The AccuVein Learning Center is your go-to place for information on Vein Illumination, Venipuncture and training for the AccuVein product line. The Learning Center provides the latest news, video training and documentation downloads.
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Avoiding Nerves During VenipunctureIt is important to avoid nerves while performing venipuncture. Knowing where they are located and how they differ from the vasculature can assist a clinician in identifying and avoiding nerves while performing venipuncture. Two nerves that are located in common areas for venipuncture are the radial and median nerves. "The radial nerve passes along... -
Pediatric Nursing and the Stress of VenipunctureNurses are known for being able to stay calm under pressure; but being a pediatric nurse requires additional patience. In addition to meeting the physical needs of their patients, pediatric nurses must also educate parents while keeping even the youngest of patients calm during sometimes-painful procedures. Venipuncture can be very distressing for children, and... -
Doctor Uses AccuVein for Help With Vascular SurgeryAn advocate of AccuVein in Brazil, Dr. Rodrigo Kikuchi, is a reknown vascular surgeon. Here's a short video that Dr. Kikuchi took showing a AccuVein being used in a foam sclerotherapy procedure to identify the vein and show the foam being injected into the vein. -
IV Dwell Times and Phlebitis DevelopmentThis topic has been revisited several times by several outlets. Should IVs be left alone and not changed unless there is cause or reason to change them? Well a recent study attempted to link IV dwell times with Phlebitis development and found... "The results of this study show that catheters can be used for longer... -
FDA Suggests Injectors Familiarize Themselves With The Patient's Anatomy"The FDA is alerting health care providers and consumers about the possibility of rare, but serious, injuries that may occur due to unintentional injection of soft tissue filler into blood vessels in the face". New labeling requirements have been implemented by the FDA regarding soft tissue fillers and with these changes the FDA suggests: "Make sure... -
Long Term Care Hospital Readmissions An Issue… Adopt Vein Illumination!At long term care facilities access to veins can mean the difference between keeping the patient in the facility and being forced to readmit them to the hospital. Venipuncture is the most common invasive medical procedure and is increasingly difficult on the elderly. Attempts for access can fail and in the geriatric patient group these... -
Don't Touch Your FaceTouching your face is a common behavior and it can be difficult to realize it is happening. By touching your face you can be exposing yourself to contaminants from your surroundings and/or exposing your patients to illness if you are not well. " A behavioral observation study was undertaken involving medical students at the University of... -
Long Term Care Facility Sees Improvement with AccuVeinSt. James Rehabilitation and Healthcare is a top sub acute healthcare service, short-term rehabilitation and long term care facility in New York with 230 beds. Of the facility’s residents, 99% come directly from an acute care hospital and the average age of a resident at the facility is 83 years old. These residents tend...
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Hospital Reminder Posters Are Here!We've created two 8 1/2 x 11 posters to hang in the hospital to remind clinicians to look for their AccuVein device and to let them know where exactly to find it. The first poster, "Don't Forget to Reach for AccuVein Vein Illumination" and was designed to be hung in a nurses break room or... -
Vein Valves and BifurcationsWhen looking at a map of a patient's vasculature with the AccuVein AV400 vein finder you'll be able to locate valves and bifurcations. The knowledge of valve and bifurcation location allows you avoid these areas, facilitating smoother venous access. It is important to understand why this is such a great value add for the... -
Considerations When Selecting an IV NeedleOne of the of the important considerations when starting an IV is the needle size. IV needles are sized by gauges, and the smaller the gauge number, the bigger the needle. "The goal when selecting the proper gauge of an peripheral IV catheter is to ensure that the best device meets the patient’s needs. This means taking into consideration... -
Tips for Avoiding CLABSIsReducing the the number of unnecessary central lines done at your facility is the first step in avoiding central line associated bloodstream infections or CLABSIs. This can be done by improving IV insertion techniques through training and enforcement or standard operating procedures. Vein illumination has also been proven to reduce IV access escalations by 45%... -
"Perfect Your IV Starts" Article Suggests Vein Viewing TechnologyThe June issue of Outpatient Surgery Magazine includes the article "Perfect Your IV Starts". Under "#3 Inspect for Your Best Target", the article suggests, "Vein-viewing technology can make your job easier. Using infrared light, these portable devices project a real-time digital image of the vein pattern right on the patient's skin." You can access this... -
Press Ganey Survey Included IV StartsWe know that patient satisfaction is impacted by the overall patient experience including venipuncture. The number of sticks or amount of pain experienced during this procedure has an effect on patient's scores. -
Challenges Facing Hospital ExecutivesWhen you are talking with hospital executives you've got only a few minutes and you want to hit the key points as quickly as you can. The hard-hitting slides from Scott's presentation are a perfect platform for discussion. You can access Scott's presentation, Challenges Facing Hospital Executives, -
