TRAINING, MANAGEMENT, AND CREDENTIALING FOR CRRT IN THE ICU

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in the intensive care unit (ICU) requires a dedicated training and educational process that incl udes both theoretical and practical approaches. Important goals for th is process include achieving an acceptable circuit life without patien t complications and providing a high percentage of staff with bedside expertise, Lectures or didactic sessions must link into bedside instru ction and simulations or mock patient/circuit setup, An annual seminar may be useful for all clinicians to share and gain knowledge, Manager s require a system of staff review to ensure expertise levels are main tained. Policy development, quality assurance, and complication monito ring systems provide useful information for managers and educators in this field, Credentialing may be useful to confirm the goals of CRRT, but it requires further development of practice standards before adopt ion. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.