Increasing the use of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF): a network QI project

In 2002, the Intermountain End-Stage Renal Disease Network Inc., Network 15, initiated a quality improvement project, "Increasing Arteriovenous Fistulas Within Network 15." The primary objective of this project was to maximize the placement of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) within the adult in-center hemodialysis population in Network 15. A closely related objective was to ensure policies and procedures were in place at each facility to encourage placement and maintenance of fistulae after they had been placed. Based on the facility-specific percentage of adult patients reported to have a fistula in January 2001, eight facilities were selected to participate in the project. Approximately 100 project partners (facility staff, nephrologists, and surgeons) collaborated to improve AVF rates for incident and prevalent patients. The interventions for this project were multifaceted and included face-to-face meetings with project partners, dissemination of a National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-K/DOQI) summary paper on vascular access, video materials and written information for patient and staff, post-operative "Fistula Care Packages" educational meetings, and data feedback to facility staff nephrologists and surgeons. Of the seven indicators selected for this project, the predicted improvement was met in four. Overall improvement was noted in six of the seven process/outcome measures. A statistically significant (p=0.05) improvement was noted in the rate of fistulas used for treatment for prevalent (all) hemodialysis patients. This rate increased by about one-third from baseline to remeasurement.