CareAline Launches New PRO+ Line of Vascular Access Products

June 29, 2021 (Danvers, MA) – CareAline, a USA-made medical garment and reusable PPE manufacturer, today announces the launch of their new line of PRO+ PICC line sleeves and Central line wraps. These vascular access products were designed in collaboration with clinicians to keep PICC and central lines safe and secure, while providing an additional layer of protection through a new Velcro covering, allowing it to be put on and taken off without disconnecting the line form an infusion. CareAline’s line of PRO+ products are now available for pre-order today.

CareAline’s PRO+ Wraps and Sleeves keep PICC and Central lines off the skin and covered, as well as stabilized during use. The products secure the line between two layers of cotton/spandex fabric, and include a pocket area to hold caps and extensions when they are not in use. Designed in collaboration with clinicians in top hospitals across the US, the CareAline PRO+ has been created specifically for those who run long duration or continuous infusions. The sleeve has CareAline’s signature, patented pocket protecting the PICC and Central Lines, but can be put on and taken off without having to disconnect the line from the infusion. These new products add in a layer of Velcro closure, allowing patients to put on their sleeve more easily and the ability to adjust the size for a snug fit that won’t slide up or down.

“With the constant learnings in healthcare, safety improvements are vital to continue to adapt into standard of care and it’s our goal here at CareAline to continually innovate to support patient safety and care. We began hearing from clinicians in 2015 about the many new recommendations in the Infusion Nurse Society’s Standards of Practice, which is really the gold standard for IV therapy and line care. One of these updates was to reduce unnecessary disconnection of the line from an infusion. This seemingly small change was making a big impact on improving outcomes and reducing the risk of CLABSI (Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections),” says Kezia Fitzgerald, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer for CareAline. “We listened to our partners, and we worked with them to design a new version of our CareAline Sleeve for PICC lines and CareAline Wrap for Central lines, which addresses this specific issue and allows lines to stay in place without disruption.”

“Disconnection of the tubing from the central line catheter poses increased risk of contamination of the sterile tubing connections, which can introduce germs into the bloodstream when reconnected to the central line catheter,” says Theresa Smith, BSN, RN, Rainbow Quality Improvement RN, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. “Tubing should only be disconnected when the infusion is completed. “Quick” disconnections to change clothing or untangle the line, for example, should be avoided to prevent risk of contamination of the sterile connections that can lead to Catheter associated blood stream infections (CLABSI).”

CareAline’s new PRO+ line addresses these concerns and allows the garments to be put on and taken off without having to disconnect the line from an infusion. For patients on continuous infusions, or long duration infusions, this means they can have superior protection without worrying about an additional infection risk. And for clinicians, the insertion site is easily monitored by simply moving the product to the side without interruption. These products will fit seamlessly into inpatient safety bundles as clinicians will be able to apply the product at any time during a patient’s stay.

You can find more information about CareAline’s PRO+ products at: https://carealine.com/vascularaccessproducts/

About CareAline

CareAline is a locally owned company founded in 2012 by Kezia and Mike Fitzgerald with a manufacturer based in Massachusetts. They have experience with innovating out of necessity and bringing products to market. The CareAline brand began with the need to protect their daughter Saoirse’s PICC and Central Lines while undergoing chemotherapy for Neuroblastoma. Kezia has continued to innovate through her stem cell transplant in the fall of 2019. Unfortunately, Saoirse succumbed to her cancer in 2011, but the Fitzgeralds were able to bring their patented products to market with a personal mission to help patients live safely and fully by providing clinically proven, necessary products to hospitals and patients. https://carealine.com/