Mission possible: vascular access-decreasing the use of catheters in the Texas hemodialysis community

In 1999, the End-Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas, Inc, #14 (NW14) initiated a quality improvement project in support of the Health Care Finance Administration's End-Stage Renal Disease Health Care Quality Improvement Program. The project, titled "Mission Possible: Vascular Access: Decreasing the Utilization of Catheters in the Texas Hemodialysis Community," aims to assist the Texas dialysis community decrease the use of hemodialysis catheters. This report reviews the goal of the project, baseline vascular access survey results, and quality improvement activities initiated to help dialysis professionals implement quality management processes that will improve the quality of care for Texas dialysis patients.