Hunan Province Launches First Vascular Access Center of Excellence Through Hospital-Enterprise Collaboration

China Economic Network Background Board, July 9 | On July 8, Hunan Cancer Hospital, the Hunan Anti-Cancer Association, and global medical technology giant BD officially signed a strategic cooperation memorandum in Changsha, concurrently announcing the launch of Hunan Province's first Vascular Access Center of Excellence (COE) project. This marks the third Vascular Access Specialty and Talent Training Base established by BD in partnership with renowned medical institutions in China, following Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.

(Caption: Unveiling Ceremony for the First Vascular Access Center of Excellence Project in Hunan Province) 

Vascular access procedures, such as Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) placement, are frequently employed nursing techniques in the daily clinical management of patients requiring long-term infusion therapy, particularly oncology patients. Technical proficiency in catheter insertion and maintenance is paramount to ensuring clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy. Concurrently, alongside the advancement of refined clinical management and the growing emphasis on humanistic care, higher standards are being set for the talent pool size, technical expertise, and competency dimensions of specialized vascular access nurses.

(Caption: Visit to the Hunan Vascular Access Center of Excellence)

Hunan Cancer Hospital, a provincial tertiary teaching hospital, serves as the leading institution for PICC specialist training in Hunan Province. Backed by a robust faculty and a specialized vascular access nursing team, the hospital has accumulated extensive experience in vascular access specialty development and personnel training. Through a strategic partnership with BD to jointly establish the Hunan Vascular Access Center of Excellence (COE), it introduces internationally advanced training curricula and assessment systems. By implementing a series of initiatives, including the "PICC Specialist Nurse Skills Training" and "PICC Specialist Nurse Training Evaluation and Improvement," the program further optimizes the training model for vascular access specialist nurses across Hunan Province, enhancing training efficiency and hands-on competency. Additionally, it incorporates post-training tracking and evaluation of career development and training outcomes, along with continuous improvement mechanisms, to expand the competency dimensions of specialist nurses and drive disciplinary advancement.

Xiao Yazhou, President of Hunan Cancer Hospital and Chairman of the Hunan Anti-Cancer Association, stated: Strengthening skills training for PICC specialist nurses and continuously optimizing the development pathways for technical competencies and professional talent are crucial to the advancement of the vascular access field. As early as 2007, Hunan Cancer Hospital pioneered the establishment of a multidisciplinary PICC specialist team within the province. With over 150 specialist nurses, it has been approved by the Hunan Provincial Health Commission as the Hunan Vascular Access Training Center and the Hunan PICC Specialist Nurse Training Base. The establishment of the Vascular Access Center of Excellence will effectively promote progress in the vascular access field across the province, drive the refined development of specialty clinics, elevate the standard of medical services, and provide strong support for ensuring patient safety and improving clinical outcomes, ultimately benefiting patients throughout Hunan Province.

Lv Wen, Vice President of Infusion Solutions at BD Greater China, stated: "The quality of vascular access care is directly related to patients' healthcare experience and clinical outcomes, and it significantly enhances the quality of life, particularly for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The COE project supported by BD has already been implemented in multiple provinces and municipalities in China, which will substantially drive disciplinary development and talent cultivation in the vascular access sector in China. Moving forward, BD will continue to uphold the philosophy of 'Rooted in China, Serving China (in China for China)', collaborating with stakeholders across all sectors to foster innovation in advanced technologies and practices within the vascular access field, enabling more Chinese patients to benefit from high-quality vascular access care services."