I'm one of two access coordinators for a small vascular access center. We've been open for one year and have done all of our access tracking ourselves using Microsoft spreadsheets. We need something better. I've looked at Renesan, InnoVad, and Surgysis, but haven't found the software that suits our needs best. What access tracking software do you use? How is it better than any other? Our EMR program is GE's Centricity program. Too bad they do not currently offer an access database program. Please help. We need to start organizing our data more efficiently. We want to start publishing some data, but simply have no way of tracking it accurately.

AcuteRN,

I work for a software company. We are considering developing an access tracking database tool along with a project we are working with for home hemo patients, and I would welcome your input and feedback. You can reach me via my personal email: rh81096@aol.com

When was the last time you checked Renesan - they have several nice features exclusively for Access Centers.

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Originally posted by acuteRN:
I'm one of two access coordinators for a small vascular access center. We've been open for one year and have done all of our access tracking ourselves using Microsoft spreadsheets. We need something better. I've looked at Renesan, InnoVad, and Surgysis, but haven't found the software that suits our needs best. What access tracking software do you use? How is it better than any other? Our EMR program is GE's Centricity program. Too bad they do not currently offer an access database program. Please help. We need to start organizing our data more efficiently. We want to start publishing some data, but simply have no way of tracking it accurately.

We've used Surgisys' web-based access program and have been very pleased. They've essentially tailored a program to our needs allowing for real-time data evaluation of our access procedures.

We have also used the Surgisys web-portal for access. It has been a god-send! We have also enrolled in the program that they have for vascular lab accredidation and carotid interventions. The staff has been very responsive to our needs and we recommend them highly.

none of the access monitoring programs are good if the program is custom written application then it has so many things broken into it and database is very unstructured because of few computer experts in health care domain at application development side. i think its better to manage access using Excel.

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Originally posted by Renal help:
When was the last time you checked Renesan - they have several nice features exclusively for Access Centers.

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Originally posted by acuteRN:
I'm one of two access coordinators for a small vascular access center. We've been open for one year and have done all of our access tracking ourselves using Microsoft spreadsheets. We need something better. I've looked at Renesan, InnoVad, and Surgysis, but haven't found the software that suits our needs best. What access tracking software do you use? How is it better than any other? Our EMR program is GE's Centricity program. Too bad they do not currently offer an access database program. Please help. We need to start organizing our data more efficiently. We want to start publishing some data, but simply have no way of tracking it accurately.

Still using Microsoft Excel. We've actually worked out most of the bugs that we experienced at first. I've looked into many programs and Surgisys seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else for what we needed. We currently plan on continuing to use Excel spreadsheets until someone produces exactly what we want at a reasonable price. Thanks for everyone's input, though.

What kind of bugs you encountered.

I would agree with everyone regarding Surgysis's dialysis access application. It easily is the best available presently. Soon they will begin a continuous Kaplan-meier curve assessment of access interventions. This will be in addition to the comprehensive data acquisition that comes with the web-portal. Since enrollment, we've essentially gone paperless. Best of all, the handle all of the date collection!

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What kind of bugs you encountered.

We had trouble deciding what to do with information gathered on pts who later became deceased. To solve this, we create a new copy of the spreadsheet about once a month. Upon creating the copy, we delete deceased pts. I realize this will create an infinite number of documents, but I also supsect we can delete or merge some of the older files in a couple of years.
We had trouble with other staff members wanting the info and somehow deleting pertinent data upon viewing. We simply made the database password protected for all changes. We allow read-only without a password. It is saved on our private network which requires an employee ID and password to enter to appease all HIPPA concerns.
We've added more columns and pages to tract specific data such as pts with catheters awaiting permanent access, pts not on dialysis yet, etc.... We can now use the Auto filter function of Excel to filter nearly any scenario.
Primarily, we've become more proficient users of spreadsheet formats and options, and now have a very usable and user friendly method of tracking our pts' vascular accesses. I would still prefer we use something such as Surgisys to eliminate some of MY work, but I also understand that it's a bit costly for a practice as small as ours (about 400 dialysis pts). Also, if I have time to post on message boards such as I'm doing now, I should have time to gather and organize any data we should need.

Well you can always use Excel for organizing and projections, but in the long run its only you who is going to know where you have kept all things, its never going to be user friendly and will require lot of push and pull as you realized with the deceased pts.
I think you should consider developing application software that will comply with HIPPA concerns as well as also suites your needs.
As you’re giving your valuable time to share the pain points of vascular access, I think it’s certainly going to help you in finding a better and less error prone way of handling vascular access.

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Surgisys' web-based access program

I am in the process of developing an Access database for this purpose. Any sugestions for what to include?

Thanks!
bkr6891@gmail.com

What is the subject of the database? I think it should be decided very carefully...after that everything will become easy...