DaVita Leads Nation in Patients With Fistulas

[okarol]

DaVita Leads Nation in Patients With Fistulas

Examiner - From DaVita Inc.,
Distributed by PR Newswire

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 20 - DaVita's clinical outcomes, including fistula placement and management, are some of the best in America. In 2006, 59% of DaVita patients had a fistula which is ahead of the national average of 52%. This achievement is especially significant because DaVita takes care of 3 out of every 10 dialysis patients in America.

As part of DaVita's focus on fistula management, DaVita held a contest to create awareness for the benefits of arteriovenous (AV) fistula as the optimal access for dialysis. DaVita today announced four winners of the Vascular Access teams' contest, "Got access? How long?" DaVita patients Anthony Logan,
Barbara Raymond, John Horath and John Hart have each had a working fistula since 1972.

DaVita is committed to educating patients and encouraging them to get fistulas. "We would like to see every patient who is able to have a fistula, get one," says Kent Thiry, DaVita's CEO.

DaVita, along with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other kidney and hemodialysis experts, consider the fistula the "gold standard" access choice. Research studies have demonstrated that patients with a fistula have the fewest complications, such as infection or clotting, compared to all other access choices.

In addition to having fewer complications than the other access choices, patients who have a working fistula are able to "re-start" hemodialysis after a failed transplant without any additional surgery because their access is already in place.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is one of the largest providers of dialysis services in the United States, providing dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease. DaVita, located in 42 states and the District of Columbia, manages over 1,300 outpatient centers and acute units in over 800 hospitals serving approximately 100,000 patients. For more information please visit http://www.DaVita.com.

SOURCE DaVita Inc.

http://www.examiner.com/p-29881~DaVita_Leads_Nation_in_Patients_With_Fistulas.html

[Black]

I am glad to see that DaVita is pushing fistulas.  But, it is awful that the national average is only 52%, and DaVita at 59%, when estimates are that over 80% of patients should have and could have a natural A/V fistula.  DaVita has over 100, 000 dialysis patients.  Twenty percent of 100,000 patients is 20,000 patients.  That means more than 20,000 people are using an access other than a natural A/V fistula, when they shouldn't be!  That is appalling!

www.fistulafirst.org

http://cme.ouhsc.edu/documents/HJenningsAVFistulasDifficultAccessPatient.pdf

[KT0930]

Black, just remember there may be very good reasons for some of those to not have a fistula. As a young child (6 years old) the doctors and my family were anticipating me starting dialysis, and as a young child, my veins just were not big enough for a fistula, so I have a graft instead. It was never used (I did PD instead), so it's pretty much a non-issue, but just remember, not EVERYONE can have a fistula.

[angela515]

I aslo could not have a fistula.. even the grafts didn't work for me due to my viens being too small and used to much.

[Black]

Black, just remember there may be very good reasons for some of those to not have a fistula. As a young child (6 years old) the doctors and my family were anticipating me starting dialysis, and as a young child, my veins just were not big enough for a fistula, so I have a graft instead. It was never used (I did PD instead), so it's pretty much a non-issue, but just remember, not EVERYONE can have a fistula.

Absolutely true, not everyone can, but studies show that 80% is not an unrealistic expectation.  Unfortunately you apparently were in that minority which could not have a natural A/V fistula.     However, there is evidence that even patients who have been given a graft can in the future have a natural A/V fistula.  Generally grafts have a short life expectancy compared to a natural A/V fistula, and grafts have a much higher rate of complications.  If  the time comes when you have to switch from PD to HD be sure you get several opinions on your access options.

The huge gap, which encompasses so many people, between what is possible and what is reality, is often due to ignorance and incompetence by the medical professionals who should know better.  The Fistula First Initiative is addressing that issue and is saving lives and improving the quality of life for many dialysis patients.

  The part of this issue which really makes me angry is that not one medical professional told my husband he needed to protect his arm veins and have all blood draws and IVs done in his hands.  Even now the dialysis nurse wants to put his iron infusion in his other arm but he insists that she use his hand.    He finally had to tell her, "If I let you stick me in the arm my wife will kill me.".  And I would!! 

[angela515]

  The part of this issue which really makes me angry is that not one medical professional told my husband he needed to protect his arm veins and have all blood draws and IVs done in his hands.  Even now the dialysis nurse wants to put his iron infusion in his other arm but he insists that she use his hand.    He finally had to tell her, "If I let you stick me in the arm my wife will kill me.".  And I would!! 

I do agree with this... it seems to me (with my experiences anyways) that once a person becomes a dialysis patient, they learn so much about what needs to happen and should happen from internet and other patients that it just shows how much the medical profession is in need of better eduation on their field of choice. Dotors and nurses who choose dialysis as their field do not know near as much as they SHOULD... it's very sad.