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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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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
The Use Of Alcohol SwabsHow many times should an alcohol swab be used? An alcohol swab should only be used once. Though alcohol is a disinfectant once the swab has been removed from it's package it is no longer sterile. It is important to use care while handling the swab and make sure only to use it on... -
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... -
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... -
Nursery Expansion Includes State-of-the-Art EquipmentAn article ran today in the online edition of the Summerville Patch highlighting the expansion of the nursery at Summerville Medical Center (Scott's account!) in South Carolina. The article mentions their advanced technology, including an Accuvein device that reduces the number of IV and blood draw sticks in neonates. Read the article here -
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... -
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...
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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...
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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. -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
"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... -
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... -
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%...
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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... -
Using AccuVein Near MRIThe AccuVein vein illumination device uses two moving mirrors to create its projection. These mirrors take the single laser spot and make the projection rectangle you’re familiar with. The laser is only pointing at one spot at any given time, but since it moves so fast, your eye sees it as a rectangle. Since... -
Avoiding Veins With AccuVeinClinicians have told us that there are many procedures where avoiding a vein is an important goal. By avoiding veins, bleeding and bruising can be prevented during procedures. We received an email from a surgeon in France who has posted a video of his use of AccuVein to avoid veins in abdominal surgery. Please note... -
Vein Visualization Recommended to Improve Safety PracticesRecently the Infusion Nurses Society convened a task force of infusion therapy experts to develop recommendations to improve health care practitioner and patient safety. The findings of this task force includes their recommendation to, "Incorporate vein visualization technology as a routine strategy for patients with poor or difficult venous access." They go on to state...
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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... -
Use of Blood Pressure Cuff in Place of a TourniquetWe've heard that BP cuffs are occasionally used in lieu of a tourniquet a when starting an IV. Inflating and releasing to about 30-40mm Hg tends to provide sufficient distention without increased discomfort to the patient. When using a blood pressure cuff instead of a tourniquet, care must be exercised not to start the... -
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... -
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...
