Hospital Staff Perspectives on Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Use: Costs and Efficiency
Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are among the most commonly used medical devices in hospitals. However, the insertion process can be complicated for patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA), leading to poor outcomes, delayed treatments, and wasted resources. A recent study explored how hospital staff perceive the costs and efficiency associated with PIVC insertions for DIVA patients.
Study Overview
This qualitative case study was conducted across three large urban hospitals in Australia. Fifteen hospital staff members, including both clinical and executive personnel, were interviewed to understand their views on the cost and resource efficiency of PIVC use. The data was analyzed, and four key themes emerged, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions for improving the process.
Key Findings
- Cost Awareness: Hospital staff generally do not view PIVCs from a cost or resource-use perspective, despite their frequent use in clinical settings.
- Unpredictable Resource Use: The resources needed for successful PIVC insertions are highly variable and unpredictable, particularly for DIVA patients.
- Advanced Skills Lacking Support: There is limited funding and support for advanced skills, such as ultrasound-guided PIVC insertions, which could significantly improve outcomes for DIVA patients.
- Inefficient Training: The training processes for PIVC insertion and competency development were found to be inefficient, leading to repeated insertion attempts and resource wastage.
Conclusion
The study suggests that hospitals should invest in advanced PIVC inserters, especially those with ultrasound-guided cannulation skills. These experts could reduce inefficiencies, minimize wasted resources, and improve patient outcomes by performing insertions more effectively and training novice clinicians. Clear pathways for escalating difficult cases to these experts are also recommended.
Implications for Hospital Management
Improving the efficiency of PIVC insertions by supporting advanced skills and streamlining training could save hospitals significant resources and reduce patient complications. Implementing these changes would not only improve clinical care but also optimize hospital operations.
Authors: Kathleen McFadden, Claire M. Rickard, Christine Brown, Amanda Corley, Jessica A. Schults, Alison Craswell, Joshua Byrnes
