perspectives
By Michelle DeVries , MPH , CIC , VA-BC
Partnerships Drive Patient Safety Even in the Most Challenging Times
an infection preventionist with a background in hospital
As and molecular epidemiology and a passion for vascular access , I ’ ve often said my “ happy place ” is at the intersection of hospital epidemiology , vascular access and patient safety . I have been extremely fortunate to align with the Association for Vascular Access ( AVA ), originally participating through contributions as part of the annual scientific meeting , then on individual projects and task forces and for the past years as a member of the board of directors nationally as well as with my local network . Several years ago , I was asked why AVA did not have a special interest group ( SIG ) for infection prevention ; our leadership at the time had the very accurate response that infection control is an integral part of everything we do , not something that can or should be separated into something independent .
Reducing complications across all vascular access devices is a unifying goal . Championing vascular access specialist teams and providing opportunities for disseminating the success ( and challenges ) of those teams through our peer reviewed journal ( JAVA ), our quarterly online newsletter ( Intravascular Quarterly – “ IQ ”) or sharing through presentations at local and national events and webinars to promote the best possible outcomes for our patients are all ways that AVA strives to serve our community . We are a diverse specialty made up of the whole breadth of stakeholders and many different disciplines including technicians , respiratory therapists , nurses , and providers but also those who support the practice as administrators , quality directors , infection preventionists , educators and the industry specialists who provide the tools we use daily . We are inclusive and global in our goals and anxious to partner with individuals and organizations that share this same vision .
The last several years have witnessed our association develop numerous position papers to support clinicians and bolster their practice . Most recently that included tackling the ongoing question of appropriate disinfection of ultrasound transducers used in vascular access procedures . AVA partnered with American College of Emergency Physicians , American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine , Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America to create an intersocietal position paper on the topic . PediNeoSIG drafted and published Minimum Education and Training for Pediatric and Neonatal IV Insertion for all Clinicians along with a companion competency checklist . Several additional position papers were developed addressing the use of ultrasound guidance for central line insertion , arterial insertion , and visualization technology for peripheral IVs . These were rounded out by adoption of the international standards of Aseptic Non-Touch Technique ( ANTT ).
We continue to strive to provide members and clinicians with the tools they need to be successful . The Vascular Access Resource Guide is in its final phases of editing for the second edition , which now includes formal consideration of practices outside of the acute-care setting . BacSIG ( our Beyond Acute Care special interest group ) is evaluating the feedback from their recent member survey
and hosting a panel webinar this fall to represent this sometimes overlooked but crucial patient population .
Also very exciting for us is the progress being made on AVA ’ s Clinical Practice Guidelines . We have a global group of contributors working together to review the literature and develop guidance focused on the “ grey areas ” of vascular access . We recognize the tremendous value of the existing standards and practice guidelines from around the globe and hope that leaning on our diverse leaders and international volunteers can add another resource for clinicians looking for further guidance on these difficult questions . We are fortunate to have numerous other organizations partnering with us for this undertaking including American Society of Radiologic Technologists , Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology , Canadian Vascular Access Association , Emergency Nurses Association , National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists , National Home Infusion Association and Oncology Nursing Society . Blake Hotchkiss , BSN , RN , CCRN , CRNI , VA-BC , who is AVA ’ s clinical education specialist , is serving as the project manager for this undertaking with an interdisciplinary team of leaders from across the globe , investigating the key elements of vascular access including assessment and device planning , pre-insertion , insertion , complication management , device maintenance and removal and administrative . Andrea Raynak , RN , MPH ( N ), CVAA ( c ), VA-BC , a vascular access clinical nurse specialist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Thunder Bay , Ontario Canada , is team leader for the assessment group and notes what an honor it has been to work with and learn from experts from so many different areas around the globe . She shares that the expertise everyone has brought creates an incredibly rich learning environment which will be reflected in the document .
This past year and a half has been a challenge for all of us , personally and professionally . Infection prevention has received a level of sustained attention that I believe we have not previously witnessed . Similarly , the impact of vascular access and the innovations that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic by our specialists who pioneered gaining and maintaining access in these often critical and incredibly complicated patients re-emphasized that vascular access truly is the gateway to almost all healthcare . The partnerships that we create between our departments in our facilities as well as through strong professional associations and increasing the collaboration between our specialty societies are what will continue to drive patient safety initiatives even in the most challenging of times .
Oct . 5 , 2021 is Vascular Access Specialist Day . We wear many different hats but thank you to everyone who supports this incredible specialty !
Chellie DeVries , MPH , CIC , VA-BC , has been involved in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology for more than 25 years , with a passion for vascular access . She is a frequent presenter at local AVA , APIC , and INS chapters and has contributed to numerous publications at the intersection of vascular access , hospital epidemiology and patient safety .