title: Use of quality index tracking to drive improvement in clinical outcomes.
abstract: DAVITA QUALITY INDEX (DQI) is a scoring index that allows DaVita facilities to evaluate various aspects of patient clinical outcomes. This index was developed by DaVita Inc., the managing company of the Richmond Kidney Center. RKC is a 23-station hemodialysis clinic that provides end-stage renal disease care to 140 patients in Staten Island, New York. In December 2002, RKC ranked 358 out of 502 clinics based on the DQI. In January 2003, a new medical director was appointed to oversee the care of these patients. Recognizing the relatively poor standing of our facility's DQI score, we developed a core team that monitored clinical performance and sought to improve results. The team consisted of the medical director, administrator, nurse manager, social worker, and dietitian. By January 2005, RKC had significantly improved its DQI and ranked fourth out of 658 clinics. This article will summarize how this unit successfully improved their clinical outcomes utilizing the DQI index developed by DaVita.
authors.affiliation: Richmond Kidney Center, Staten Island, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petra
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varughese
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Epifania
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buneo
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scarfone
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D009518:New York; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D012709:Serum Albumin; D010758:Phosphorus