Guest Editorial: AAWC — Something Special Here
The emergence of wound healing as a major specialty has changed the face of medicine. The most basic of human ailments, the chronic wound has become the focus of intense scientific investigation and the term evidence-based is now rigorously applied to therapy that until recently was a medical stepchild. As with all positive revolutions, it is the brilliance and dedication of a diverse cadre of leaders that is making the difference. The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), the largest and most influential multidisciplinary wound care society in North America, is proud to list many of these dynamic leaders as members.
AAWC members are making major clinical and research-based contributions within every facet of wound care — exemplified in this special AAWC edition of OWM. In keeping with our multidisciplinary character, each of the three articles addresses matters of critical importance in the everyday practice of modern wound care. The article on the development of a content-validated venous ulcer guideline by the AAWC Government and Regulatory Task Force led by Laura Bolton, PhD; Lisa Corbett, APRN; and Diane Merkle, APRN, is a first in the literature. Venous ulcer pathology is, by far, the most common disease process seen in wound care clinics; quality medical guidelines are now required in every discipline. The new venous ulcer guideline sustained a rigorous content validation process and will be updated annually to incorporate new evidence, offering a global benchmark for professional venous ulcer care and reimbursement. The Government and Regulatory Affairs Task Force has provided the wound care world with a substantial reference.
Richard J. White, PhD; and Keith F. Cutting, MN, RN, take a fresh look at the clinical significance of the colonized wound verses the infected wound, challenging the generally held belief that the colonized wound is not a significant factor in delayed wound healing. This article endeavors to define the role of bioburden in the chronic wound. The term critical colonization offers a new paradigm in the consideration of wound healing dynamics.
Timothy Paine, PT, CWS; and the AAWC Quality of Care Task Force provide the AAWC Conceptual Framework of Quality Systems for Wound Care. This framework offers an important and long-needed practical definition and substantive approach to addressing the issue of quality wound care, including a working guideline for multiple forms of wound care delivery systems. In keeping with the AAWC mission, this framework begins and ends with the focus on ethical, quality service to the patient.
It is my pleasure to introduce this special focus AAWC issue. I am proudly anticipating subsequent OWM issues that showcase the outstanding contributions of the AAWC membership.
This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.
