AVA conference brochure
July 19, 2008
The Association for Vascular Access (AVA) have published the brochure for the 22nd Annual Read more
ANTT conference
July 14, 2008
The Aseptic Non Touch Implementation team have announced the 1st National Conference on Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) on the 29th September 2008 - London, UK. This National Conference for ANTT will present important latest evidence and developments from leading NHS hospitals.
Speakers include; Dr Carole Pellowe will update on EPIC2 progress and explain how ANTT is the vehicle for hospitals to successfully deliver best aseptic practice guidance from EPIC2, DOH and the ICP in the workplace. Renowned experts in the field; Stephen Rowley, Dr Peter Wilson, Annette Jeanes and Andrew Jackson will provide practical insight and the context of aseptic management in health care settings.
Click here for further information.
MADRI conference on CRBSI
June 16, 2008
The Multidisciplinary Alliance Against Device-Related Infections (MADRI) hosted its eighth annual conference June 6-8, 2008 in Lansdowne, VA where leading infection specialists presented on a variety of topics, including research goals in epidemiology and infection control, legal perspectives on MRSA and catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIs).
“Driven by discussions around improving patient care and the prevention of device-related infections, the eighth annual MADRI conference was a huge success,” said Rabih Darouiche, M.D., VA distinguished service professor, Departments of Medicine (Infectious Disease Section) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and director of Center for Prostheses Infection and MADRI founder. “In an open and educational atmosphere, experts across disciplines were able to discuss challenges associated with device-related infections and exchange ideas about prevention and improvement of patient care.”
One of the main themes of the conference was CRBSIs, a common nosocomial infection that develops when bacteria enter the blood stream through a central venous catheter (CVC).
Click here for the full story.
European PICC conference
June 7, 2008
GAVeCeLT announce the 2nd PICC International Meeting on PICCs and midline catheters.
The conference will take place on December 3rd, 2008 in the Congress Centre ‘Europa’ – Catholic University, Rome. This day is then followed by the 6th GAVeCeLT congress international meeting on long term vascular access devices.
Click here for further information.
Recent EPIC2 conferences
June 7, 2008
London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester hosted what has turned out to be a remarkable set of free study days that examined the practical aspects of implementing EPIC2, Saving Lives and ANTT.
This national program was developed jointly by the Infection Prevention Society and Thames Valley University. On behalf of all the speakers, sponsors and conference organizers I would like to thank the audience at each venue. Your involvement, interest and interaction made a world of difference… thank you.
I would also personally like to take this opportunity to thank the conference organizers ‘Fitwise‘ for managing a roadshow of logistical mammoth proportions with apparent ease and professionalism throughout. Also, I must thank the sponsors, without whom this event would not have taken place. The sponsors include Enturia, BBraun, 3M, Daniels Healthcare, Ecolab, Fannin Healthcare, G+N Medical, Tealwash, Vernacare and Royal Navy.
Finally, I am pleased to offer a link to the Harage (2007) Zero CRBSI article discussed at the study days and the link to the Association of Vascular Access ‘SAVE that line’ train the trainer online program.
ANTT conference
June 7, 2008
Stephen Rowley has announced the date for a national Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) conference in London, UK.
The date to reserve in your diary is 29th September 2008.
Details will be posted on the ANTT website shortly.
Vascular Access Meeting
May 30, 2008
The 4th St George’s Hospital Vascular Access Meeting has put out a call for abstract from medical and nursing teams. The meeting is planned for the 19th September 2008. The venue will be the Royal College of Surgeons, London, UK. The theme for the meeting will be ‘Vascular Access Care - Newer Surgical Techniques. Click here for further information.
The deadline for receipt of abstracts in August 18th, 2008.
The cost of attending the meeting is £70.00.
Further details from:
Emma Freund
DirectLine: 07867906204
Email: vascularaccess@wlgore.com
Last chance - free study day
May 19, 2008
Last chance to attend the Epic2 & Saving Lives Implementation Study Day.
London 2nd June SOLD OUT
Bristol 3rd June Few free tickets remain
Birmingham 4th June SOLD OUT
Manchester 5th June SOLD OUT
A free study day aimed at helping your Trust implement national guidelines in preventing infections and to help save even more patients’ lives.
This national programme in June has been jointly developed by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and the EPIC2 authors/Thames Valley University. A faculty of experts in their field has been assembled to lead the delivery of each study day. It is free to all healthcare workers.
To register free visit www.fitwisereg.com or complete the application form.
Spaces are limited to 150 per venue.
Techniques for declotting VAD’s
May 7, 2008
On the third day of the 35th INS conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Jennifer Estela-Stollwerk, BSN, CRNI provided us with an extensive overview of techniques used for the declotting of venous devices. Jennifer described how 42% of catheter occlusions may be attributed to non-thrombotic events such as lipid deposits. The remaining 58% are described as thrombotic.
Jennifer described the use of ethanol, hydrochloric acid and sodium bicarbonate in the treatment of a variety of non-thrombolytic occlusions.
For the treatment of thrombolytic occlusions, Jennifer describes both treatment with medication and mechanical methods of declotting.
