While venipuncture is one of the most commonly performed invasive procedures in hospitals and medical clinics worldwide that doesn’t mean it is free from potential risks or complications.
One of the most common issues that phlebotomists, venipuncturists, nurses, and other medical staff run into when performing venipuncture is difficulty finding a suitable vein. There are many factors, such as patients being cold or dehydrated or having excess fat or scar tissue, deep or small veins, or an edema (swelling), which can make the task of performing venipuncture much harder for even experienced staff.
In an effort to improve first-stick success rate and make our staff members’ jobs easier, we recently tried Hellovein Lite 2.0. We wanted to personally see if the newest, most advanced versions of these vein-finding devices really can deliver the benefits that they promise.
We chose Hellovein Lite 2.0 because it has high user ratings, boasts the latest technology, and seems to be reasonably priced compared to the competition. So, is Hellovein worth the purchase price? Here is what we found out:
Insert image of an opened Hellovein box showing the contents inside
What is in the box?
When our device arrived, we eagerly opened the box and found inside all of the following:
- The vein finder, which was surprisingly lightweight and easy to hold.
- Additional items in the box included a user manual, a charger/power cable, and a skin marker. Also included was a quick-start laminated card that outlined the simple steps to get the device ready for use.
Insert image of someone using Hellovein
How does Hellovein work?
We found the device to be very easy to use. It doesn’t require any extensive training. It is all very intuitive. You simply hold the power button for three seconds to turn the device on.
When the screen lights up, the user then places the device about 6 to 10 inches above the skin where they want to locate a vein to receive a real-time map of the veins in that area.
From there, a number of device features make finding the best vein for venipuncture much easier than trying to find it the traditional way. For instance, users can choose from four brightness settings, four image sizes (large, medium, small, and mini), and six display colors to maximize visibility across a wide range of skin tones.
One more thing, Hellovein comes with a rechargeable battery. We found that one charge lasts for approximately 2.5 hours of use. It then takes around an hour to fully recharge the device.
Insert image of vein map produced by Hellovein
Is this vein-finder safe to use?
Yes, the near-infrared light emitted by the device is safe for human eyes under all conditions of use, which means no special protective measures or equipment are required. The device can also be used to locate veins anywhere on the body, including the arm, hand, wrist, and face.
What did we like about this vein-finder?
First off, Hellovein is a device that can be used straight out of the box. There are no calibration adjustments required. In fact, the device’s permanent alignment allows users to accurately view the centerline of veins each and every time with no adjustments ever needed.
Second, we found that using Hellovein Lite 2.0 really did improve our first-stick success rate with specific types of patients, particularly seniors and young patients. It also sped up and simplified the vein-finding procedure when patients were dehydrated or had swelling.
Additional things that stood out about Hellovein included its ease of use. We found it to be very easy to use. We quickly glanced at the user manual and then began using the device right away. All adjustments are easy to make with the click of a button. We didn’t have to keep going back to the user’s manual to figure out how to do something. Everything was very easy to determine on the device itself.
We also appreciated the adjustable brightness levels and display colors as we serve a very diverse patient group and these settings made it easy to locate veins in patients with different skin tones.
Insert image of someone using Hellovein
What did we not like about the vein-finder?
The one thing that stood out is there can be a learning curve that comes with holding the device while performing a venipuncture. By that we mean, most phlebotomists and venipuncturists are used to doing their job one way – which means having both hands free to perform the venipuncture. Holding the device in one hand and performing the venipuncture with the other can feel awkward until staff get used to working that way.
We did find some solutions to this issue though. For one thing, there is the skin marker. Users can simply mark the vein location, set the vein-finder down and then perform the venipuncture.
For those instances where a live vein map from the device is needed, we found on the Hellovein website that they offer both desktop and mobile stands. Of course, these stands cost extra but we imagine that being able to work with a live vein map and have both hands free would be highly beneficial for staff.
Our Final Thoughts
As stated previously, we found Hellovein to be both highly effective and easy to use. That is, for sure, a terrific combination. But do those benefits make the device worth a price that is in the neighborhood of $2,000? Obviously, the answer is going to be different for different organizations. For us, yes, the device makes sense.
Most days our staff encounter multiple patients where there is difficulty finding a suitable vein for venipuncture. By having Hellovein on hand we were more quickly and easily able to find good veins in these patients. This reduced staff stress and improved patient satisfaction.
We experienced less first-stick fails and our patients reported less pain with their procedures and gave us higher satisfaction scores. If your nurses and technicians are also regularly encountering difficult venipunctures, it is our belief that Hellovein could really improve procedure efficiency and ease staff anxiety.
One final word about price: we extensively researched the marketplace and found Hellovein to offer the best combination of price and features. We would encourage you to do the same. Compare Hellovein against its competitors to see which makes the most sense for your hospital, practice, clinic, laboratory, or other medical organization.
Check out the Hello Vein Device right here: https://hellovein.co.uk/product/lite2-0/