Vascular Access

Foundations of Clinical Practice and Specialized Population Management

This comprehensive guide outlines evidence-based principles of vascular access and infusion therapy across the lifespan, including neonatal, pediatric, obstetric, and geriatric populations. It covers regulatory compliance, ethical practice, device selection, infusion accuracy, and population-specific risks such as DEHP exposure, DIVA management, pregnancy-related hypercoagulability, and geriatric polypharmacy. Designed for clinicians, nurses, and vascular access specialists, this resource supports safe, patient-centered decision-making aligned with current standards of care.

Foundations of Clinical Practice and Specialized Population Management

Establishes the foundational principles governing the administration of infusion therapy and the management of vascular access devices across all specialized patient populations, including pediatric, neonatal, obstetric, and geriatric cohorts.

Healthcare is a Slow Moving Carcass

A candid critique of healthcare's resistance to innovation: why vascular access and clinical practice remain stuck in outdated patterns while real problems like CLABSIs persist.

Vascular Access for Therapeutic Apheresis

Establishes requirements for vascular access device selection, technical standards, and maintenance protocols for patients undergoing therapeutic apheresis procedures.

Implanted Vascular Access Ports

Establishes standards for the access, maintenance, dressing, and patient education requirements for implanted vascular access ports, including noncoring needle selection, flushing protocols, power injection verification, and ongoing device surveillance.

Umbilical Catheter Management in Neonates

Establishes standards for umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) and umbilical venous catheter (UVC) indications, antisepsis, tip positioning, imaging confirmation, securement, complication surveillance, and removal in neonatal patients.

Intraosseous Vascular Access

Evidence-based standards for the clinical evaluation, insertion, management, complication monitoring, and removal of intraosseous vascular access devices across emergent and non-emergent clinical applications in adult and pediatric patients.

Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Establishes standards for hemodialysis vascular access device selection, vessel health and preservation, access hierarchy, infection prevention, hub care, AVF/AVG cannulation, catheter locking solutions, and patient education for patients receiving or anticipated to receive hemodialysis.

Vascular Visualization Technology

Establishes standards for the selection and application of vascular visualization technology—including ultrasound, near-infrared, and visible light devices—to improve vascular access insertion success and reduce complications across all patient populations.

Vascular Access Device Selection and Insertion Planning

Establishes evidence-based criteria for the selection and planning of vascular access devices across all device types and patient populations, from short peripheral catheters through central venous access devices and arterial catheters.

Central Vascular Access Device Tip Location

Establishes standards for central vascular access device tip location confirmation, including acceptable tip positions, real-time tip location methods, re-evaluation protocols, transfer criteria, and documentation requirements for all patient populations.