The I.V. Therapy team: Impact on patient care and costs of hospitalization

Each year over 20,000,000 patients in the United States receive medications, fluids and blood products via peripheral venous catheters. Both major and minor complications of these catheters occur at a significant rate. Thus, a large number of patients have iatrogenic complications from these catheters. Using data from a prospective controlled trial comparing complications that occur when I.V. catheters are maintained by an I.V. team versus conventional care, quality of patient care is greatly enhanced. Furthermore, using reasonable hypothetical calculations I.V. teams can be cost effective. I.V. teams should be more widely implemented. Despite the additional direct cost, considerable savings can be achieved in improved patient care, decreased patient morbidity, and decreased liability.