End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

CFMC supports quality improvement initiatives conducted by ESRD Network 15 to improve the quality of health care services for ESRD patients.

Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative (FFBI)

The goal of the Fistula First initiative is to increase the rate of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) placement in ESRD patients, ensure that every eligible ESRD patient receives his/her optimal form of vascular access and to avoid vascular access complications through appropriate monitoring and intervention.

One of the most popular products to come out of the FFBI has been a CD/DVD program on surgical and endovascular techniques for constructing and maintaining AVFs in dialysis patients. This 5-disc set contains complete and detailed information on evaluation examinations, surgical procedures, management of complications, and salvage procedures for AVF. It also contains information about FFBI tools and strategies, and related educational materials. This Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is currently the “gold standard” for physician education and training on AVF procedures.

Copies of the video, entitled Creating AV Fistulas in All Eligible Hemodialysis Patients (Oct 2005) can be obtained through CMS’s product ordering web site at no cost. (Click on the link below and select the video from the Informational Resources section).

Order Creating AV Fistulas in All Eligible Hemodialysis Patients

ESRD Resources and Links

Questions?

For more information contact Terrey Currie, Project Assistant, at 303.784.5732, TCurrie@cfmc.org.

The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC), the Medicare quality improvement organization for Colorado, prepared this material under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS Policy.