VACC Certification and Investigative Findings on AVA and Vascular Access Certification

 Whistleblower reports and submitted complaints have raised serious concerns regarding the activities of AVA (Association for Vascular Access) and VACC (Vascular Access Certification Corporation). These reports include trademark infringement and both AVA and VACC have been submitted to federal agencies and allege potential patterns of misconduct, including possible fiduciary failures and coordinated practices that warrant further regulatory review.  

According to these reports, AVA and VACC are alleged to have worked in coordination to promote and offer multi-disciplinary certification programs that, in some cases, does not align with established federal and state scope-of-practice laws. Additional concerns raised include the potential for improper billing practices and systemic actions that could impact patient safety, licensed professionals, and the integrity of vascular access standards. These matters have been formally brought to the attention of appropriate authorities for investigation and determination. 

This briefing is issued for informational, public awareness, and regulatory review purposes. It summarizes concerns raised through whistleblower reports and submitted complaints regarding the activities of certain nonprofit healthcare organizations operating within the vascular access and certification sector.

The Association for Vascular Access (AVA) and the Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC) are organizations operating within the vascular access education, certification, and professional development space. These entities have been referenced in multiple reports alleging coordinated practices impacting credentialing, training standards, and clinical implementation within healthcare environments.

It has been identified that the federally registered VA-BC® (Vascular Access Board Certified) mark is owned and controlled by its registrants va-bc.org and issued through its authorized entity under established trademark and quality control standards.

Concerns have been raised regarding AVA and VACC's involved in unauthorized use, imitation, or representation of the VA-BC® designation or confusingly similar terminology in connection with certification, credentialing, or examination programs that were already established by founders of VA-BC (va-bc.org)

Such use, if not authorized or properly licensed, may:

• Create confusion in the marketplace regarding the source, sponsorship, or affiliation of certification programs; 
• Misrepresent credentialing authority to healthcare professionals, employers, and patients; 
• Undermine established trademark rights and federally protected brand identity. 

These matters constitute trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition under applicable federal law, and have been raised for appropriate review.

Whistleblower submissions and formal complaints provided to federal and regulatory agencies have raised concerns regarding potential patterns of organizational conduct that may warrant further review. These concerns include, but are not limited to:

• Allegations of coordinated activities between AVA and VACC in the promotion and administration of multi-disciplinary certification programs; 
• Concerns regarding whether certain certification offerings align with established federal and state scope-of-practice laws; 
• Reports suggesting potential inconsistencies between certification representation and legally authorized clinical practice standards; 
• Allegations that certain practices may have implications for billing integrity, credential representation, and patient safety outcomes. 

According to the information provided in submitted reports:

• It has been alleged that certification pathways promoted through these organizations may have been extended to individuals whose scope of practice may not traditionally include vascular access procedures under applicable law; 
• Concerns have been raised regarding whether such certification structures could contribute to confusion within healthcare systems regarding clinical authority and responsibility; 
• Additional allegations suggest the possibility of coordinated efforts among affiliated organizations that may influence workforce roles, credential positioning, and clinical service delivery models. 

These allegations have been formally submitted to appropriate authorities for independent evaluation and determination.

The concerns outlined above raise potential questions in the following areas:

• Compliance with state-specific scope-of-practice statutes; 
• Accuracy and transparency in professional credentialing representations; 
• Fiduciary responsibilities of nonprofit organizations operating within regulated healthcare environments; 
• Potential implications related to billing practices and healthcare reimbursement structures. 

At this stage, these matters remain subject to review and have not been adjudicated.

The issues raised through these reports may have broader implications for:

• Patient safety and clinical outcomes; 
• Integrity of professional credentialing systems; 
• Trust in healthcare education and certification frameworks; 
• Protection of licensed professionals operating within defined legal scopes of practice. 

Given the potential impact, these concerns have been elevated for further regulatory awareness.

The VA-BC® mark is a federally registered trademark owned by its registrants William J. Hart, RN and Josephine Brandon NLPC and used in commerce since at least 2010 for vascular access board certification. The mark is issued and controlled through VA-BC Training Center, LLC, under established quality control standards governing education, training, and credentialing within the vascular access field. 

Both AVA and VACC violated trademark laws and did not attain proper permission for use of the mark from the founders who are the registered trademark owners of VA-BC®. 

To learn more about this go to: www.va-bcassociation.org

To learn more about the original founders of VA-BC® and registered trademark owners of VA-BC® go to www.vabc.org