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glangrn
Is there a requirement for a "Champion" physician for PICC/Vascular Access Teams?

I have a physician who is wanting to know why our PICC team does not have a physician that oversees our department and follows all of our insertions.  Is there a requirement for this or does someone have ideas on how to involve this physician? 

amaguila2009
Physician champion

I guess it would depend on the capacity that the physician will function. There are programs that have a medical director that they report to and then there are those that don't. In california where PICC insertions are well within the scope of practice of RNs, this is not required.

Angelo M. Aguila, MSN, RN, VA-BC
Vascular Access Nurse
[email protected]

lynncrni
There is no such requirement

There is no such requirement from any regulatory body or professional organization. Nurses operate under our own license. Unlike PAs, our license is not linked to MDs. Our practice is decided by us, not MDs. We must operate under the laws governing our practice such as needing a legal order or prescription to give meds, or put in certain types of lines like PICCs. But how we do it is guided by national standards and guidlines, not by individual physician preferences or oversight. Lynn

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

ncosta
Medical director

Though not required, there are benifits to having a medical director.  For one thing MDs have more clout in the hospital system - just a fact of life.  Also, when you work with a medical director you can use order sets which include medications such as lidocaine, heparin flush and altepase as an MD has signed off and "prescribed" these meds for the procedure.

Nancy Costa CRNI

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