Blue Phantom helps caregivers to see more

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation presented its physicians with an ultrasound training model on May 19, 2010. Pictured, from left, are: Anna Marie Ferguson, executive director of the Foundation, Dr. Josh Colby, Dr. Steve Blanchard and Don Stanton, president of the PECMH Foundation. Briar Boyce photo

The continued generosity of Prince Edward County residents has allowed the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation to purchase a Blue Phantom Ultrasound Training Model for the physicians and nursing staff at Picton Hospital.
This training tool will help doctors and clinicians develop, practice and maintain the skills necessary to use ultrasound for guiding ultrasound guided venous access and arterial access procedures. It is also excellent for clinicians beginning to use ultrasound and for more advanced users seeking challenging insertion techniques. The branched vessels offer multiple training opportunities.
This portable model will assist clinicians in the acquisition and interpretation of sonographic images of blood vessels as well as the skill of guiding needles to vessels in the patient.
Using ultrasound is becoming the gold standard for vascular access, not just for central line placement but also for difficult access. Our staff have an ultrasound machine in the operating room that is capable of doing this, but practice is needed to place a needle with ultrasound guidance.
Training with this Phantom will improve patient care as it will decrease and prevent complications from occurring in the first place. In patients who have difficult anatomy (obesity, IV drug users) it is sometimes impossible to get a line in, making for a life or death situation. Ultrasound is the only reliable way of making sure clinical staff can obtain access to the veins.