Port Accessing and Reaccessing frequency

[Chastity]

Hello, just wondering what's your hospital's policy on accessing and deaccessing a port several times within a week? I'm working as an Outpatient Infusion Nurse and we access patients everyday if they have treatment on multiple days throughout the week such as Etoposide or hydration. I would think that leaving the needle in would be best. It could eventually save time, money and reduce risk of infection. Inpatient it's kept in for several days. Why not Outpatient? Thanks in advance!

[AAOnc22]

outpatient infusion centers that I've worked at we usually let the patient decide. If they have treatment multiple days in a row we will let them leave their port accessed and go home as long as they know to be careful and to cover the dressing if showering. I'd say it's 50/50, some patients want to leave it accessed and some don't. If there's a day or more between appointments, we will deaccess. 

[adventure780, BSN, MSN, RN, APN]

How about flushing the port when not in active treatment, but the patient and provider mutually decide to maintain the port in case of an emergency or cancer returns? I have heard 6-8 weeks or 3 weeks.