Looking Ahead To 2016...

This year has been an incredibly productive year for us at ImprovePICC.

We've celebrated many successes, including the funding of a large AHRQ grant that will allow us to continue to  develop devices that sense the presence, rationale and nature of catheters; the addition of bright, new research and project management staff; and unparalleled productivity in terms of peer-reviewed papers, lectures and seminars.

We've also increased our international presence, punctuated by a deepening partnership with the AVATAR group that led to a substantial Australian NHRMC Grant examining PICC securement and dressing (the PISCES Trial). And with the publication of the first evidence-based "guideline" for when to use a range of IV devices, MAGIC, well...its not hyperbole to say it's been an amazing year.

So as I look ahead to 2016, I cannot help but worry given the strong benchmark we've set! Can we possibly continue to keep up the pace that we have so aptly held this year?  What projects will we take on and how will we get these funded so as to ensure success? Will our new staff and faculty soar? Is our success perhaps our greatest enemy?

I know that these thoughts plague many of us in the knowledge and discovery arena, but I am reassured by several facts. First, our mission, vision and values remain strong and our  focus on improving the use of PICCs in hospitalized medical patients has never been as laser-like as it is now . Second, we know that important questions regarding the use of vascular devices remain to be answered - a thought that is always good for job security (and grant funding in these tight times). Third, I sense we will begin to make the shift from "observing" practice to "implementing" change given all of the efforts we and others have done that continually show room for improving practice. This last thought is perhaps the most exciting for us at ImprovePICC, because we will now begin to influence the care of patients with PICCs in a real and tangible way through our quality improvement partners across Michigan.

So, we close 2015 in a strong way. We already have ten (yes, 10)  research and innovation abstracts submitted to a scientific meeting from our partnership  with HMS. We have several papers in press and a few that remain under review. We continue to write grants that focus on translating our research into practice. These important contributions will undoubtedly allow us to keep up our cadence.

I have a feeling 2016 will be a good year. Thank you for being part of our journey. Onwards...