How Do You Pick a Port?

EMS is well-trained in peripheral intravenous as well as intraosseous access. However, central lines remain off-limits for many clinicians in various response areas. If accessing these types of lines is allowed, it’s usually permitted when the patient is (nearly) dead. This isn’t very surprising since the scope of practice of the EMS clinician usually focuses on emergent treatments. Unless it’s learned during a critical care class, little thought is typically given to topics like central, dialysis, and PICC lines in EMS. Why not?