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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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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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 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... -
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... -
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... -
Tips for Efficient IV Starts Article Recommends Vein Finding TechnologiesThe January issue of Outpatient Surgery Magazine includes the article "8 Tips for Efficient IV Catheterization". Tip #4 recommends investing in vein finding technologies. In the article Sarah Johnson, perianesthesia nurse manager at the Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center, an AccuVein customer, is quoted saying what a "huge help" the device has been. You'll... -
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... -
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... -
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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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... -
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... -
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... -
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. -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Australian Red Cross Looks at Vein Visualization for Blood DrawThe Australian Red Cross has done a study on the use of vein visualization for blood draw. AccuVein was among the devices they examined in the study. The key results of the study were as follows: 53.4% return donors receiving vein visualization technology report that they would be more likely to donate blood if this... -
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... -
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 -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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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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... -
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...
