Collecting and using patient and treatment center data to improve care: Adequacy of hemodialysis and end-stage renal disease surveillance

The capacity to use patient and treatment center information about the patt erns and outcomes of care of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to improve the care and prevention of kidney failure has been greatly enhanced in the Unit ed States by the national ESRD surveillance system. This system consists of 18 regional Networks, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and the United States Data System (USRDS) . This report describes how ESRD Network 6 used different data sources to i mplement and evaluate a program to improve the adequacy of hemodialysis pre scription in a three state region.