Infusion therapy refers to the administration of fluids, medications or nutrients directly into a patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter. It is commonly used in various medical settings, including hospitals, clinics and home care, making it a vital skill to master for students entering the healthcare field. With the help of simulation equipment, educators are able to provide students with practice that closely mimics real-life clinical settings. Simulation training with equipment like Alaris Medley Infusion Pump Systems from DiaMedical allow students to master skills like infusion therapy without risk to real patients. This style of training enables students to enter the healthcare field with confidence in their ability to provide the Standard of Care throughout clinical practice. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of infusion therapy, here are some best practices:

Competent Healthcare Professionals: Only trained and certified healthcare professionals should perform infusion therapy. They must have the necessary knowledge and skills to handle infusion equipment, administer medications and respond to potential complications. 

Proper Patient Assessment: Before initiating infusion therapy, a thorough patient assessment should be conducted. This includes evaluating the patient's medical history, allergies, current medications, vital signs and vascular access options. Simulation scenarios that include all the steps to infusion start-to-finish are a great way to get students familiar and comfortable with best practices. Our Tuesday Teachings video series are a great resource for educators looking to implement simulations into their curriculum. 

Sterile Technique & Infection Control: Infusion therapy involves direct access to the bloodstream, making it critical to maintain a sterile environment during preparation and administration. Proper hand hygiene and infection control practices must be emphasized for all healthcare providers involved in infusion therapy. DiaMedical provides a wide range of gloves, hand sanitizers and sharps containers to help students learn how to maintain strict aseptic techniques needed to minimize the risk of life-threatening bloodstream infections. 

Vein Selection & Assessment: Choose the appropriate vein for infusion, considering factors such as the patient's age, medical condition and the type of therapy. Assess the condition of the veins to ensure they can withstand the infusion and avoid potential complications. Veinlite vein finders use bright LED lights to help students select the most appropriate vein for the medication to be infused.  

Proper Catheter Insertion: When using vascular access devices, such as safety intravenous (IV) catheters, follow proper insertion techniques. This includes using the right-sized catheter, securing it in place and confirming proper placement through blood return or other approved methods. With this goal in mind, DiaMedical offers IV Start Kits with Prevantics Prep Pads as well as IV Guard IV Dressings to help keep the catheter securely in place after venipuncture is achieved. 

Regular Site Assessment & Care: Monitor the infusion site regularly for signs of complications, such as inflammation, infiltration or infection. Follow institution-specific guidelines for site care and replace angiocatheters as necessary to prevent complications. Dynarex View Guard Transparent Dressings allow providers to constantly monitor for complications of IV therapy such as phlebitis, infiltration and leaking at the site.   

Accurate Medication Administration: Double-check medication orders, dosages and compatibility before administering any infusion. Infusion pumps like the compact Baxter Sigma Spectrum help ensure accurate and controlled delivery, allowing students to practice primary, secondary, multi-step and cyclic TPN therapy modes. In addition, the Alaris Medley Infusion Pump Combo #1 is an excellent educational tool as it includes the DiaMedical Educational Drug Library, a training version of the Guardrails MX software package. It allows students to practice administering primary and secondary infusions with no harm to patients. DiaMedical also offers a variety of primary, secondary and extension IV Tubing sets from top manufacturers like Alaris, Baxter, Hospira and more. 

Emergency Preparedness: Be prepared to respond to any adverse reactions or complications during infusion therapy. Have emergency equipment readily available, and ensure all healthcare providers know the appropriate actions to take in case of emergencies. DiaMedical helps educators outfit their entire sim lab to provide students with experiences as close to real life as possible. 

Key Takeaways 

By teaching/promoting these best practices in healthcare education training programs, educators can ensure their students feel confident in performing safe and effective administration of infusion therapy, minimizing the risk of complications and enhancing patient outcomes in their future careers. DiaMedical is here to assist in these learning goals by providing educators the tools to run these simulations. For more information on Infusion and Dialysis products or other simulation equipment, reach out to a DiaMedical expert at info@diamedicalusa.com.