Inpatient Blood Test

Overview

One of the biggest complaints hospitalized patients have is the number of times they are stuck by needles to have their blood drawn. Holy Name Medical Center is addressing this patient discomfort by being the first hospital in the state to offer needle-free blood collection.

Using a PIVO device from the technology company Velano Vascular, medical personnel can draw blood from an IV line that has already been placed in the patient. This new standard of care, known as One-Stick Hospitalization, enhances patients' comfort by not having to repeatedly stick patients for blood tests.

The PIVO device is a needle-free, single-use piece of equipment that uses the existing IV line as a conduit to a vein. Once the blood is collected, the device is discarded. It reduces painful needle sticks for blood tests, preserves the patient's veins and minimizes the reliance on central lines for blood draws.

Patients report a much more satisfying experience when the PIVO devise is used. Many are able to sleep through middle-of-the-night blood draws and no longer have to dread the numerous needle sticks throughout their hospital stay.