Venipuncture: an adjunct to home care services for older adults.

Attention to policy and procedure development specific to home care, and strong communication and collaboration with laboratory personnel at multiple sites have been essential in supporting venipuncture services within a home care agency. Orientation, inservice training, skills verification, updated supplies, and the concise information kept in each nurse's field handbook have supported comprehensive quality services to an older, frail, homebound population. In addition, our quality evaluations from physicians, patients, caregivers, and laboratories indicate a greater than satisfactory level of performance and quality care for this skilled service.