Medicare Reimburses Hospitals Based on Patient SatisfactionThe Affordable Care Act includes a number of policies to help physicians, hospitals, and other caregivers improve the safety and quality of patient care and make health care more affordable. In October 2012 Medicare began rewarding hospitals that provide high quality care for their patients through the new Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program. This program... -
The Cost of Catheter-Related Bloodstream InfectionsThis article, The Cost of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections, was found in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of The Journal of Infusion Nursing. The article summarizes what is currently known about the cost of CRBSI's in the ICU setting. The cost of CRBSIs ranges from $33,000 to $75,000, with reimbursement that tends to be $26,000 less... -
Rare Bacteria Outbreak at Outpatient Oncology FacilityInfection control today reported that a recent outbreak of a rare bacteria was tied to a lapse in infection control procedures. There was an outbreak of Tsukamurella blood stream infections, which is caused by Gram-positive bacteria and rarely effects humans. The outbreak was linked to the improper handling of saline at a West Virginia... -
Wearing Gloves During VenipunctureGloves are not required when assessing and looking for veins. Unless the patient's skin is not intact, you can use your bare fingers to palpate and look for a suitable vein while assessing the vasculature. Gloves are however required by OSHA to be worn for the actual venipuncture procedure. Even though they are... -
Complications of IV TherapySome of the complications of IV therapy include: Hematoma Hypersensitivity Infiltration Extravasation Phlebitis Infection These complications can range from very minor issues to serious injury so it is important to keep an eye on the patient after beginning the administration of IV therapy. Catching the issue early can lessen the risk of serious harm. We have been told by clinicians that... -
Heat Use During Peripheral IV InsertionThe Journal of Infusion Nursing reported in their November/December 2014 issue that a survey was completed that looked at the common practices regarding heat use during PIV catheter insertion. Of the 907 healthcare workers who responded, 73% reported using heat at least sometimes to facilitate IV insertion. Only 6% reported always using heat. When... -
CMS "Never Events"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ongoing initiatives to control costs and improve patient care. The term "Never Event" was first introduced in 2001 by the National Quality Forum (NQF), in reference to particularly shocking medical errors (such as wrong-site surgery) that should never occur. Over time, the list has been expanded... -
Taking Steps to Prevent Infiltrations in ChildrenThe incidence of infiltration can occur quickly and cause a great deal of damage. Complications of infiltration can include localized swelling and discomfort, compartment syndrome and necrosis. In an effort to reduce the incidence of infiltration an evidence based practice change project (EBPCP) was tested. The EBPCP included a comprehensive education plan focused on guidelines... -
Doctor's Tip For Cannulating A Difficult Bariatric PatientCannulating a bariatric patient can be very difficult due to excess adipose tissue. It is important to do a full assessment to locate a suitable vein. AccuVein vein visualization technology can help with locating and assessing suitable veins in all patients, including those that are heavy-set or obese. But sometimes there are those cases where the veins are... -
Patient Study Reveals that Vein Illumination Improves SatisfactionWe asked a large group of patients to share their thoughts about the use of vein illumination technology. We wanted to understand its impact on how a patient would perceive the quality of a hospital or clinic. Patient satisfaction is a key measurement of success. Learn what patients said about Improving Patient Satisfaction After seeing a... -
Should Infusion Teams be part of Acute Care Hospitals?Infusion therapy is invasive and touches virtually all patients entering the hospital. Given its importance, the current rates of infusion therapy complications, as well as the costs and the waste associated with it, a thorough assessment should be made of a facility’s’ outcomes related to infusion services. This is the opinion expressed in an... -
AccuVein Aids in Vein Graft HarvestAn article appeared in The European Journal for Plastic Surgery that describes a novel application of the AccuVein vein illumination device. The article states, "This device is ideally suited to providing a map of the superficial veins to aid vein graft harvest and other plastic surgery procedures. Vein grafts are frequently used in microsurgical anastomoses to bridge vascular... -
Antecubital FossaAntecubital fossa, a great location to draw blood but not so great for IV placement. Many times it can be difficult to find a suitable location for IV insertion. In such cases some may think that putting the IV in the antecubital fossa may be a good option. This may be true in the... -
Re-siting PIVs - based on time or indications?Many facilities have policies requiring clinicians to remove and re-site a Peripheral IV within a given period of time. As a clinician, have you ever wondered if this is actually helps the patient avoid complications? The CDC's Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter related Infections indicates that: 1. There is no need to replace peripheral... -
Fear of Needles is a Common PhobiaWhen researching fear of needles we find that not only do approximately 20 percent of the general population have some degree of fear associated with needles and injections, but that it's such a widespread fear that we've come across these six medical terms that are related to this fear: · Aichmophobia: an intense or morbid fear...
