ALLERGIC TO NEWBIE, CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Now that the CVAD was successfully placed, the securement of the line was equally important. At this facility, a subcutaneous anchor securement system (SASS, i.e., SecurAcath) was employed and remained in place for the life of the line. Due to her history with multiple CVADs, the patient was familiar with the SASS and had many lines successfully secured with this anchoring device. Short of tattooing or placing a medical alert bracelet on every patient with difficult access, our facility chose to alert the staff by placing that information in the allergy section of the electronic medical record. A note in the allergy section is appropriate because, in many cases, a patient with difficult vascular access is a more significant medical issue than a rash that erupts with over-the-counter medication. Consider that even with the VAT standing by directing the right line at the right time, the ED physician initially chose a novice physician to place the femoral CVAD. Then, placement of a left femoral CVAD was completed by a resident with a SASS to secure the line. Every decision made for this patient’s vascular access requirements, from assessment to securement, was equally vital to her successfully receiving the care she needed. The first step is to alert the healthcare professional of a patient in need of the vascular access team as soon as possible. The last step is to lock down that precious line with a SASS.
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