Re: Phlebotomists using ultrasound

[KTMOHN]

In a message dated 9/14/2006 8:30:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Lab techs using ultrasound to do phelbotomy is a good idea as they are currently doing blind sticks with palpation and visualization.  I think they should use ultrasound on all lab draws where the patient is not a candidate for a central line.  Maybe it will decrease nerve injuries if we get then out of the antecubital area   This is going to happen more and more by the way with CT and MRI dye studies growing and techs also placing peripheral IV's   We are just starting to see the changes in medicine that will occur in the next five years.   Kathy Kathy-While you are probably right-has anyone watched a lab tech do a "prep" prior to venipuncture?  Who is going to pay the added cost of the ultrasound on the lab charge? Giving them the ability to go after deeper veins increases the chances of infection for the patient and potentially decreases the viable veins for PICCs. We are already seeing patients who are to have their 10th PICC placed=and no these patients are not Port candidates. Gives me cause for worry-how about you???