• Why PICC us for IV access
• The PICC Nurse Specialist
• Use of Equipment and Technology
• Benefits- for the Patient, the Nurse, and the Healthcare Facility

By healthcare personnel taking a proactive approach in identifying patients early in the admission process, having PICC lines placed promptly provides many benefits for numerous entities. Benefits include, but are not limited to the following: decreased length of stay, operational costs, pain and discomfort while increasing patient satisfaction, profits, utilization of staff time, and response time for treatments.

For the healthcare facility, once notified, VAM can place a PICC line usually within hours of the request. If the patient is identified early as a candidate, especially if discharged with long term IV access, there are numerous benefits. Advantages include decreased length of stay which maximizes payment based upon admitting DRG, and increased profit opportunity by effectively utilizing fluoroscopy suites and interventional personnel as VAM decreases costs by inserting your PICC lines.

For example, if a patient needs antibiotics for long term treatment or nutrition, a PICC line can be placed by VAM at the patient's bedside. Therefore, no additional personnel, departments or schedules need to be coordinated among fluoroscopy suites, Interventional staff (including doctors and technicians), radiology nurses, transport staff and patient nursing for placement. By having VAM place the PICC, this frees Interventionalists to perform procedures that bring other funds into the facility thus decreasing costs for PICCs and increasing profits for other procedures. Time efficiency is also enhanced by freeing staff to perform functions and responsibilities that could otherwise require postponement until later in the day or rescheduled for next day availability.

Additionally a patient can be discharged with a PICC line in place and can be used for long term treatment, up to approximately one year with proper care and maintenance. Once identified and the PICC is inserted, case management is able to expedite discharge via home care or nearby infusion centers. Whether discharged home for therapy or to decrease delay in treatment in the facility by providing a reliable infusion device, early discharge increases revenue. By decreasing length of stay, besides the benefit of increased profit, there is also a decreased risk for nosocomial infections. Patient satisfaction can be measured by a faster response to treatment, decreased length of stay, and elimination of multiple sticks for IV access and blood work which both ultimately translate to less pain and discomfort. Nursing time is also maximized with PICC lines by eliminating the necessity of restarting IVs due to their duration and/or complications. Full and maximal use of the facilities provisions and staff are enhanced.

Thank you for PICCing us!