title: An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) functionality quality improvement tracking tool--developed and implemented to improve newly placed AVF utilization rates and patient outcomes.
abstract: The authors developed a reporting tool to assist hemodialysis clinicians to track new arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), their maturation, and use. The tool identifies impediments to timely use (6 weeks/42 days) of AVFs. The use of this tool in nine dialysis units with high gaps between AVF placement and usage reduced the gap from 19.5% to 13.5% and reflected a reduction in the percentage of AVFs in place but not in use from 31.4% to 23.2%.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. mkleinp@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Myra A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kleinpeter
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: Nellie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodruff
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017749:Total Quality Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome