Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research - Avatar Group

28/05/2026

Vascular access specialist teams, escalation pathways, and device choice vary widely across Australia & NZ. This blog shares what a regional survey found, and what helps services lift consistency and outcomes.

🔗 Read more: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/blog/getting-lines-right-in-a-nz--teams--policies--and-practice

27/05/2026

📣 IPS IV Forum Webinar: Reducing the risks associated with PIVCs

Book now for this practical and evidence-based webinar focused on improving safety and outcomes in peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) care. 💡 Topics include:

• Improving PIVC outcomes using evidence-based care bundles
• Quality improvement initiatives across a national hospital network
• Introduction to the I-DECIDED tool for structured PIVC assessment
• Updates to the NIVAS VIP scoring system within the new standards
• Sponsor session on vessel health preservation and US-guided insertion

🎤 Featuring Dr Gillian Ray-Barruel and leading vascular access and IPC specialists, this session will provide practical learning that can be applied directly to practice.

🆓 Free for IPS members
💷 £5 for non-members
🎓 Free for NIVAS members (email events@ips.uk.net for support if needed)
👉 Book via the IPS website
https://www.ips.uk.net/events-calendar/ips-iv-forum-webinar-reducing-the-risks-associated-with-pivcs/

Sponsored by B. Braun Group.

27/05/2026

Improving Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion and Care in Emergency Departments: Addressing Evidence–Practice Gaps
May 27th 5pm ET
May 28th 7am AEST

Register here: https://www.learningcenter.ins1.org/p/PIVC-ED

27/05/2026

We had a great time, sharing research knowledge and insights at WoCoVA in Valencia! Fabulous to catch up with so many international colleagues and research collaborators.

Impression 9th WoCoVA

26/05/2026

Olá! The DIVA card is available in Portuguese.

Clear communication can help patients feel more confident in their care. The DIVA card helps people with difficult veins explain their needs before an IV drip, cannula or catheter is inserted.

Download the Portuguese version here: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/diva-key--consumers.html

21/05/2026

“Just in case” ACF cannulas are common — but most patients don’t end up needing contrast CT. This blog unpacks the mismatch and how EDs can reduce unnecessary ACF insertions.
🔗 Read more: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/blog/acf-cannulas-in-the-ed--many-insertions--few-need-contrast

19/05/2026

PIVC failed mid-transfusion - what’s the safest next step (and what should you do with the blood)?
👉 Read the full answer here: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/faq---pivc-failure-during-transfusion.html

14/05/2026

IV SACT errors can cause serious harm — so how are nurses actually trained to administer safely? This blog maps what current programs do well, what’s inconsistent, and what needs stronger evidence.

🔗 Read more: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/blog/sact-training--how-nurses-learn-to-safely-administer-iv-anticancer-therapy

12/05/2026

Up to 70% of emergency department patients and 80% of hospital admissions require an IV drip. Enhancing your skills in peripheral intravenous catheter insertion can make a significant difference in patient care.

Explore our new Difficult IV Access (DIVA) Resources page for valuable information and tools to help you improve your IV insertion techniques: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/difficult-iv-access-resources.html

07/05/2026

Oversizing a PIVC can set it up to fail. This blog explains why catheter-to-vein ratio matters (especially in hand/wrist veins) and how to size smarter.

🔗 Read more: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/blog/pivc-sizing--catheter-to-vein-ratio-and-failure-risk

05/05/2026

Needleless connector disinfection: simple step, huge impact - but what’s the most effective approach?
👉 Read more here: https://www.avatargroup.org.au/faq---needleless-connectors.html