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lisayrn
Unneccessary CVC Line days

Does anyone out there keep track of line days?   Specifically for central lines.

We are wanting to track unneccessary line days and design some type of protocal to remove unused lines ASAP.  

Any info wold be appretiated.

Lisa

Susan S
How are you going to

How are you going to determine when the CVC is 'unnecessary'????  Are you talking about the more short term CVC such as subclavian and jugular and femoral lines?  Or are you also including PICCs, hickmans and ports??

     Seems to me you could co-ordinate with pharmacy services to see when the patient is removed from IV medications (either all IV meds or specific ones) 

    Do you all use computerized charting???  for RN tasks and or medication administration?  Just a few thoughts!

Susan Schuetrumpf, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
Atlanta GA

kokotis
I am not sure how to answer

I am not sure how to answer your question

The only way to track un-necessary line days is to see if the patient is off IV meds or can be taken off IV meds

If the patient has an acute care triple lumen and is still on meds a PICC line is often substituted but that is still line days

Kathy Kokotis

Bard Access Systems

lisayrn
Lisa Y., Team Leader IV Team

Lisa Y., Team Leader IV Team UPMC St. Margaret Pittsburgh

Our IV team collects the data which is really quite easy since we have computerized charting and see all patients with central lines anyway.  We have the resource nurse on each unit review the meds/plan for the patient and decide if the line is "unnecessary" in collaboration with both the physician and IV nurse if needed. 

 If the has not been used for 24 hours or if the patient has viable peripheral access and is not on any meds that require a central line the line is pulled.  For those few patients that have femerol, subclavain or jugular lines we campaign for a PICC order if they are a candidate.

We do not include Ports, Hickmans or any other "permanent" lines in this process.

This started out as a trial which I was sure would end in 2 weeks after proving what a stellar job we do managing this population.  In fact, the opposite occured.  We have pulled an impressive number of unnecessary lines, along with converting to PICCs and this trial is staying for good.

Our Infection Control nurse told me today that she will be presenting this at an ID conference in October and that we are going to submit a manuscript for publishing!

Lisa Y., RN, BSN University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/Horizon IV Therapy

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