FMQAI: The Florida ESRD Network is participating in the national Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), other ESRD Networks and the entire renal community. The hope is that every suitable patient will receive a native arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which has been termed the “gold standard” of hemodialysis accesses.
As of December 2007, The Florida ESRD Network’s average AVF rate was 49.2% (according to the Fistula First Dashboard). The CMS Breakthrough Initiative goal is to increase the percentage of patients with fistulas to 66% by June 2009.
For further information on Fistula First, please contact our Quality Improvement Department at (813) 383-1530 X5.
