Vessel Health and Preservation: The Right Approach for Vascular Access

This second edition offers updated and revised information on vessel health and preservation (VHP). It presents a model of care and systematic application of vascular access and administration of intravenous treatment to show how establishing and maintaining a route to the bloodstream with optimal methods is essential for patients in acute care today. This model concept was first published in poster form in 2008 and in JVA in 2012, which has received a great deal of attention, especially in the US, UK and Australia. Until now, little thought has been given to an intentional process to guide selection, insertion and management of vascular access devices (VADs) and by default actions are based on crisis management when a quickly selected VAD fails. The book details how VHP establishes a framework or pathway model for each step of the patient experience, intentionally guiding, improving and eliminating risk when possible. The evidence points to the fact that reducing fragmentation, establishing a pathway, and teaching the process to all stakeholders reduces complications with intravenous therapy, improves efficiency and diminishes cost. As such this book has become a strong point of reference appealing to vascular access specialists, bedside nurses, physicians and other health professionals. Few authoritative guides provide the depth and descriptive evidence included in this VHP model of care, suitable for hospital administrators, directors, educators and others to apply within their services.

Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, BSN, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC is an internationally recognized speaker and expert in the field of vascular access, infusion therapy and specifically peripherally inserted central catheters. As the owner and CEO of PICC Excellence, Dr. Moureau creates online educational programs and works with companies to provide education to clinicians. A nurse for more than 35 years, Dr. Moureau continues her clinical work with home health and hospital infusion services. She is constantly involved with research and literature analysis. An adjunct associate professor and member of the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR group) at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, Dr. Moureau takes on many projects and most recently chaired the International Consensus Forum for the World Congress of Vascular Access (WoCoVA) to establish Standard Minimal Education Requirements for Central Venous Access Devices. Her team at PICC Excellence has established the only worldwide registered PICC Certification, Certified PICC Ultrasound Inserter and Certified Neonatal PICC Inserter, where those who meet and maintain qualifications gain and maintain the credentials of CPUI or CNPI. The author of more than 100 publications, recipient of the Herbst Award for lifetime achievement and key opinion leader on vascular access, Dr. Moureau continues to work to contribute to the application of evidence based practices that promote optimal patient outcomes with vascular access and infusion therapy services.