The BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Blood Collection

The Christ Hospital Health Network Enhances the Patient Experience with Innovative Blood Collection Technology

First in the Region to Offer New Technology

Cincinnati (November 22, 2016) – The Christ Hospital today announced that it has introduced a new technology designed to improve patient comfort during the blood collection process, as part of its continuing efforts to transform the way patient care is delivered in the region.

The Christ Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the nation, and the only one in Ohio, to offer this novel technology to help improve the patient and clinician experience during one of the most common and critical procedures patients can undergo.  It can also one of the most stressful, and can have a lasting negative impact on their hospital stay.  Research shows that 75 percent of patients report having a bad blood draw incident, and eight8 out of 10 patients state that their blood collection experience would influence their overall satisfaction with the hospital’s care.      

The BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Blood Collection is a new, innovative technology that significantly reduces pain associated with the needle stick while quickly and safely collecting the blood sample.
“Almost every patient will have their blood drawn when first admitted to the hospital and if it doesn’t go well, it can affect a patient’s trust and anxiety levels and influence their entire hospital experience,”  Julie Holt, vice president and chief nursing officer at The Christ Hospital.  “We’re excited that we can offer our patients this technology as part of our mission to improve the health of our community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, affordable care and the finest patient experiences.”
The BD Vacutainer UltraTouch Blood Collection Set is engineered to substantially reduce needle penetration force which studies show is a significant contributor to patients’ perception of pain.  The device also features state-of-the-art cannula technology that enables clinicians to use a smaller gauge needle without jeopardizing the quality of the sample or lengthening the time the needle is in the patient’s vein.  This is a significant advance given that 60 percent of hospital patients have conditions that can make their veins difficult to access.  
“This technology is light years ahead of other blood collection devices and allows us to access even challenging veins more rapidly and on the first try, making it a less traumatic and safer procedure for both our patients and staff.” says Patrick Rodriquez, phlebotomy and processing supervisor at The Christ Hospital.  “We’re very excited to have a technology that makes such a positive difference in the blood draw experience.”     
In addition to this advancement in blood collection, The Christ Hospital has implemented a number of programs as part of their ongoing mission to improve the patient experience. The Christ Hospital Health Network has participated in the multi-hospital Target Zero safety initiative since 2011 to elevate safety behaviors and practices. This initiative includes a daily safety call with leaders across the organization to create a forum where potential issues are risks are discussed to raise awareness and work toward resolution. Since the daily safety calls were implemented, The Christ Hospital already outstanding safety performance has continually improved. Investments in electronic medical records, computerized physician order entry and remote, electronic monitoring of all intensive care unit beds have also helped to advance safety at The Christ Hospital. Safety is also promoted through hourly rounding by bedside staff and rounding by hospital administrators to ensure patients and their families are satisfied with their care.
For more information about The Christ Hospital Health Network or to find a physician near you, call 513-585-1000 or visit TheChristHospital.com.
 
About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn with five ambulatory centers and 181 neighborhood offices conveniently located throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, affordable care and the finest experiences. Led by the region’s Most Preferred Hospital (National Research Corporation) for 21 consecutive years, the network is dedicated to transforming care by delivering integrated, individualized healthcare and wellness services through its comprehensive physician network and advanced specialty service. The Christ Hospital is among only 6% of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet recognition for nursing excellence and among the top 5% of hospitals in the country for patient satisfaction. For more than 125 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to all those it serves.