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PICC Team - Vascular Access

The vascular access team at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is a group of highly skilled healthcare professionals who are specially trained in vascular access. That means they put catheters inside your blood vessels so your body can get the medicine and nutrients it needs.

Sweetwater Memorial uses ultrasound and ECG technology to place:

  • Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs)
  • Midlines
  • Difficult IV catheters

The team is available for inpatient and outpatient services. Team members do their best to ensure each patient receives the most appropriate line for their vascular access, and strive to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)

A PICC is a hollow, flexible catheter that is inserted into a vein in the upper arm. PICCs end in the cavo-atrial junction near the heart. Medical teams use PICCs to administer medicine, hydration (fluids), or nutrition (food) to patients who can’t take them orally. Clinicians can also use PICCs to collect blood for lab tests.

A specialist can insert the PICC into your arm using a sterile technique. To insert the PICC, the specialist numbs the skin on the upper arm with local anesthetic to minimize pain.

PICC lines can stay in for days to months, depending on your health needs.

Midlines

Midlines are a type of peripheral IV inserted into the upper arm. The flexible catheter is 5 to 8 inches long. A sterile technique is used so the midline can remain in the arm for up to four weeks with a low risk of infection.

To place the midline, the area on your upper arm is numbed with local anesthetic to minimize pain.

For Referring & Ordering Providers

The vascular team is a consulting service available to help with appropriate line selection for patients’ infusion and access needs, whether inpatient or outpatient. Most lines are placed within 72 hours after the provider referral is made.

The team also accepts referrals for outpatients with limited venous access options who need assistance with USG IV starts for infusions, access for CT/MRI scans, and access for procedures.

PICC-Midline Order Form for outside providers. PLEASE INCLUDE PATIENT CONTACT INFORMATION.

Hours are by appointment.
Phone: 307-212-7708
Fax: 307-352-5312
Email: piccteam@sweetwatermemorial.com

Deseriee Padilla, AGNP-C
Vascular Access Board Certified.
She works at area nursing homes and in the Family Medicine Clinic of Sweetwater Memorial Monday through Friday. She places PICC lines by appointment. Padilla is available for consultation on any line-related concern and training requests.
Jennifer Warpness, RN
She works in Sweetwater Memorial’s Outpatient Services Department.
Gretchen Van Valkenburg, RN
She works for Sweetwater Pediatrics Monday-Friday and places PICC lines by appointment.