Long-Term Catheter (LTC)

Project Guidelines:

Increase the number of patients dialyzing via ateriovenous fitula (AVF)/ ateriovenous graft (AVG) and reducing long-term catheter (LTC) use for dialysis access is key to provide optimum care for your patients. A dialysis patient is identified as having LTC when he or she has been dialyzed with a catheter for 90 days or longer, regardless of whether the catheter has been replaced.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has set two quality goals for facilities that are linked to the QIP. These are:

Each hemodialysis facility's AVF/ AVG rate should be greater than or equal to 68%

Each hemodialysis facility's LTC rate should be less than or equal to 10%

The Fistula First Catheter Last (FFCL) site has information for both providers and patients about access care and improving outcomes. included on this site are resources for you as the provider, your patients and vascular surgeons.

Criteria:

Facilities in the Network service area with LTC rates greater than or equal 15% will be selected to participate in the LTC QIA

Baseline Data:

The baseline data for dialysis facility inclusion was provided by the ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) from the facility submitted information available in CROWNWeb.

Goal:

Facilities selected for this project will demonstrate an LTC Reduction based on their individual facility requirement

QIA Guidelines

The Network will:

Educate target facilities on the CDC Core Interventions, and assist the facilities in implementing the CDC Core Interventions,

Assist Facilities in monitoring and tracking their own progress towards the reduction of long term catheters, and

Monitor the progress of QIA facilities and assist the facilities that are unable to progress to goal.

Involve Patient SMEs and/or family members or care partners at the facility level in discussion about infection control practices and ways to feel more comfortable bring issues to the attention of staff members

Support facilities in completing the annual NHSN dialysis event surveillance training: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)