Vascular Access Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

Goals

  • Decrease the number of total IV access attempts
  • Implement a difficult IV algorithm utilizing DIVA Scoring Tool
  • Integrate US guided IV placement into ED practice
  • Standardize use of pain control therapies for non-emergency IV placement
  • Improve time to access in patients with difficult IV access

Metrics

  • Total number of IV access attempts
  • No non-urgent patient with > 4 IV attempts
  • Pain controlled offered in 80% of patients
  • Decrease time to IV pain medications in sickle cell patients presenting with pain crisis
  • Verification of pathway use by chart review for patients with > 2 IV attempts