Cleveland-based University Hospitals has implemented a needle-free device for inpatient blood draws, making it the first Ohio health system to do so.
The health system is using the PIVO needle-free device from Velano Vascular, designed to provide a painless experience for patients getting blood drawn and avoid infection risk for practitioners.
The needle-free device connects to a peripheral IV catheter, often used in hospitalized patients, and allows practitioners to extract blood samples from the vein without multiple needle sticks.
The device "reduces rejected blood samples and provides an alternative to accessing central lines for blood collection," said Cheryl O'Malley, vice president of patient care services and nursing for UH Cleveland Medical Center.