VACC designs new program to educate industry professionals on vascular access

Understanding the needs of health providers and their interaction with patients is paramount to the role of the employees of ICU Medical which provides clinicians around the world with innovative and cost-effective solutions for clinical needs. As such, ICU Medical chose to involve members of its organization in the Vascular Access Industry Partner™ Certificate Program, designed to educate industry professionals on the basic fundamentals of vascular access. VACC's program emphasizes terminology, types of devices, uses, complications with vascular access and the unique issues facing special populations.

"The experience has been helpful," said Joe Vienneau, ICU Medical's director of Corporate Sales Training. "Most of the people felt the modules helped their knowledge base and they are excited to have the VACC logo partner on their business card." 

Each of ICU Medical's sales groups participated in an extensive program that included critical care, oncology, alternate site, renal, hospital, animal health and corporate accounts. Vienneau said the company's participation in the program stemmed from a clear commitment to customer support and service, providing an opportunity to "give our sales force a leg up on their competitors in a vascular access knowledge base so they could be a real resource for their customers."

For seasoned veterans like Joleen Weihs, regional sales director for PDI, the  Vascular Access Industry Partner™ certificate program provides a wealth of information for those seeking a refresher. PDI provides innovative products, educational resources, training and support to prevent infection transmission and promote health and wellness.  "Continuing education is critical to ensure we understand our clinicians' procedures and protocols," Weihs said. "Vascular Access encompasses a wide range of needs…there are a lot of protocols and procedures we need to understand in order to work more effectively with our customers. The training breaks the information into modules that build on each other so you see how all the parts relate. It's an excellent way to provide information for people new to the industry as well as more experienced associates."

As a leader, Weihs has seen benefits to her associates in a number of areas in that they have been able to understand what the client organization is trying to accomplish and help them to achieve their goals.  "They're asking better questions, really understanding the client's goals and challenges," she said, adding that an understanding and confidence can never be underestimated, especially for people in sales dealing directly with the customer.  "Associates have more confidence because of their training. They're able to engage in good conversations with clinicians who have decades of experience and tremendous knowledge. Overall, it's been a very empowering experience for them," she said.

Source: Vascular Access Certification Corporation