A global perspective
What Makes a Successful Vascular Access Team? A Global Perspective
Vascular access teams (VATs) have become increasingly common in hospitals worldwide, but what separates a successful program from one that struggles to gain traction?
A 2022 multinational study published in the Journal of the Association for Vascular Access explored this question by interviewing vascular access professionals from nine countries across five continents. Rather than focusing solely on clinical outcomes, the researchers examined how vascular access teams are organized, the challenges they face, and the factors that contribute to long-term success. global outlook.pdfPDF
Why This Study Matters
As healthcare systems care for increasingly complex patients, vascular access has evolved into a specialized area of practice. Hospitals are recognizing that dedicated vascular access teams can improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, increase efficiency, and decrease unnecessary costs.
However, relatively little research has examined how successful vascular access teams are built and sustained, particularly on a global scale. This study provides valuable insight into what experienced vascular access clinicians believe makes these programs successful.
What the Researchers Did
Researchers conducted detailed interviews with 14 vascular access professionals representing hospitals in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Participants included physicians, nurses, and vascular access specialists working in a variety of healthcare settings. Rather than measuring patient outcomes directly, the study explored real-world experiences with vascular access team development, training, technology, quality improvement, and organizational challenges.
Key Findings
Although team structures varied considerably across countries, several consistent themes emerged.
Successful vascular access teams commonly:
Perform specialized catheter insertions.
Provide ongoing education and competency training.
Utilize point-of-care ultrasound and other advanced technologies.
Follow evidence-based vascular access protocols.
Collaborate across multiple clinical disciplines.
Focus on selecting the right device for the right patient.
Participants consistently identified patient satisfaction as one of the greatest benefits of dedicated vascular access teams. Reduced hospital costs and improved clinical efficiency were also highly rated outcomes. The technologies viewed as having the greatest impact included ultrasound guidance and ongoing staff education.
One Challenge Stood Out
Perhaps the most interesting finding was not clinical—it was administrative.
Nearly two-thirds of participants reported that their organizations did not routinely collect vascular access outcome data. Despite unanimous agreement that tracking outcomes is essential, many teams cited limited time, staffing, and resources as barriers to collecting and sharing meaningful data.
Without reliable data, it becomes difficult to demonstrate improvements in patient outcomes, justify staffing, or support continued program growth.
More Than a Team of Expert Inserters
One of the strongest messages from this study is that successful vascular access teams do much more than place catheters.
High-performing programs also:
Develop standardized policies and clinical pathways.
Train bedside clinicians.
Promote evidence-based practice.
Track quality metrics.
Share outcomes through research and education.
Partner with other institutions to improve vascular access practice.
These activities help transform vascular access from an isolated procedure into a comprehensive quality improvement initiative.
Limitations
The study included only 14 participants, all from larger healthcare institutions, and relied on interviews rather than direct measurement of clinical outcomes. As a result, findings reflect the experiences and perspectives of vascular access professionals rather than objective performance data.
Practice Takeaway
Dedicated vascular access teams provide value beyond successful catheter placement.
Organizations that combine specialized training, evidence-based protocols, ultrasound technology, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous quality improvement are well positioned to improve patient satisfaction, clinical efficiency, and vascular access outcomes.
Equally important, the study highlights the need to measure and share outcomes. Demonstrating the impact of vascular access programs is essential for sustaining them and advancing vascular access practice across healthcare systems.
Evidence Spotlight SourceMorrow S, DeBoer E, Potter C, Gala S, Alsbrooks K. Vascular Access Teams: A Global Outlook on Challenges, Benefits, Opportunities, and Future Perspectives. Journal of the Association for Vascular Access. 2022;27(1):8–18. doi:10.2309/JAVA-D-21-00020.
