Vascular Access Team (VAT) video podcast #4—Monitoring outcomes, learning and expanding the service

This is the 4^th video in a 5-part interview series with vascular access team (VAT) leads which explores how their VATs were created, their impact on patient safety and satisfaction, and their organisational effectiveness.

This episode focuses on the VAT’s role in monitoring vascular access (VA) practices as well as educating and continuously promoting quality improvement. 

VATs help reduce the burden of catheter-associated complications by monitoring VA practices and outcomes

VATs in hospitals monitor and track numerous metrics such as the time it takes from referral to effective vascular access device (VAD) placement and also catheter-associated complications. 

These metrics reveal opportunities where cost savings can be made and where potential organisational issues may preside.

By recording VA complications in a database, VATs are able to identify where procedures need to be improved and can implement targeted remedial measures including, but not restricted to, training and educational programs. 

A robust monitoring database is a key clinical tool which helps clinicians make decisions and standardise treatments and procedures. For example, when a complication arises, it may be of great support in making a diagnosis, supporting clinicians in their decision making with data recorded at each step in VAD placement. It can provide access to resources such as videos, images and documentation that help promote standardised VA and complication management procedures.

VAT leaders drive vascular access guidelines and curriculums in their hospitals and abroad

VAT leads have helped standardise VA practices across Europe and provide expertise and experienced training and education through online modules, practice sessions, supervised training and hospital policy reviews.

VAT leads also train their peers according to best practice guidelines. For example, a university hospital in France is promoting continuous development by developing a university curriculum around vascular access management for medical doctors and nurses. Healthcare professionals become certified at the end of the curriculum and eventually become VA teachers in the program.

Key takeaways

VATs provide value especially by monitoring and tracking VAD placement, complications and patient satisfaction. By monitoring practices and outcomes, hospitals can track their progress on cost reduction, complication rates and procedure standardisation.

By initiating learning and development opportunities, VATs can keep guidelines and hospital policies up to date, follow best-practice recommendations and help VA practices advance.

Champions of Change

Have you heard about the BD Champions of Change initiative?

The BD Champion of Change program advocates for better vascular access care. We support all those involved in the quest to transform vascular access management (VAM) from a procedure to a key medical discipline which helps drive improved patient outcomes.

Stay tuned for the next topic:

Definition of a VAT, structure, and impact

How VATs are being set up across Europe

Overcoming barriers and creating a business case

Monitoring outcomes and learning and continuous improvement

Summary and the potential future of VATs

To access the previous video in the series about overcoming barriers and creating a business case, click here. 

To have a conversation about establishing a VAT in your hospital, please send us your contact information.

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