Vascular Access — Team Huddle for IV Escalation — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient

Vascular Access Clinical Pathway — Inpatient

Team Huddle for IV Escalation

The patient’s team should huddle to discuss best options for the individual patient when they are unable to obtain vascular access in emergent or urgent situations for patients who are clinically stable. VAS and the attending physician/designee will discuss difficult access with IR and other VAS experts. The clinical team should activate CAT, CODE or Tier response teams if there is any concern for imminent/present deterioration in the patient’s clinical condition.

Huddle Recommendations

Team Members
  • VAS
  • Bedside RN
  • FLOC
  • Fellow (if applicable, must be notified if not available)
  • Attending physician (if applicable, must be notified if not available)
Potential Actions for Discussion
  • PICC Placement
  • Interventional radiology consultation
  • Consider alternative routes to administer therapies (IM, SubQ, NG, GT)
  • Imminent deterioration, consider placement of IO or non-tunneled CVC
  • Consider Tier 0 if VAS, local nursing leader or charge nurse, and FLOC are all available