Leanne Coulson1
1SA Ambulance Service, 216 Greenhill Rd, Eastwood, South Australia 5063, Leanne.coulson@sa.gov.au
Abstract
Healthcare is provided in settings external to hospitals, and SA Ambulance Service provides the South Australian community with emergency care, emergency ambulance transport, clinical care & patient transport services. Providing healthcare in emergency and ambulance settings presents unique infection prevention and control challenges, including achieving aseptic technique in practice.
Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) are an example where aseptic technique is required to reduce the risk of harm from bloodstream infections. Key components of care for PIVC are defined in the National Safety and Quality in Health Services (NSQHS) PIVC clinical care standard. This standard underpins national and local policies and guidelines for the management of PIVC’S.
Not all patient care in the emergency ambulance setting is carried out under emergency conditions. This setting has unique challenges and considerations for the insertion and ongoing care of a PIVC. SA Ambulance has developed a comprehensive process to ensure education and competency assessment is undertaken by all clinicians responsible for inserting PIVC’s as part of the care provided to patients.
This presentation covers some of the challenges faced, including differentiating between time critical and non-time critical incidents, which determines the level of asepsis that can be achieved, as well as limitations in national and local guidelines, education of clinicians and the implications of ongoing management for patients.