{"id":5772,"date":"2023-10-02T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T08:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/?p=5772"},"modified":"2023-09-29T14:32:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T12:32:19","slug":"the-push-to-build-vascular-access-teams-in-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/news-innovation\/the-push-to-build-vascular-access-teams-in-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"The push to build vascular access teams in Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Almost 50% of all reported cases of <\/span>Staphylococcus aureus <\/span><\/i>bloodstream infection (BSI) in the Irish hospital system are associated with intravenous (IV) catheters.<\/span>1<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>A vascular access team (VAT) is made up of healthcare professionals (HCPs) \u201c\u2026whose primary role is to assess, insert, manage, perform surveillance, analyse the service data and solve clinical concerns and where possible remove vascular access devices (VADs).\u201d<\/span>2<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VATs may increase first-stick success rates, while decreasing intravenous (IV) complications including infections.<\/span>3<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VATs in other countries have shown a positive impact on patient care.<\/span>3<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, certain barriers such as a lack of funding, insufficient training or lack of awareness can impede progress in setting up this kind of team.<\/span>3<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a close look at what\u2019s going on in Ireland to facilitate the creation of VATs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vascular access teams start with infection prevention<\/h2>\n

In May 2023, the Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Division (AMRIC) of the Ireland Health Service Executive (HSE) released its latest <\/span>National Clinical Guideline No. 30 \u2013 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Full Report.<\/span><\/i>4<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The HSE manages all public health services across Ireland and has over 100,000 employees.<\/span>5<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This report provides guidance on infection prevention, including IV catheters care and maintenance best practices, to Irish healthcare professionals (HPCs).<\/span>4<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although there is a recommendation on skilled inserters performing insertion on patients with difficult venous access (DIVA), the document does not offer specific guidance on how to implement and manage VATs.<\/span>4<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, one of AMRIC\u2019s 2022-25 strategic objectives is to \u201creduce the spread of infection and disease, through infection\u2026 prevention and control measures, including national guidelines and standards in relation to hygiene and biosecurity practices.\u201d<\/span>6<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VAT development is one of the actions under this objective.<\/span>6<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More on this topic: <\/span><\/b>New Spanish vascular access team standard<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Department of Health funds the creation of vascular access teams<\/h2>\n

The AMRIC announced in April 2022, that the HSE would implement VATs in all nine model four hospitals and one model 3 hospital with funding from the Department of Health.<\/span>1,7<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Hospital models in Ireland<\/span><\/b>8<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Model 1<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCommunity hospitals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Model 2<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAmbulatory care hospitals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Model 3<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nGeneral hospitals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Model 4<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTertiary referral hospitals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Model 4 hospitals provide acute and elective inpatient and ambulatory care, high-acuity procedures, cancer care, surgery, as well as emergency care.<\/span>9<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are Ireland\u2019s model 4 hospitals:<\/span>9<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n