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mary ann ferrannini
No More PICC Consents
We have just been told that we no longer need to obtain an informed consent to place a PICC line in our facility. I work in California in a large cardiac hospital. It has been determined that because it is a "common procedure" it no longer is needed. My concern is that there are still risks and the patient must be informed of the risk vs the benifit issue. Will we be covered, so to speak by continuing to document our teaching on a teaching sheet listing the potential PICC-related complications. Any ideas.  What is every else doing?
lynncrni
I would interpret your

I would interpret your facilities position as no longer needing a signature on a piece of paper, but informed consent - the process of educating the patient about all aspects - is still required. Document your education thoroughly along with the patient's understanding of that education.  

 

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI

www.hadawayassociates.com

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

mary ann ferrannini
Once again,Thank you for
Once again,Thank you for you speedy comment. I have printed it out and will post your response in our office. I am working on my non-chemo extravasation guide and might be throwing a few questions your way   Tx
kokotis
Kathy Kokotis Bard Access

Kathy Kokotis

Bard Access Systems

I agree with Lynn in that you should document the verbal informed consent and understanding of the risks/benefits to the patient.  It would be good to have a patient handbook to hand out to your patients in spanish and english with all this info

kathy kokotis

Kathy Kokotis

Bard Access Systems

mary ann ferrannini
 I already made a handout
 I already made a handout with all this info,it is in a duplicate format with the patient getting one copy and one copy to thr chart.   Tx    
Rhonda Wojtas
In my facility we do not get

In my facility we do not get a consent for PICC lines. When we first started we did but Risk Management told us it was covered under the general consent for treatment. I clearly document PICC line explained to pt and pt agreed to insertion. I do not state risk and benifit per say. I never did for a perpherial IV insertion. I just document as I said disccussed PICC line and agreed to insertion. 

Rhonda Wojtas, RN PICC Team

Lowell MA

Rhonda Wojtas, RN,BSN, VA-BC

Tim
It is not up the Risk

It is not up the Risk Management or corporate legal or Administration to decide this issue (in California).  This is defined by law (regulation with the force of law actually) to be a medical decision.  It must be made collectively by the medical staff of each institution, and the answer could reasonably vary from location to location.  Regardless of what others do, the inserter has a responsibility to ensure that the patient has the information needed to make an informed choice (not necessarily and Informed Consent).

Tim

mary ann ferrannini
Thank you for all the
Thank you for all the comments. As I suspected, documentation is so important.
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