Vessel Health and Preservation: Vascular Access Management

Vascular access devices are vital to the treatment of illness and require insertion and management throughout the treatment plan. The process of selecting an intravenous device, inserting, managing, and removing that device involve many levels of knowledge, training, and guideline application to provide safety to the patient. This research presents seven publications that examine various practices that contribute knowledge required for the health and preservation of vessels. Within Vessel Health and Preservation are four basic concept sections and several best practices under each section: assessment and selection, insertion, management, and evaluation, all interwoven with continuous education. The key to safe vascular access is an understanding and integration of evidence-based practices leading to positive patient outcomes and vessel preservation. Vessel Health and Preservation is the model and process that integrates the evidence into a systems approach for the provision of safe care to patients.