The Joint Commission E-dition on National Patient Safety Goals states: Implement evidenced-based practices to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections. Thirteen elements of performance were released in January of 2013. Goal number 13 states: “Evaluate all central venous catheters routinely and remove nonessential catheters”. Who in your facility is monitoring the lines? Who is advocating for removal of central lines when not in use? If you are a critical access hospital, The Joint Commission surveyors will be looking for documentation of this goal. Our health care team rounds daily on all patients. We have begun to ask this question with all lines: “Does the patient need the vascular access device?” The nurse caring for the line documents the need. If the line is not used and simply “saline locked” we discuss the need to remove the line. We have a team of Vascular Access Nurses who routinely review the chart and discuss any concerns with the health care team. Removing non essential catheters is necessary to reduce the risk of CR-BSI’s. The catheter not in use can be a host for bacteria to form.
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