Courtesy of AccuVein
New technology illuminates veins for ease of blood draw.
RUTLAND—On Oct. 28, Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) announced that it had recently added new vein illumination technology to help healthcare professionals locate veins for blood draws or intravenous injections. The AccuVein AV400 is a handheld vein illumination device about the size of a TV remote control and weighs less than 10 ounces. It reveals the position of underlying veins and has been shown to increase first stick success and reduce patient pain. The light is harmless and painless, and highly accurate, according to the device’s manufacturers and medical professionals using the lightweight tools.
Even the most experienced healthcare professionals can have difficulty accessing veins safely and quickly the first time. The AccuVein units are available for use on adult and pediatric patients throughout the hospital. Vein illumination is especially useful for pediatric patients and those with difficult to locate veins that may occur from dehydration, obesity, low body temperature, or lack of muscle and skin tone and veins that have been stuck multiple times, such as those in patients with chronic conditions.
Venipuncture is the most common invasive medical procedure worldwide with an estimated 2.7 procedures conducted every day in the United States alone. Studies show that up to one third of these attempts to access a vein fail the first time, creating unnecessary patient discomfort as well as additional costs.
“At Rutland Regional we are focused on improving the patient experience,” said Carol Egan, vice president and chief nursing officer. “The AccuVein system does not touch the patient and illuminates the arm so the veins are easy to see. While beneficial to our patients, the devices allow staff to provide efficient, cost-effective medical care with less waste of supplies.”
AccuVein is manufactured in the United States, and is available in more than three thousand facilities around the world.
Eleven units have been added, reinforcing Rutland Regional’s commitment to patient safety and comfort.
