title: Improving the fistula rate: the northwest renal network experience.
abstract: In November 2010, Northwest Renal Network was the first of the 18 ESRD Networks to reach the Fistula First goal of greater than 66% prevalent hemodialysis patients using an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The network has sustained that goal over time and as of August 2011, has achieved an AVF rate of 67.7%. The Northwest Renal Network has been successfully motivating facilities to embrace change using thorough root cause analyses and targeted quality improvement projects throughout the Network's five-state region.
authors.affiliation: Northwest Renal Network, Seattle, Wash, USA.
authors.forename: Lynda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Buss
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009398:Nephrology / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015205:Northwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*