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Letter to the Editor
In the March 2022 issue, Wound Management & Prevention paid tribute to Lia van Rijswijk, DNP, RN, CWCN, as she announced her decision to end her role as clinical editor of the journal after “trying it for a little while”; that is, for 25 years! Here, Dr Laura Bolton shares her thoughts about Lia's many contributions to wound care.
Ignoring opinion-based wound management, Lia used science to find the bedrock of fact beneath the shifting sands of opinion.1 Early in her career, she insisted on delivering evidence-based wound care that met patient needs2 and had the courage and persistence to conduct clinical trials pioneering patient-centered3 and economic4 wound outcomes measurement5 and prediction.6,7
She didn’t stop there. For her Master of Nursing degree, she compiled evidence-based algorithms to serve all wound care patients, based on functional definitions8 of product properties that delivered outcomes wound patients need. In her “spare time,” Lia contributed to other evidence-based guidelines as well.9
Working with Dr Janice Beitz, Lia validated these algorithms for expert and less-expert wound care providers.10 Together, they created the first content-validated evidence-based wound care plans aimed to manage patients with wounds. When these were tested in real-world clinical use, with less-trained home care nurses guided by wound, ostomy, and continence nurses wielding the evidence-based algorithms, unprecedented results were reported for challenging wounds in home care settings.11
Working with her Doctorate Advisor Dr Anne Belcher, Lia also tested the outcomes of using these algorithms as an online educational tool to help improve evidence-based care.12 As Clinical Editor of Ostomy Wound Management (now Wound Management & Prevention), Lia tirelessly mentored authors, recognizing nuggets of clinical value and encouraging integrity and truth in science that advanced wound and ostomy care and improved clinical and patient-centered outcomes for worldwide readers.13 For years to come, Lia’s many contributions to wound care through this journal will improve patient’s lives and wound and ostomy outcomes through knowledge and science shared.
As she moved forward in her life of teaching and mentoring medical professionals, it was only natural that her gifts would be useful within the School of Nursing and Health Professions at Thomas Edison State University, Trenton, NJ, where she now serves as Associate Dean.
Although she has made the difficult choice to step down as Clinical Editor of Wound Management & Prevention, it is gratifying to know that her talents and energy will continue to inspire those involved in medical care. We authors will miss her thoughtful comments and honest guidance but will be glad that those she will continue to educate will help us heal when we need them.
Laura Bolton, PhD
BOLTONSCI, LLC and
Research Consultant, Metuchen, NJ
REFERENCES
1. van Rijswijk L. Editor’s opinion: human nature, science and evidence-based practice. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2018;64(5):6-7.
2. Bolton LL, van Rijswijk L. Wound dressings: meeting clinical and biological needs. Dermatol Nurs. 1990;2(3):146-161.
3. van Rijswijk L, Gray M. Evidence, research, and clinical practice: a patient-centered framework for progress in wound care. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2011;57(9):26-38.
4. Bolton LL, van Rijswijk L, Shaffer FA. Quality wound care equals cost-effective wound care: a clinical model. Nurs Manage. 1996;27(7):30, 32-33, 37.
5. van Rijswijk L, Brown D, Freidman S, et al. Multicenter clinical evaluation of a hydrocolloid dressing for leg ulcers. Cutis. 1985;(2):173-176.
6. van Rijswijk L, Polansky M. Predictors of time to healing deep pressure ulcers. Wounds. 1994;40(8):40-2, 44, 46-8 passim.
7. van Rijswijk L. Full-thickness leg ulcers: patient demographics and predictors of healing. Multi-Center Leg Ulcer Study Group. J Family Pract. 1993;36(6):625-632.
8. van Rijswijk L, Beitz J. The traditions and terminology of wound dressings: food for thought. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. 1998;25:116-122.
9. Bolton LL, Girolami S, Corbett L, van Rijswijk L. The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) venous and pressure ulcer guidelines. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2014;60(11):24-66.
10. Beitz JM, van Rijswijk L. Using wound care algorithms: a content validation study. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. 1999;269(5):238-239, 241-249.
11. Bolton L, McNees P, van Rijswijk L, et al. Wound-healing outcomes using standardized assessment and care in clinical practice. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. 2004;31(2):65-71.
12. van Rijswijk L. Computer-assisted wound assessment and care education program in registered nurses: use of an interactive online program by 418 registered nurses. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. 2019;46(2):90-97.
13. Ochs RF, Horn SD, van Rijswijk L, Pietsch C, Smout RF. Comparison of air fluidized therapy with support surfaces used to treat pressure ulcers in nursing home residents. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2005;51(2):38-68.
The opinions and statements expressed herein are specific to the respective authors and not necessarily those of Wound Management & Prevention or HMP.
This article was not subject to the Wound Management & Prevention peer-review process.
