Skilled Nursing & CCRC Vascular Access Cases
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) Vascular Access Cases highlight some of the interesting Nurse Clinicians in Action cases that Vascular Wellness clinicians have encountered and participated in treatment. Our hospital-credentialed, board-certified clinicians provide hospital-quality, prompt, responsive, timely, and affordable clinical vascular access services at the bedside for patients in these facilities and communities. We often perform prescribed procedures the same day, which positively adds to the patient and his or her family and friends’ satisfaction with the facility or community.
Vascular Access for Quadriplegic Patient | NCIA-20
Skilled Nursing and CCRC Vascular Access Cases: A quadriplegic patient needed six weeks of intravenous antibiotics due to a urinary tract infection, and Vascular Wellness was consulted to place a PICC line so therapy could begin. Upon arrival, the vascular access clinician discovered the patient had a wound with a dressing on one arm, so the other arm was assessed with ultrasound for access. Unfortunately, a non-compressible vein was found, and the clinician knew this was an indication of compromised vascular function. As a vascular access expert, the clinician knew that, in combination with the patient’s paralysis, the ordered PICC was contraindicated. Not only was it a sub-optimal solution for this patient, but the insertion of a PICC could present a higher risk of venous thrombosis. Our clinicians work closely with our patient’s medical team, and the clinician contacted the physician immediately to relay the clinical findings and recommend the placement of a Small-Bore Axillary Central line as a viable alternative. This device would be a safer option for the patient because it is placed in a much larger vessel, out of the upper extremities. The device would also allow for a much greater catheter-to-vein ratio and significantly reduce the patient’s chance of developing catheter-related deep vein thrombosis. The physician expressed gratitude to our clinician for skillfully assessing the patient’s vasculature, for considering all the parameters, and providing an expert solution. The recommended device was ordered, and the axillary line was placed without incident.
Vascular Access with Bilateral Fistulas | NCIA-27
Skilled Nursing and CCRC Vascular Access Cases: A patient at a Skilled Nursing Facility needed vascular access for IV antibiotic therapy, and the facility contacted Vascular Wellness to place the prescribed PICC line. The vascular access expert arrived, and during the thorough pre-procedure examination of the patient and the medical records, the clinician discovered that the patient had bilateral fistulas for hemodialysis, making the prescribed PICC line contraindicated. The nephrologist was consulted promptly, and agreed and requested that no vascular access devices be placed in the upper arms of this patient. Because the Vascular Wellness RN was highly skilled, trained, and certified as a Vascular Access Board Certified specialist, the clinician was familiar with the national guidelines regarding renal patients needing hemodialysis. As such, this clinician knew that a Small-Bore Internal Jugular line was the clinically appropriate option for this patient for the intravenous antibiotics. The Director of Nursing and attending physician at the facility were impressed that, not only could the clinically appropriate line be inserted and its placement confirmed, but that the clinician had all the supplies and skills to perform the procedure immediately. The procedure went smoothly, and the patient was able to continue with the ordered therapy without any delays, or unnecessary transportation or procedural costs.
Skilled Nursing and CCRC Vascular Access Cases: A patient in a Skilled Nursing Facility had hip replacement surgery and was experiencing a temporary reduction in mobility, which made the patient concerned about their ability to get out of bed to use the bathroom. As a result, the patient wasn’t drinking sufficiently and became dehydrated. The physician ordered fluid via a PIV, which is a common course of treatment. Unfortunately, the patient had suffered some complications from the surgery and was administered an antibiotic that is harsh on veins, which now caused their veins to be depleted. Multiple Skilled Nursing Facility staff members attempted to place a PIV but were unsuccessful. Assuming that a PIV was no longer appropriate due to the multiple attempts, they contacted Vascular Wellness and ordered a midline. The clinician arrived within 90 minutes and while examining the patient, the clinician was able to feel the veins with palpitation even though they were not visually prominent. The vascular access specialist conferred with the ordering physician and expressed confidence in being able to start the less expensive but clinically appropriate PIV, and that the more invasive and costly Midline would not be necessary. The physician concurred, and the ultrasound-guided PIV was placed right away and without difficulty.
Skilled Nursing & CCRC Vascular Access Cases:
Key Points
Our large footprint of specialists are available 7 days a week, including after-hours, holidays, and weekends. We have a 3-hour average response time, and 95% of our calls are serviced the same day and within 6 hours.
We offer superior, hospital-quality vascular access procedures at the bedside, avoiding unnecessary trips to the hospital. Ironically, because we also service area hospitals, we are likely to treat patients from SNFs and CCRCs who transport patients rather than providing treatment at the bedside.
Our clinicians are VA-BC certified, skill tested, and verified semi-annually and can rely on the breadth of their intensive training to achieve successful access, including in difficult intravenous access (DIVA) patients or those with fragile veins, which is common in the elderly population.
Our clinician’s expertise often gets utilized successfully after failed attempts by other clinicians. We have a 98+% success rate with 0% insertion-related infection rate across all lines.
Our clinicians are salaried rather than a pay-per-procedure model, and are encouraged to spend all time necessary to perform a comprehensive medical history review to ensure the clinically appropriate line before sticking, as well as to answer all questions about the procedure and care and maintenance.
We provide you, our clients, with economical education and training opportunities for your staff to help in care and maintenance as well as to address lines without the need to call us, saving you money.
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Vascular Access Services
As Vascular Access Experts, Vascular Wellness is the largest provider in the southeast of comprehensive vascular access services, including standard and advanced line placement, pediatrics, program management, education, training, and infection control and prevention to all healthcare settings such as Tertiary Hospitals, Community Hospitals, Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Hospice, and At-Home. We support a 98+% Success Rate with 0% insertion-related infection rate across all lines, with an average response time of 3 hours. We help our clients improve patient outcomes, enable faster therapy, reduce costs, infections, and readmissions, decrease hospital length of stay, and eliminate transportation.
NURSE CLINICIANS IN ACTION case summaries involve challenging situations or intriguing clinical presentations where Vascular Wellness was able to create clinically appropriate access promptly, minimize sticks, and place the right line at the right time, the first time.
Find More NURSE CLINICIANS IN ACTION Case Summaries by clicking below
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Vascular Wellness provides comprehensive, quality, timely, and innovative vascular access services, including standard and advanced line placement, pediatrics, program management, education, training, and infection control and prevention to all healthcare settings such as Tertiary Hospitals, Community Hospitals, Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Hospital at the Home Programs, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Surgical and Outpatient Centers, Hospice, and At-Home care. We support a 98+% Success Rate with 0% Insertion-Related Infection Rate across all lines, with an average response time of 3 hours. We help our clients improve patient outcomes, enable faster therapy, reduce costs, infections, and readmissions, decrease hospital length of stay, and reduce transportation expenses.
Office Address
Vascular Wellness
151 Quarrystone Circle
Suite 112
Cary, NC 27519
919-226-3694
Clinical Hours for Dispatch
Service Hours extend 2+ hours after Dispatch
Monday-Friday: 8am - 6pm
Saturday-Sunday: 8am - 3pm
Holidays: 8am - 1pm
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