The Catheter Reduction Quality Improvement Project enlisted the participation of nine (9) dialysis facilities in reducing their chronic catheter use among prevalent hemodialysis patients. These facilities met the criteria of:

• 20% or greater percentage of prevalent hemodialysis patients with CVCs in use for 90 or more days with no other access;
• an average patient census of 20 or greater, and not involved in the 2005 – 2006 Vascular Access Committee Oversight Project.

To effect change, the Network employed a multi-pronged quality improvement strategy that included data monitoring and feedback, the provision of quality improvement tools and patient education materials, and technical assistance from a Network 5 Fistula First champion. Project participants reduced their percent of prevalent hemodialysis patients with CVCs in use 90 or more days, with no other access. from an average of 32.5% in November 2007 to an average of 26.7% in March 2008, thereby exceeding the project goal of 27.4%. About half of the facilities demonstrated a reduction in chronic catheter usage by 5% or more, and had a re-measurement result below the project goal.