Clinical Policies & Guidelines

Evidence-based protocols for vascular access teams. Standardized procedures built on clinical research and institutional best practices.

67 articles Updated Feb 2026
Standardize for your team

Transmission-Based Precautions

Establishes supplementary infection prevention standards beyond standard precautions for patients with known or suspected communicable disease, including contact, droplet, and airborne precaution requirements, enhanced barrier precautions in long-term care, and crisis standards for pandemic response.

Blood Draws and Hemolysis: Physics, Biochemistry, and Best Practices

Comprehensive guide to preventing hemolysis during blood draws: understanding catheter-to-vein ratio (CVR), cavitation physics, and evidence-based techniques for optimal lab sample quality.

Vascular Access Site Preparation and Skin Antisepsis

Establishes requirements for skin antisepsis and site preparation prior to vascular access device insertion, including antiseptic selection, application technique, and neonatal-specific precautions.

Catheter-Associated Skin Injury: Prevention, Assessment, and Management in Vascular Access Care

Evidence-based guidelines for the prevention, assessment, and management of catheter-associated skin injury (CASI) and medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) in patients with peripheral and central vascular access devices, including risk assessment, dressing selection, atraumatic removal techniques, and management of established injury.

Subcutaneous Infusion and Access Devices

Evidence-based standards for subcutaneous infusion therapy including hypodermoclysis, subcutaneous medication administration, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, and on-body delivery systems across acute care, ambulatory, and home care settings.

Vascular Access Device Post-Insertion Care

Establishes standards for post-insertion care of all vascular access devices, including systematic assessment protocols, dressing selection and change intervals, skin antisepsis, site protection, infection prevention strategies, documentation requirements, and population-specific considerations.

Central Vascular Access Device Malposition: Assessment, Prevention, and Management

Evidence-based guidelines for the assessment, prevention, and management of central vascular access device malposition, including primary and secondary malposition types, prevention through insertion technique, diagnostic evaluation, and management approaches including noninvasive and invasive repositioning.

Pain Management for Vascular Access Procedures

Establishes requirements for evidence-based pain assessment and management during vascular access procedures across all patient populations, from neonates through adults.

Blood Sampling via Vascular Access Devices

Establishes standards for blood specimen collection from peripheral venipuncture, arterial puncture, peripheral intravenous catheters, central venous access devices, and intraosseous access devices, including patient identification, blood conservation, preanalytical error prevention, and blood culture collection requirements.

Neuraxial Access Devices

Evidence-based standards for the safe insertion, management, medication administration, and complication prevention of neuraxial access devices including epidural and intrathecal catheters, implanted neuraxial ports, and intrathecal drug delivery (ITDD) systems across acute care, outpatient, and home care settings.