Winter Haven Hospital Procures Leading-Edge Vein-Viewing Technology through the assistance of Winter Haven Hospital's Annual Fund
Utilizing donations from the foundation's annual fund, Winter Haven Hospital has now adopted state of-the-art technology in vascular access, the VeinViewer by Luminetx®. The VeinViewer enables medical professionals to see vasculature up to 8mm below the surface of the skin, projecting a visual roadmap to the patient's vessels.
Winter Haven Hospital joins the ranks of premier health care institutions investing in this technology, including M. D. Anderson in Houston, Duke University Health System in North Carolina, New York-based Winthrop Medical Center, Integris Healthcare in Oklahoma City and Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, in addition to military and government facilities.
Although performed frequently, venipuncture is commonly thought of as one of the most painful and anxiety-provoking invasive procedures performed by nurses. Experts estimate that more than 1 billion venipunctures are performed annually; however, many first attempts can prove unsuccessful. That's all changing with this revolutionary technology.
"The VeinViewer is truly having an impact on patient care," said Mary Jo Schreiber, Chief Nursing officer at Winter Haven Hospital. "With VeinViewer, we are experiencing success on even the most difficult patients. Instead of being stuck two or three times, with VeinViewer, they may be stuck only one time, with less pain."
VeinViewer utilizes near-infrared light, a digital video camera and an image processing unit to build an image of the patient's vasculature. The device then projects that image in real time onto the patient's skin using visible light. Health care professionals can keep their hands free during procedures while the system accurately maps patients' vasculature regardless of age, body type or skin tone.
"It is through the generosity of our donors that dreams of new technologies like this become reality. The Winter Haven Hospital Annual Fund provides the opportunity for our community, employees, and physicians to invest in their local health care." said Joel Thomas, VP, Development. "If you consider the efficacy of this technology, its broad applicability in the clinical realm and what it does for patient comfort and institutional efficiency, no hospital or clinic should be without it."
Developed by Luminetx Corporation, VeinViewer is the first and only patented technology to locate subcutaneous vasculature and project real-time images of their location onto the surface of the skin. In 2004, the VeinViewer was recognized by Time Magazine as "one of the most amazing medical inventions."
"This technology is changing the standard of compassionate care. We truly believe it
will become a new standard of care throughout the world," said David Pennington, RN, BSN,MBA, manager of clinical operations for Luminetx. "And we're thrilled that Winter Haven Hospital is joining the ranks of multiple premier health care facilities nationwide that have adopted the VeinViewer technology."
It is our hope that with continued investments in the foundation's annual fund that this technology is only the beginning. For more information on how you can make a difference, please contact Christina Fitzsimons, Manager of Annual Giving at 863-292-4178.