Perry Memorial Hospital offers a wide variety of services through the Ambulatory Care Department. One of the services we offer is PICC line insertion.
PICC stands for "Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter." It is inserted into a patient's arm, leg, or neck for those patients requiring continuous, long-term antibiotic therapy, nutrition, or blood draws. For patients who would otherwise need a new needle inserted each day for treatment or testing, the PICC line offers a fast, convenient, and more comfortable solution.
At Perry, our specially trained and skilled nurses use an ultrasound to locate the best place for the PICC line and guide the insertion. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area prior to insertion. The PICC device is a soft, thin, long tube inserted into a large vein. It is designed for minimal discomfort and can be completed in an outpatient setting. Once installed, PICC line dressings need to be changed once a week. If it is not being used regularly, the PICC line needs to be flushed once a day.
PICC lines require a referral from your physician. They are intended for patients who will need access to a vein daily for multiple months. A PICC line is designed to stay inserted for a maximum of 12 months, but the average length of time needed is six months.
If you believe your treatment qualifies you for a PICC line insertion, you should consult with your physician to see if a referral to Perry Memorial's Ambulatory Care unit is appropriate for you.