Development of the UK Vessel Health and Preservation (VHP) framework: a multi-organisational collaborative

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Infection Prevention
• Vascular Access Management

Background:

• Vascular access is crucial for patient care but carries inherent risks.
• Previous research inspired the development of a new framework for vascular access management.
• The UK Infection Prevention Society (IPS) initiated a working group to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive vessel health and preservation (VHP) framework.
• To provide frontline healthcare staff with a resource for selecting optimal vascular access devices.
• To promote the preservation of veins for future patient use.

Main Methods:

• The VHP framework was developed by a dedicated working group.
• The framework integrates existing evidence, expert consensus, and preliminary testing.
• It aims to guide the assessment and selection of vascular access devices.

Main Results:

• The VHP framework has been developed and presented.
• Initial feedback on the framework has been positive.
• The framework is designed to support clinical decision-making for vascular access.

Conclusions:

• The VHP framework represents a significant step in optimizing vascular access device selection.
• Further clinical evaluation is necessary to validate the framework's effectiveness.
• Measuring improvements in staff knowledge and patient outcomes is a key next step.