Our conference planning staff is now pivoting to expand the current virtual event and ensure the delivery of high-quality, impactful continuing education and networking for all stakeholders. The event date will remain September 16-19, 2021. Complete information will be coming within the next week about event details and how to transfer your in-person registration to virtual or cancel. Please watch your email and the AVA website for updates as they become available. Sincerely, Jocelyn Hill, AVA Board President on behalf of the AVA Board of Directors

access (VA) knowledge of all types of healthcare providers who provide VA services in hospitals, outpatient clinics, infusion clinics, mobile clinical teams, and home settings.

Specifically, AVA’s goal is to diversify the types of healthcare professions within the AVA membership,

including providers who are not part of a VA specialty team. In short, this is a national discount membership program for AVA networks and employer groups. Nurses are a critical part of the VA community and AVA continues to embrace their special role. With networks, the specific goal is to reach 80 percent of common membership. The campaign will pilot fourth quarter of 2021 to as a direct campaign to large-employer settings as well as to AVA Networks and industry partners. The marketing will target hospital-based leaders, including Chief Nursing Officers, Chief Medical Officers, Directors of Professional Development, and Clinical Nurse Education Specialists.

AVA NETWORKS

In July, AVA held a special meeting for network leaders under the title Growing Together. The network representatives and AVA staff discussed how to strengthen their partnerships to attract and provide added value to members and nonmembers. To meet is original and current mission, AVA national is increasing its focus to diversify its members and include more multidisciplinary members. Other discussions included how to work together to deliver continuing education hours for virtual events and how to streamline administrative tasks for the networks.

Up to 66 percent of AVA networks expressed an interest in AVA acting as their management company. AVA staff is developing a comprehensive management services package that may include billing, dues collection, event registration/payment, member database services, website hosting/ management, marketing events/membership and general communications. More details will be available in the next IQ.

AVA on the Road, a new program for industry partners, is offered to networks. This traveling webinar allows industry partners to rebroadcast a previously presented webinar at a net-work meeting. Please contact avainfo@avainfo.org for more information.

IYCMI

→ The Board of Directors recently established two new membership categories: Faculty and International. International dues are as follows (in US dollars): High Income Country, $125; Medium Income Country, $35; and Low Income Country, $20. For faculty and students not participating in the Fundamental curriculum project, AVA dues are reduced to $100 for faculty and $75 for students. Please visit www.avainfo.org for more information.

→ AVA has established formal alliances with the Infusion Nurses Association, the Canadian Vascular Access Association, and the Asociación de Terapia de Infusión y Seguridad del Paciente (Argentina).

→ AVA works in partnership with Infusion Knowledge to provide clinicians the VA-BC™ Exam Preparation Webinar Study Bundle twice a year. Please tell your colleagues. For general information, please email avaed@avainfo.org.

AVA FOUNDATION

The AVA Foundation welcomed Michelle (Mickey) L. Hawes, DNP, RN, CRNI, VA-BCTM as a new board member in July. Hawes is a research consultant for Data to Wisdom Research Consulting, based in Indiana. She has been an active volunteer with AVA, INS and other organizations. She has published in JAVA and Journal of Infusion Nursing.

VAF SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

The AVA Foundation provides grants to healthcare practitioners for both specialized continuing education and pre- and post-licensure academic education with a focus on vascular access. These grants encourage grantees to deliver the highest level of vascular access care to patients. The AVA Foundation supports seminars, panels and education programs that disseminate research and provide updates on trends and innovation in vascular access practice and that stimulate learning and innovation.