Adaptations in vascular access procedures as an initiative to protect healthcare workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has led to procedural changes in vascular access services to protect healthcare workers and patients from further spread of the virus. Operational changes made by the vascular access service at a healthcare system in New York City during the first wave of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic included a team-based approach as well as consideration for types of lines placed to address the increase in patient volume while providing safety to healthcare workers and conserving personal protective equipment. The study consists of two samples of adult inpatients admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in need of vascular access. Chi-square tests of independence were used to analyze trends in data. By the fourth wave, usage of shorter lifespan ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous lines increased significantly and the use of longer lasting intravenous catheters decreased significantly between the first and fourth waves of COVID-19. This paper aims to show that with greater knowledge about proper personal protective equipment and mindful resource use, hospitals are able to become more comfortable and efficient while providing increasingly frequent vascular access services in the current and future pandemics.