An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) functionality quality improvement tracking tool--developed and implemented to improve newly placed AVF utilization rates and patient outcomes.

The authors developed a reporting tool to assist hemodialysis clinicians to track new arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), their maturation, and use. The tool identifies impediments to timely use (6 weeks/42 days) of AVFs. The use of this tool in nine dialysis units with high gaps between AVF placement and usage reduced the gap from 19.5% to 13.5% and reflected a reduction in the percentage of AVFs in place but not in use from 31.4% to 23.2%.