Fewer catheters in ED
No one wants a catheter inserted unless they need it, so it’s great news that emergency researchers at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital have successfully trialled an education campaign to reduce the number of catheters ED doctors insert.
A peripherally inserted intravenous catheter (PIVC) is a small tube placed into a vein to administer medication or fluids. It’s common practice for ED doctors to insert a PIVC in patients so that they can quickly and easily be given fluids and medications.
However, recent literature suggests that emergency care providers may place PIVCs more often than required and up to 50% remain unused.
EMF funded this research trial through our Queensland Research Program, which is fully funded by Queensland Health.
The results were presented by Tracey Hawkins and A/Prof Jaimi Greenslade at the ACEM 2016 conference in New Zealand.
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