We would like to thank Smith & Nephew Healthcare Ltd for their support which has allowed IVTEAM to attend this grand event.
Marcia Ryder on biofilm
May 6, 2008
Marcia Ryder PhD, MS, RN began her session at the 35th INS conference in Phoenix, Arizona with a stark reminder. She told the assemble audience that during her one hour presentation something in the region of 30 people will die in the US of a healthcare associated infection (HCAI)!
The audience are then informed of another stark reality associated with IV’s and the treatment of infection. Bacteria organise themselves into a cooperative community. This bacterial community is held together with biofilm.
Marcia held the attention of her audience for the full hour. The presentation included many informative messages, the two messages that I would like to share is that ‘…all HCAI’s are are a biofilm disease’ and ‘…health care professionals need to re-think the basic things that we do’. Finally, Marcia reminded us that 100 trillion bacteria reside on our skin!
To read more about Marcia’s work on biofilm we recommend that you read the following article… Ryder M.A. (2005) Catheter-related infections: It’s all about biofilm. Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal. 5(3), posted 18/08/2005.
We would like to thank Smith & Nephew Healthcare Ltd for their support which has allowed IVTEAM to attend this grand event.
INS 2008 kicks off in style
May 5, 2008
The 35th INS conference in Phoenix, Arizona commenced in style this morning at 8am with a keynote address from Tom Hayes who left the audience with tears in their eyes. Tom brought humour to the proceedings whilst delivering his message of live, love, laugh and learn.
This was followed by the first general session ‘models of care for vascular access teams’.
The exhibition is supported by approximately one hundred companies, covering every aspect of IV therapy. products debuting at the conference include the new Chlorhexidine impregnated dressing from 3M and Baxter’s ‘V link silver impregnated IV connector’
We would like to thank Smith & Nephew Healthcare Ltd for their support which has allowed IVTEAM to attend this grand event.
AVA 22nd annual conference
April 30, 2008
The Association of Vascular Access are accepting abstracts for podium and poster presentations for their 22nd Annual Conference, September 11-14, 2008 in Savannah, GA.
Presentations must fit one of the following categories and bear a direct relevance to the field of vascular access - a) Clinical Research, b) Innovations in Education or Practice, c) Health Care Policy & Delivery or d) Clinical Case Study/Quality Improvement.
All abstract submissions must be submitted NO LATER THAN 12:00 Midnight PDT on June 16, 2008. Authors will be notified by email of acceptance as soon as possible following review.
Submission forms are available online. Click here to download or by calling 1-877-924-2821. Authors must submit their abstract submission forms electronically by e-mail to cchernecky@mcg.edu.
EPIC2 & Saving Lives Study Day
April 24, 2008
Epic2 & Saving Lives Implementation Study Day
London 2nd June
Bristol 3rd June
Birmingham 4th June
Manchester 5th June
A free study day aimed at helping your Trust implement national guidelines in preventing infections and to help save even more patients’ lives.
This national programme in June has been jointly developed by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and the EPIC2 authors/Thames Valley University. A faculty of experts in their field has been assembled to lead the delivery of each study day. It is free to all healthcare workers.
To register free visit www.fitwisereg.com or complete the application form.
Spaces are limited to 150 per venue.
IVTEAM are going to Arizona
January 29, 2008
We are very pleased to announce that we have received corporate sponsorship to attend the May 2008 Infusion Nurses Society annual meeting and exhibition in Phoenix Arizona. Check out this blog from the 2nd May for updates directly from Arizona.
RCN IV Therapy 2008 Conference
January 17, 2008
The Royal College of Nursing have put out a call for papers and abstracts for the 2008 IV Therapy Conference on the 18th - 19th November 2008, in the City Hall, Cardiff. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is Friday 28th Read more
A worthwhile study day at Worthing
November 3, 2007
Just a quick thank you to the staff at Worthing & Southlands NHS Trust. They welcomed me to a recent study day where I presented an IV talk that looked at topics such as vascular access teams, midlines, IV documentation and patient information leaflets. It was very good to speak with Read more
3M study day was a blast
October 22, 2007
I recently spoke at the 3M Advanced IV Study day at the National Space Centre on the 18th October 2007.
The day was chaired with his usual professionalism by Martin Arrowsmith (Professional Service Manager, Skin Health, 3M Healthcare). First to present was Carmel Streater (Specialist Nurse Manager, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge). Carmel described her central venous access service with a dedicated purpose built vascular access unit.Following coffee, Ann Reed (Solicitor, Medeagle UK) kept the whole audience riveted with her knowledge and experience of assisting claimants with negligence claims against Read more
Dates for your diary
October 13, 2007
I am looking forward to these few dates:
- 18th October 2007 - speaking at an IV study day at the National Space Centre, UK sponsored by 3M healthcare.
- 30th October 2007 - vascular access team article due to be published in Nursing Times.
- 5th November 2007 - RCN IV conference at RCN HQ, London. Not speaking, but check out the conference details here.
- 26th November 2007 - speaking at a postgraduate course in respiratory medicine at the Institute for lung health, Leicester, UK.
- 11th December 2007 - speaking at a Healthcare Events IV Conference in Manchester, UK.
More dates for your diary to follow as my diary fills.
