Welcome to the New England Chapter of the Infusion Nurses Society...

The New England Chapter seeks to improve the practice of Infusion nursing and quality of patient care through educational programming, mentoring, research, collaboration and networking. We hope that this website will contribute towards reaching that goal.

Large Turnout for November Meeting in Quincy


Lauren Blough

Over 50 members enjoyed an excellent program on November 8 at the Common Market in Quincy.  The featured speaker was Lauren Blough, RN, BS, CRNI, who is clinical specialist and educator for the Venous Access Specialist Team at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Blough's topic was The Science of a Seal for PICC Line Management and was based on a study conducted by her team at Florida Hospital.

The VAS Team at the hospital identified an alternative to gauze sponges for PICC line management to improve patient outcomes and to achieve time and financial savings. The agent chosen was a product called BioSeal CVC, a topical powder made of a hydrophilic polymer and a potassium ferrate. The powder's mechanism of action forms an occlusive Seal to keep an access site dry and intact. The purpose of the study was to assess the ability of the Seal to achieve hemostasis and to eliminate typical 48-hour dressing changes.

Through the application of the Seal to all 418 PICC line insertions at the hospital as well as to occasional bleeding during dressing changes, fast hemostasis was achieved (2 minutes or less in 96% of applications, 48-hour dressing changes were eliminated, and  there was a 40% decrease in Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI). These results have since been documented in the Journal of the Association for Vascular Access.

A copy of the full presentation is available by clicking on the link below.

PICC Line Management Study   

---------------------------------------------------------------

Successful 36th Annual Seminar in Waltham

On September 20, the New England Chapter held its 36th annual seminar at the Conference Center at  Waltham Woods. The theme this year, Beyond the Bedside: Implications for Infusion Nursing, offered excellent presentations by leading experts in the profession, including Maureen Kerrigan's Medicare 101 (Click Here for the Full Presentation)  

2011 Seminar Committee led by Jill Taylor (back row left) and
 Mary Ann DiStefano (third from left back row)

   

    Seminar Exhibits Play Key Role

Once again, the Vendors who exhibit at our Annual Seminar are a big part of our success.  The Seminar Committee appreciates all these people do to make the day a great educational experience for Infusion Nurses throughout New England.  For those of you who could not make this year's event, below is a list of the companies that supported us at this year's seminar, many of whom have been a part of the event year after year:

• Accuvein - Wayne Barrows
• Bard Access Systems - Chad Balog
• B. Braun Medical -Joanne Wetherbee
• BD Medical/Surgical Systems -Jayne Mazzaglia
• Carefusion - Kate Bowen
• Critical Care Systems - Marie King
• CSL Behring, LLC - Dave Colburn
• CW Medical Supply - Carolyn Lamothe
• Daikomyo Empowering Gems - Kathryn McKinnon
• Genentech - Colette Rogers
• Health Care Technolgy - William Coveney
• HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. - Bob Magnoli
• Infusion Nurses Society - Jason Beal
• Johnson & Johnson Biopatch - Andrea White
• New England Medical Specialties, Inc. - Kevin Keaveney
• RyMed Technologies - Jason Ryan
• Smiths Medical - Bob Emerson
• Summit International Medical Technologies - Mike Merchant
• Teleflex, Inc. - David Cohen
  

----------------------------------

June Meeting Focuses on Central Venous
Catheter Management

Robert Dawson, Vascular Access Nurse at Concord Hospital in Concord NH, was the main speaker at the New England Chapter's June meeting, held June 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington. Mr. Dawson, MSA, BSN, RN, CRNI is also the owner and Vascular Access Consultant at PICC Academy in Nashua NH.

His presentation focused on addressing the needs for thr highest quality education and training in today's catheter management environments. The program was sponsored by Genentech, to whom the Chapter is most grateful.

      

     Robert Dawson presents at June Meeting               Genentech's Colette Rogers RN, Sponsor

-------------------------------

 NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER COMES IN FIRST IN LOUISVILLE!

The INS Chapter President of the Year, Mary McCormick-Gendzel was honored recently at the National Conference in Louisville, KY. As stated by the National leadership, "The New England Chapter, led by Mary McCormick-Gendzel and which recently celebrated its 30th Annual Meeting, was this year’s worthy recipient. With a membership exceeding 200 infusion professionals and a volunteer leadership that embraces teamwork to run all aspects of their chapter, the New England Chapter is a shining example of just how much INS members mean to their local community."

Congratulations to Mary McCormick-Gendzel for this award and for her outstanding leadership, guidance and continued contributions to the Chapter over the years.

Public Announcements/Bulletins

January Meeting Flyer Available Here 2012 Seminar Save-the-Date Reminder SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT  FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS If a Chapter Member recommends a speaker for the 2012 Annual Seminar and that speaker is chosen, the Member will receive FREE Admission to the Seminar! Please make your recommendations to any member of the Board. MASS. DEPT. OF HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS TO NURSES ON PROTECTING PATIENTS FROM FLU CLICK HERE IMPORTANT NURSE LICENSURE RENEWAL INFORMATION CLICK HERE  MASS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICAL ADVISORY: USING EXPEDITED PARTNER THERAPY(EPT)FOR CHLAMYDIA INFECTION CLICK HERE NURSE ANESTHETIST(RN/NA) PRESCRIPTIVE PRACTICE CLICK HERE TESTIMONY TO MASS. HOUSE OF REPS JOINT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FINANCING BY MARY GRANT MS, RN CLICK HERE CLINICAL MEASLES ADVISORY FROM MASS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CLICK HERE PREPARATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS CLICK HERE

 FLASH!!

Three members of the New England Chapter have recently passed the CRNI Exam.  They are:

• Georgia Kim
• Teresa Newell
• Jing Zhang