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Success rates for peripheral i.v. insertion in a children's hospital. Financial implications
1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.
Summary
Employing specialized intravenous (IV) nurses improves first-attempt success rates in pediatric patients. This cost-effective strategy benefits children by reducing multiple IV insertion attempts and associated expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Healthcare Economics
- Vascular Access
Background:
- Limited research exists on the cost-effectiveness of specialized intravenous (IV) nurses for pediatric patients.
- Staff registered nurses (RNs) and physicians often perform IV insertions with minimal specialized training.
- This practice can lead to lower success rates and increased costs in pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of peripheral IV insertion by IV nurse specialists versus staff RNs and physicians in a pediatric hospital.
- To analyze IV insertion success rates and associated costs for different healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted at an urban pediatric hospital.
- IV insertion success rates were tracked for staff RNs, physicians, and IV nurse specialists.
- Costs associated with labor and equipment for unsuccessful attempts were calculated.
Main Results:
- IV nurse specialists demonstrated higher first-attempt success rates compared to staff RNs and physicians.
- The cost analysis indicated that utilizing IV nurse specialists is more economical.
- Fewer unsuccessful IV attempts were recorded with specialist nurses, reducing overall healthcare expenditure.
Conclusions:
- The deployment of dedicated IV nurse specialists for peripheral IV placement in children is a more cost-effective approach.
- Specialized nursing care enhances patient outcomes and optimizes resource allocation in pediatric settings.
- Investing in IV nurse specialists can lead to significant cost savings and improved patient care quality.