Establishing a Dedicated Difficult Vascular Access Team in the Emergency Department: A Needs Assessment

Key Points: Successful venipuncture is critical in providing timely diagnosis and treatments for patients. Multiple attempts and a delay in obtaining vascular access negatively affect patients and ED staff. Failure of clinical technicians or nurses to place SPCs often leads to more advanced procedures, such as the insertion of central vascular access devices (CVADs), which are more costly and increase risks to patient safety. The presence of difficult vein access (DVA) among patients had a profound effect on ED staff and physical resources. Results from the triage vascular access observations showed difficult vascular catheter placements took on average 3 times longer than simple vascular access insertions. Results from this assessment suggest that difficult vascular access represents tangible threats to patient safety and increased use of resources.