I am looking for anyone on an IV team that uses the vein viewer for difficult sticks. Our hospital is looking at purchasing one and I just want to see if there are any other teams out there that use this product.
These messages are probably referring to distinctly different products. VeinViewer is a capital equipment product that uses infrared light. Venoscope is a small device that uses visible light. I am giving a presentation at INS on these technologies. There are some pediatric hospitals that have purchased the VeinViewer but I am not aware of any IV or Vascular Access Teams that have purchased one. Lynn
I tried to scaned my own veins with the vein viewer when the vendor came over a couple of months ago, the veins were more visiable. but the deeper veins, the one not visible, were not showing.
I was told the cost is between $25,000 to $30,000. And the device is as big as a portable x-ray machine.
For infants, I prefer the WeeSight ($57-$63), portable.
They brought the vein viewer to our facitlity a couple of days to demonstrate it to the nurses in the Pediatatric intensive care unit. I had seen it previously at conference. I had a couple of picc to start on very small children (few months old). I had them come with me and I used it two start both piccs with good results. I was able to see and access the veins with ease unfortunately one of the PICC's would not thread past the axilla. Otherwise I found it to be very helpful.
I recieved shippment of my Veinviewer 2 weeks ago. We use it for PICC insertions in the NICU which helps the nurses identify veins and their direction. I also use it for difficult sticks, those patients that I just can palpate anything and I am having fantastic results. There is defintely a learning curve with insertion but is easily overcome. I also find the machine beneficial in identifying patients (justification for the docs) that really have nothing appropriate and should have a PICC.
Our Pediatric Dept. bought one. We just use the venoscope. It's a bargain for less than $200 and the patients love it.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Jeffery Fizer RN, BSN