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.
-
Infusion Nurse Blog Article on Vein Illumination DevicesAn article about vein illumination devices was posted in April 2012 to the Infusion Nurse Blog. The article explains that the devices,"can make the venipuncture experience much more tolerable, improves patient satisfaction and eliminates sticking patients veins blindly." The Infusion Nurse Blog is written by Cora Vizcarra. Cora is a certified registered nurse in infusion... -
Vascular Access in Bariatric PatientsThe National Center for Health Statistics research found that 35.7% of American adults are obese. This means that approximately 1 out of every 3 Americans is classified as obese. Bariatric patients have a higher rate of numerous health risks such as gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases just to name a few. All... -
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%... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Vein Illumination in Vascular SurgeryLocating veins is critical for many medical procedures that require vein access or avoidance. These procedures include IV starts, blood draw, sclerotherapy, general and cosmetic surgery. The AccuVein AV400 is the industry leading vein illumination device that facilitates locating peripheral vasculature by displaying a map of the vasculature directly on the patient’s skin. What are... -
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... -
Is it less painful to look away during venipuncture ?Almost three quarters of patients spontaneously look away during venipuncture. Does this help to minimize the pain? It turns out that pain ratings of these patients are almost twice that of the quarter of patients who look. It is unclear why this may be, but previous experimental studies indicate that observing the body when a... -
"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... -
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... -
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... -
What does your facility do when equipment goes down?Many facilities do a combination of three things when equipment goes down at their facility. 1. Fix in house at biomedical 2. Send to a third party for repair 3. Send to manufacturer for repair "Many view sending equipment to the original manufacturer for repair as something of a last resort." At AccuVein we've made the choice easy.... -
Blood ExposureMany jobs have occupational hazards but being a nurse is one occupation that carries the possibility of blood exposure or exposure to other bodily fluids. One of the many reasons that nursing is not for the faint of heart. With roughly 385,000 annual needle stick sharps injuries in the United States it is possible... -
SepsisSepsis is a consequence of infection that can be difficult to identify and treat. According to the CDC, "patients who develop sepsis have an increased risk of complications and death and face higher healthcare costs and longer treatment". Sepsis "stems from another medical condition such as an infection in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, abdomen...
-
Possible Side Effects Cosmetic Injectables“Face lifts” have become common cosmetic surgery procedures for patients who want to minimize the appearance of aging. Most cosmetic surgery procedures are safe and effective, however, there have been reports of paralysis of facial muscles and other problems due to complications from injectables, such as Botox. What Is Botox Migration? A rare but potentially serious... -
IV Needles That Are Too Small Can Be UnreliableFred Mihm M.D., a Stanford doctor who is involved in Global Health medical missions just returned from India where he and a surgical team provided free surgical care for children with cleft lip/palate defects. Dr. Mihm brought along an AccuVein AV400 device to not only help on patients with difficult to find veins but also to... -
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... -
Independent Study Finds 45% Fewer Escalations with AccuVeinUF Health Shands Hospital, a U.S. News & World Report top-ranked children’s hospital, recently completed a study which took place in six nursing units, evaluating the impact of AccuVein vein visualization on the number of times it was necessary to escalate a PIV start to central resource staff. Study results showed a 45% reduction in... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Patient FeedbackMany people are difficult sticks. Being in the healthcare business, we have all come across at least one friend, family member, or patient who has told us the story of their difficulty with venipuncture procedures and the pain of the bruises left behind. As healthcare professionals I can imagine the stress added when a... -
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... -
Made In The U.S.A.We made the decision early on to build AccuVein in the U.S.A. This allowed us maximum control over product features, delivery and quality. Our Minnesota manufacturing facility is close enough both geographically and culturally to be flexible to our needs and the needs of our customers. And most importantly it allows us to run every... -
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... -
Are PICC Lines as Dangerous as CVCs?A recent study has shown that Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters have the same risks of infection as Central Venous Catheters, click the link below to read the entire study. It was thought prior that CVCs had a higher rate of infection than PICC so this is interesting news. To lower the risk of Catheter... -
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... -
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...
