Vessel Health & Preservation (VHP) Toolkit

Vessel Health & Preservation Framework

Vessel Health & Preservation (VHP) framework is a concept of vascular access device (VAD) management. The aim is to assist healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in providing appropriate VAD selection to maximise patient safety associated with vessel health and preserving veins for future use. VHP2020 includes initial and continued assessment incorporating 5 sections which can be used individually or as a whole framework. This has been developed into a toolkit.

Introducing the VHP2020 toolkit

The VHP toolkit includes 5 sections of the VHP2020; each section can be used separately or as a whole framework.

Peripheral vein assessment
Right line decision tool
Suitability of medicines
Daily evaluation
Additional considerations

VHP2020 Framework Resources

The VHP2020 Toolkit has been taken from the VHP 2020 A2 Poster.
Vessel Health and Preservation: The Right Approach for Vascular Access book.
Listen to Dr Tim Jackson explain how to use the VHP2020 taking you through each section.

VHP2020 Framework Sections

Peripheral Vein Assessment^1,2

VHP Vessel assessment

Vein quality grading

MAGIC appropriateness assessment

‘A-DIVA scale’ assessment

I-DECIDED assessment
Suitability of Medicines^1,3,6,7

IV to oral switch considered

Peripheral or central administration

Vesicants

Infiltration/extrasvsastion risk

Medusa injectable medicines guide
Right Line Decision Tool^1,3,4,5

Peripheral vein assessment

Duration of treatment

Pathways for peripheral and central routes. Device selection tool

Daily Evaluation^1,2,4,8

IV therapy still required

IV to oral switch

Device removal

Visual device assessments

Complication assessment and management
Additional considerations^1,3

Local availability of IV/VAD specialists

Specialists therapy requirements

Updated clinical practice

New and emerging studies
Useful links

Medusa Injectables Guide

Infection Prevention Society

NHS Extravasation Guidance

I-Decided assessment and decision tool

A-DIVA Scale

Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Scorecard

NIVAS Website

References

Hallam C, Denton A, Weston V, et al (2020) UK Vessel Health and Preservation (VHP) – A commentary on the updated VHP 2020. Journal of Infection Prevention https://doi.org/10.1177/1757177420976806.
van Loon F, van Hooff L, de Boer H, et al (2019) The Modified A-DIVA Scale as a Predictive Tool for Prospective Identification of Adult Patients at Risk of a Difficult Intravenous Access: A Multicenter Validation Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 8, 144; doi:10.3390/jcm8020144.
Gorski, L. A., Hadaway, L., Hagle, et al. (2021). Infusion therapy standards of practice. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 44 M., (supl1).
Loveday HP, Wilson JA, Pratt RJ, et al (2014). Epic3: National Evidence –Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals. Journal of Hospital Infection. S86, ppS1-S70.

Chopra V, Flanders S, Saint S. et al (2015) The Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC): Results From a Multispecialty Panel Using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Annals of Internal Medicine Vol. 163 No. 6 (Supplement).
Jackson T, Hallam C, Corner T, Hill S (2014) Right line, right patient, right time: every choice matters. British Journal of Nursing 22 (8): S 26 – 8.
Medusa Injectable Medicines Guide https://medusa.wales.nhs.uk/Home.asp.
Ray-Barruel G, Cooke M, Mitchell M, et al. (2018) Implementing the I-DECIDED clinical decision-making tool for peripheral intravenous catheter assessment and safe removal: protocol for an interrupted time-series study. BMJ Open. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021290.