Central venous line sim contributes to patient safety

Published by Frank Ruggiero on

Story by Marjorie Lee White, M.D., MPPM, M.A.
A woman in blue medical scrubs receiving instruction from a woman in a black jacket during a procedural central venous line insertion health-care simulation
From right, Kyndal McKnight, CVL physicial advisor and medical director of the Hospital Medicine procedure service, demonstrates central venous line (CVL) insertion technique to learner Kim Kasparian during a recent CVL, IJ femoral simulation.

UAB Clinical Simulation is charged by the Medical Executive Committee to provide a standardized simulation experience for all who place lines at UAB Hospitals to improve the safety of central venous line placements.  

One of our valued partnerships is with Kyndal McKnight, physician advisor for the CVL Task Force and medical director of the Hospital Medicine Procedure service.  

Dr. McKnight facilitates simulation regularly in the Clinical Simulation Procedural Lab and said, “The CVL simulation helps participants become more familiar with the processes, steps, equipment and mechanics of performing CVL insertion without the stress of performing a procedure on a person.”  

A recent learner at a CVL session, Kim Kasparian, also shared that the sim helped “refine technique without the pressure of a real patient situation. It also provided an opportunity to receive immediate feedback, which is crucial for improvement… It provided a safe space to practice and build confidence in a way that textbooks, videos and lectures cannot.”  

Dr. McKnight noted four primary goals that this simulation accomplishes: 

  • It allows participants to simulate sterile technique to reduce the risk of infection at the time of line insertion.  
  • It gives them experience using ultrasound with tips on how to safely guide the needle to the desired vessel. 
  • It reduces the burden of participants to remember by introducing a checklist and standard process for all the steps. 
  • It helps build confidence for providers with the tools and experience from simulation before performing their first CVL insertion on a person. 

To learn how simulation can benefit your department or team, email simulation@uabmc.edu.

UAB Medicine’s Clinical Simulation program offers opportunities for individuals and teams across UAB Medicine and beyond to practice before they deliver care. We encourage all who provide and support patient care to “Sim First.” Together, we can put our patients’ safety first.

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