Novel Multidisciplinary Vascular Access Team Helps to Improve ICU Workflow Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The surge in critically ill patients has pressured hospitals to expand their intensive care unit capacities and critical care staff. This was difficult given the country’s shortage of intensivists. This paper describes the implementation of a multidisciplinary central line placement team and its impact in reducing the vascular access workload of ICU physicians during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Vascular surgeons, interventionalists, and anesthesiologists were redeployed to the ICU Access team to place central and arterial lines. Nurses with expertise in vascular access were recruited to the team to streamline consultation and assist with line placement. Results: While 51 central and arterial lines were placed per 100 ICU patients in 2019, there were 87 central and arterial lines placed per 100 COVID-19 ICU patients in the sole month of April 2020. The ICU Access Team placed 107 of the 226 vascular access devices in April 2020, reducing the procedure-related workload of ICU treating teams by 46%. Conclusions: The ICU Access Team was able to complete a large proportion of vascular access insertions without reported complications. Given another mass casualty event, this ICU Access Team could be reassembled to rapidly meet the increased vascular access needs of patients.

Implementación de una unidad de enfermería de acceso vascular: ¿por dónde comenzar?

“…13 Durante la pandemia por COVID-19, se demostró la relevancia de los equipos de acceso vascular para agilizar los procesos de cuidado relacionados al cumplimiento de la terapia intravascular. 14,15 La implementación de los equipos de acceso vascular puede tener un impacto positivo en la seguridad y satisfacción del paciente, además de mejorar la eficiencia hospitalaria, considerando una mejor rentabilidad y la creación de nuevas oportunidades para los servicios de personas hospitalizadas o ambulatorios. 16 Raynak et al (17) demostraron que el costo de contar con una enfermera experta en accesos vascular, considerándola como una opción rentable para los sistemas de salud, demostrando un reembolso positivo de $417,525 para la organización en un período de 1 año.…”