In Florida, in the last three months several hospitals have cut back IV Teams (traditional plaicng PIV's and PICC's), and an independent contractor has eliminated a dedicated full time PICC service. you have seen the posts from these hospitals here already.
It is time to do a review of:
What your program brings to the institution.
Time and motion needs
Cost savings your service provides to the hospital
Performance improvement indicators
Infection rate of central lines you place as a service: I assume you are all making the Infection Control Department separate your rates out as that is a outcome of your dedicated service quality versus another service. If your rates are not separate I suggest you work with Infection Control.
I would hope that this year INS and AVA focus some of their meetings on this topic as the 1990's when the last onslaught occurred is back.Â
Kathy