VA's 18th Annual Con­ference in Vancouverwas filled with numer­ous exciting firsts!Over 570 attendeesparticipated in AVA's

first international meeting, packing theHyatt Hotel with 400/0 more attendeesthan our previous record-setting meet­iog in Atlanta! Participants weatheredthe often crowded, tableless rooms,allowing us to accommodate the seem­ingly unending number of registrants,with a passionate spirit of learning. Thiswas truly the place to be for a gather­ing of multidisciplinary professionalsconunined to improving patient saferyand qualiry through our day-to-dayinterventions.

Speaking of firsts, the AVA!APIC co­sponsored preconference day (first AVApreconference and first co-sponsoredevent) provided the frameworl< for under­standing the science behind catheter­related infe<.tions. A prestigious faculryoffered stimuhting sessions, followed byan overview of the new ]CAHO WectionControl Standards rehted to vascularaccess. Walking the halls of the Hyan, Ioverheard many of the 243 pre-<:onfer­ence participants marvel that they finallyunderstood the term planktonic cells!

Impact of VascularAccess on PatlentSafety and Quallty18th Annual AVAConferenceSummary

2004 Vol 9 No 4 .JAVA 187

r. Dennis Maki opened a burgeoning conference challengingproviders to alter their thinking regarding infection control mea­sures that are not working, while offering possible replacementstrategies. Expanded workshops on use of ultrasound and Modi­fied Seldinger Technique and radiographic interpretation ofcatheter tip locations were sellouts! The conference offered some­

thing for everyone, whether the partidpant wanted to learn to write for publication,decrease the risk of nosocomial infection in the rieonate, provide for patients in thehome, manage evc complications, begin a PICC program, or get a glimpse of therealities of safety initiatives. Families affected by vascular devices offered two of themost powerful presentations. Through warm words and tears family memberstaught us first and foremost how our practices impact their lives. Imagine the deathof a child caused by the inability to insert a vascular device in a timely mannen Thevascular expertise present was enough to stretch around the world. An often-heardcomplaint was not being able to attend all the wonderful sessions offered!

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RighaRight'"

fier four days packed from sun-up to sun-down withtalented speakers, wandering the exhibit hall, net­working with colleagues, and getting a fleeting glimpseof Vancouver, it was time to say gcxxibye to newfound friends and those AVA staff who effortlesslypulled this conference together with the precision of a

finely tuned machine, the manufacturers, and beautiful Vancouver.We thank our enthusiastic participants and our corporate partners for

helping us to make this meeting the best yet! Not to be undone, theConference Committee is already hard at work to make the 19th AnnualAVA Conference in New Orleans the event to attend. We realize youhave to choose conferences you attend wisely and AVA is committed tooffering one of the greatest values for the money you spend. So, pleasejoin us september 22-25, 2005 as we continue our commitment to you.

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The winners are:

Thank You to OurDepartment Authors

2003-2004

BESTMANUSCRIPT

AWARDS @BDBD 1\

Mod

aD PeMt" SkIll Prep. ~,---"-'

PLATINUM MEMBERBD Medical

Deb Richardson

Darnell Roth

Ann Zonderman

Best Evidence-BasedPractice Manuscript

2003-2004A New Formula-Based

Measurement Guide forOptimal Positioning of

Central Venous CathetersPhilip Lum, RN, BS, CRN]

Best General InterestManuscript2003-2004

More Than Skin Deep:An Overview of Iodinated

Contrast MediaNancy Costa, RN, BSN, CRN]

Best Clinical PracticeManuscript2003-2004

The Impact of Ultrasoundon PICC PlacementMichael Ansterr, RN, CRj\f1

Timothy Royer, RN, BSN, CRNI

Julie Eddins

Lynn Hadaway

Sue Masoorli

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~IlCCfSS svSTEMS

GOLD MEMBERAngioDynamics

GOLD MEMBERBaxter Healthcare

GOLD MEMBERBard Access System

GOLD MEMBERCook Incorporated

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SILVER MEMBERMedi-Flex,lnc.

SILVER MEMBERPall Corporation

ARRO\l

192 ..JAVA Vol 9 No 4 2 004

BRONZE MEMBERICU Medical, Inc.

BRONZE MEMBERI.V. House, Inc.

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(V1

AVAAssociation for Vascular Access

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