Vascular access is a common procedure for people receiving care, involving accessing the person’s veins or arteries for many different types of treatments. Your health provider may decide you need a vascular access device (VAD) inserted if you need additional fluids, medications, blood products or continuous blood pressure monitoring. If you need a blood sample taken, this is also considered vascular access, however it usually only involves taking blood from the veins or arteries without leaving a device in place (known as venipuncture).