This has been an extraordinary, transformative, and unpredictable year in so many ways. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have worked lengthy shifts, often on the frontlines of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) care, putting their own personal health at risk. Despite these challenges, they have continued not only to provide care at their "day jobs," but also to find the time in their hectic schedules to volunteer as peer reviewers for Advances in Skin & Wound Care. As we have learned, the virus has far-reaching impacts for every industry; when the pandemic began, it was unclear what implications COVID-19 would have on publishing. Would there still be a steady intake of manuscripts? Would our peer reviewers the world over have the availability to go beyond their expanded or even usual work roles and accept our invitations to review manuscripts during such a difficult time?
What happened exceeded our expectations. We continued to receive a record number of submissions; we worried what this would mean for our peer reviewers. However, even when invitees could not complete a peer review in the requested time frame, they declined the invitation quickly so someone else could be invited. This was so helpful. We worked hard to solicit and expand the number of skin and wound care experts in our database, focusing on a diversity of reviewers by geographic location and career stage. Having a good mix of reviewers at the beginning, middle, and later stages of their careers means each manuscript can benefit from the wisdom of experience and/or the new perspectives of a beginner. With more reviewers, we can limit the number of invitations to any single expert and thereby hopefully prevent peer reviewer fatigue or burnout.
We welcome all of our new Editorial Advisory Board members, peer-review panelists, and first-time peer reviewers, as well as thank all of our continuing reviewers. Please look at the names on our masthead and on the next page. The current "esprit de corps" has created a heartwarming community dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and improved practice for our readers and their patients. The best comments have been from those who felt "engaged" and that "Advances is 'our journal,'" indicating their touching commitment to our mission and vision statements. One recent comment in particular illustrates our common goals: "All of us interested in the care of the patient with wounds, the complexities of wound care, and the science of wound healing are an enthusiastic, committed team."
This September 21st through the 25th, we celebrate our community during Peer Review Week 2020.1,2 As in the past, it is a virtual global event that not only brings attention to the role of peer review but also celebrates the importance that peer review plays in maintaining scientific quality. Each year has a theme, and this year it is "Trust in Peer Review."1 This was a particularly fluid year that thrust many HCPs into the position of quickly evaluating rapidly changing information and making clinical decisions on the best ways to proceed; accordingly, never has trust in our scientific publications been more necessary.
When it comes to trust, HCPs can rely on guidance written by organizations that have established their expertise and commitment to excellence. For example, this issue's continuing education article by Dr Mary Litchford, a former president of the NPIAP, provides an important summary of the key points from the 2019 Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. This article can assist HCPs to identify the major changes in the guideline regarding nutrition and use the handy table on essential nutrients to put this new knowledge into practice. Further, this issue includes a diverse set of feature articles; we trust you will find these pages filled with helpful scientific information validated by our incredible team of experts.
Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, MS, BSN, RN, CWON, ETN, MAPWCA, FAAN
R. Gary Sibbald, MD, DSc(Hons), MEd, BSc, FRCPC(Med Derm), FAAD, MAPWCA, JM
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