The Children's Medical Center ( CMC) provides a full-time vascular access service for our pediatric patients.
Vascular Access team ( VAT) members are highly experienced registered nurses from critical care background and are exclusively dedicated to provide Laboratory draws, Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) placements and difficult IV placements to all the children either admitted to the CMC or are seen in outpatients departments
VAT goal is to provide excellent care to all the pediatric patients and committed to decrease the amount of painful and stressful encounters during the procedures.
PICC service is utilized in all other areas of the hospital and clinic's that children receive treatment. PICC line placement is accomplished either at the bedside or in collaboration with the Sedation Service. During PICC placements, team uses EMLA (local analgesic) cream, distraction techniques with the help of Child Life, and occasionally use of medications to reduce anxiety in children. All the efforts are done in partnership with the family members. All PICC lines are placed using maximum barrier and sterile technique and follow all CDC recommendations to reduce the chance of line infection
VAT all makes all the efforts to provide gold standard treatment and change all the central line dressing themselves to further decrease the chances of line infections. Children's Medical Center believes that education is a vital part of a patient's recovery and always works with family members as a part of family center care. This believe drives the PICC Team at the Children's Medical Center to continuously research new standards of treatment and care involving central lines and provide education and training to our patients and families.
VAS service is available Monday through Friday 6am to 6pm.
You may contact members of the PICC team by either paging 8434 or calling the office at 721-3303.
Melenie Bowen, RN
Teresa Dye, RN
Kimberly Basso, PICU Nurse Manager ( Supervisor)
Renuka Mehta. MBBS (Medical Director)
