Defining the Specialty of Vascular Access through Consensus: Shaping the Future of Vascular Access

The Association for Vascular Access (AVA) is an organization of health care professionals founded in 1985 to support and promote the specialty of vascular access. The mission of AVA is to distinguish the vascular access specialty and define standards of vascular access through an evidence-based approach designed to enhance health care. There is little guidance for multidisciplinary procedures/practice, and this is the case for vascular access. There are also inconsistencies and conflicts in terminology. Additionally, there is no consensus of vascular access as a specialty. It is the focus of AVA to promote consistency in vascular access practice. This document embraces a common title for a clinician with knowledge and skills in the area of vascular access. This establishes a new paradigm that will strengthen the advancement of the vascular access specialty.