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The Quality Improvement Project enlisted the participation of 16 facilities, all members of one (1) small dialysis organization (SDO), in improving their Percent of Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients Dialyzing with an Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF). These facilities serve approximately 1,000 patients in Network 5.
To stimulate change, the Network employed education and technical assistance in the use of the Model for Change.
Participating facilities increased their AVF rate from a baseline of 33.2% (October 2007) to 36.5% (September 2008). Project participants in one region improved their AVF rate 6.5%, from an average of 35.3% in October 2007 to an average of 41.8% in September 2008. As a result, 85.7% (6 of 7 facilities) met or exceeded their Network-assigned goal.
In another region, little improvement was noted. The AVF rate across all facilities in the region was 31.3% in October 2007 and 31.5% in September 2008. However, 33.3% (3 of 9 facilities) met or exceeded their Network-assigned goal.
Overall, 75% of facilities met their Network-assigned goal, falling short of the project goal for 80% of participating facilities to attain their goal.
