Champions for the Cause: Using the TAP Strategy to Identify Gaps in Preventing HAIs

We have been teaching the importance of building vascular access teams and programs for many years.  It is crucial to have a multidisciplinary team that works collaboratively to improve the patients outcomes related to vascular access.  Having nurse and physician champions from the ED (where over 90% of lines are placed) and the inpatient units (CCU, ICU, Med/Surg) where the lines are also inserted and most importantly cared for, come together to discuss the opportunities that each area faces with insertion and care and maintenance.  Have discussions on why do we place devices mid/high neck where they are sutured in a way the staff caring for the device has a difficult time maintaining sterility? How do we prevent the PICC from migrating into the Azygos vein?  Do our kits and supplies set us up for failure?   When was the last time we had PIV insertion education?  What is the most common cause of PIV failure and is it preventable? Simply discussing the opportunities within our facilities can significantly improve your success for inserting and caring for the patient with a vascular access device.  We have many years experience building teams and programs, assessing and developing action plans for your culture that are unique to your facility.

More on this topic
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/tap.html
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/tap/preventionchampions.html