Vascular Access
What is vascular access?
Vascular access refers to procedures in which healthcare providers insert a catheter into the blood vessel. With the catheter in place, providers can draw blood or deliver medication to the bloodstream.
Vascular access facilitates several processes, including:
- Medication delivery
- Antibiotic treatment
- Chemotherapy
- Blood transfusions
- Long-term IV feeding
Why is vascular access important to healthcare?
Vascular access is important to healthcare because it is relatively painless and minimizes the number of needle sticks patients need. In addition, vascular access is beneficial for long-term situations, as the catheter can stay in use for days, weeks or years, depending on need.