Submitted by Sandy DAmico, Director of Post Acute Care Se, MediLink Educare on Wed Jul 28 18:26:47 2010

Is anyone getting lab parameters in LTC before placing Midline/PICC?  If so, what labs and is there evidence to support this?  I worked for a pharmacy where it was policy to get INR, PT and PTT on patients who are on anticoagulants and a platelet count on everyone else.  

‹ PT/INR from a Port A Cath premedication for blood product administration ›
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 20:39 — Interventional ...

Lab parameters for bedside Picc insertion in LTAC's.

That is exactly what we require (PT, PTT, INR) as well as a recent CXR to demonstrate surgically implanted devices. The evidence is a bloodly dressing, angry patient and unhappy floor RN's who have to baby sit the bleeding. It's just best practice to do diligence. It's policy at our 5 facilities.
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