After-Hours PICC Replacement at LTACH describes a case where Vascular Wellness received a late-night urgent request from an LTACH to replace a PICC line that had been accidentally dislodged.
After-Hours PICC Replacement at LTACH
– Clinical Case
Late one evening, Vascular Wellness received an urgent request from a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) for a patient who had accidentally dislodged their PICC line.
Typically, late-night line replacements are scheduled for the following morning, as facility staff usually can insert a temporary peripheral IV (PIV) in the interim for access. However, this patient relied on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), a life-sustaining, high-volume intravenous feeding method that cannot be abruptly stopped without risking severe clinical complications, including dangerous drops in blood sugar. Compounding the urgency, the patient was classified as a DIVA (difficult IV access) case, meaning a standard peripheral IV line was not a realistic option for the facility’s nursing staff.
After-Hours PICC Replacement at LTACH
– Diagnosis and Treatment
Without immediate intervention to re-establish specialized access, the patient faced severe clinical risks, and the facility would have been forced to arrange for EMS to transfer them to an acute care Hospital Emergency Department. Recognizing the critical nature of the situation, our team mobilized immediately.
Despite the late hour and 90-minute drive that would put our nurse clinician arrival at the facility just before midnight, our dedicated evening team didn’t just look at the clock—they looked at the patient’s critical needs and immediately recognized that this was a critical situation requiring swift intervention.
Upon arrival, the Vascular Wellness nurse clinician headed to the patient’s bedside, and the new PICC line was placed within a few short hours of the order so treatment could continue.
After-Hours PICC Replacement at LTACH
– Key Points
Vascular Access Experts
Wellness brings patient-centric care delivered by vascular access experts, which means we go the extra step for exceptional patient and client service. Sometimes this means getting home very late after a long evening; sometimes it means sitting just a little longer or answering a few more questions from the patient and their family before beginning a procedure.
This case exemplifies our commitment to our vision of Advancing Healthcare and Empowering Nurses. We measure our performance on the care and service delivered and the positive impact we make on our patients and clients. By combining clinical intuition with rapid action, the care team was able to maintain vital continuity of care, protect patient safety, and save the facility from the immense logistical and financial burden of an emergency hospital transfer.
No matter what the case, no matter what access is needed, our nurse experts come to the patient’s bedside to fully assess the patient’s medical history and care plan; they collaborate with the care team to ensure the best access is provided for the patient, and they place much-needed vascular access so therapy can be administered.
If you require Vascular Access or want to learn more, speak to the team at Vascular Wellness today.
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Vascular Wellness provides:
(1) Comprehensive vascular access services to Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia; and
(2) Customized vascular access services to Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia; and
(3) Support vascular access services to Kentucky.
Read more NCIA Patient Cases
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