Healthcare providers should use vein visualization technology according to Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – (February 3, 2016) – In its newly released Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) states that vein visualization technology should be used to ensure patient safety when placing an IV catheter. A key guideline used by healthcare facilities around the world, the INS Standards mandate the use of vein visualization technology in patients with difficult venous access or after failed venipuncture attempts. Avoidance of multiple needle sticks results in less pain for the patient, lack of treatment delays and more options for future venous access. According to the Standards vascular visualization technology should be used to increase success with peripheral cannulation and for vascular access device insertion. Additionally the Standards call out the near-infrared vein visualization category.

Since VeinViewer introduced near-infrared vein illumination technology over 10 years ago, healthcare has studied the effectiveness of devices in this category through numerous clinical trials. Based on the body of evidence, the Standards of Practice recommends that clinicians should “consider the use of near-infrared (nIR) light technology to aid in locating viable superficial peripheral venous sites and decreasing procedure time for short peripheral catheter insertion.” The publication stated that near-infrared light technology should be considered “to identify peripheral venous sites and facilitate more informed decisions about vein selection.” The use of VeinViewer by Christie complies with the INS recommendation and has been clinically proved to improve first-stick success; two VeinViewer clinical studies showing these results are cited in the Standards bibliography.

“We’re pleased that the Infusion Nurses Society has reviewed the evidence and recognized the benefit of near-infrared vein visualization technology for patients and clinicians,” says George Pinho, president, Christie Medical Holdings, Inc. “VeinViewer is the only device of its kind clinically proven to positively impact quality of care through improved PIV access and patient satisfaction.”

Christie VeinViewer technology can aid clinicians in adhering to these updated standards since it uses near infrared light to create a real-time digital image of patient vasculature. VeinViewer lets clinicians see peripheral veins up to 10mm deep and blood patterns up to 15mm deep while also locating valves and bifurcations, which aids in pre-stick decision making for the point of insertion. In post-assessment procedures, clinicians can assess the patency of the vessel to help avoid complications. The utilization of VeinViewer system can help clinicians provide the next level of patient care.

To learn more about Christie vein finding devices: VeinViewer Vision2 and VeinViewer Flex please visit www.christiemed.com.

About Christie Medical Holdings, Inc.

Christie Medical Holdings Inc. is a global company based in Memphis, Tenn., that discovers, develops and commercializes medical technologies. The company’s market-leading product, VeinViewer, is manufactured in the USA. It is a mobile vascular imaging system that allows health care providers to clearly see accessible vasculature as a real time HD image, directly on the surface of the skin. Christie Medical Holdings Inc. is owned by Christie Digital Systems Inc., a global visual technologies company and a subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP:6925). For more information on Christie Digital Systems or Christie Medical Holdings, visit www.christiemed.com.