Frequent Dressing Disruptions Vascular access dressing disruptions occur frequently during vascular access device (VAD) maintenance, leading to premature dressing changes. This issue has been examined by multiple studies. According to a study undertaken by Timsit, et al., approximately 67% of central venous catheter (CVC) dressing changes are performed before the planned date.1 This can be…
It is well known that the use of medical adhesives is associated with potential skin damage during a variety of procedural and treatment courses, including vascular access. This skin damage can present as medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI). MARSI prevalence was examined in a study undertaken by Farris, et. al, to determine the scope of…
Are you struggling with maintaining intact vascular access dressings for up to 7 days as recommended by the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice? If so, consider the use of gum mastic to enhance dressing adherence!1 In the brief video below, S. Matthew Gibson RN, CRNI, VA-BC, CPUI shows the simple application process of Mastisol® Liquid…
Guidelines for Dressing Wear Time and Maintenance Guidelines for vascular access dressings focus on improving both wear time and dressing integrity. Maintaining intact dressings is important for preventing infection and minimizing risk of skin injury. It can also reduce unnecessary dressing changes and help wear time more closely match standard parameters. According to the 2021…
People everywhere are grappling with the way COVID-19 has affected daily life. With limitations on gathering, many schools and companies operating remotely and most medical facilities on a tight lockdown, it can be challenging to find ways to give back to interact with the community. However, as fear and anxiety have spread, so have good…
Pivoting to Telemedicine Throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, social distancing and reducing in‐person interactions have been essential to decrease viral spread. The healthcare industry has largely pivoted to telehealth per CDC recommendations, conducting clinical visits via virtual methods and operating in‐person facilities at restricted capacity. Doing so reduces unnecessary patient contact and exposure.¹ In order for…
As a tumultuous 2020 ends, we would like to thank you for being part of the Eloquest Healthcare Blog! We hope you have found our posts both informative and impactful to your professional career. We kicked off the year with an often overlooked topic – burnout in the Nursing profession. Remaining true as we close…
Movember: Raising Awareness for Men’s Health November is just around the corner, and you may have heard of Movember. The purpose of this annual event is to raise awareness around men’s health. Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 6 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. By 2030, the…
American Heart Month February is American Hearth Month, a time to remind Americans to focus on their hearts and encourage them to get their families, friends and communities involved. Despite increases in awareness over the past decades, only about half (56%) of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer.¹ What is American…
Preventable deaths in the US A 2016 study at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that preventable deaths in hospitals are the third leading cause of death in the US behind heart disease and cancer.[1] The study suggests that medical error leads to more than 250,000 deaths each year in the US, though other…