Dialyzing Wisely - Improving the Delivery of Acute Renal Replacement Therapy to Albertans

Implementation of an evidence-based and best practices acute RRT pathway aiming to decrease acute RRT program and healthcare systems costs while improving important patient-reported outcomes.

Providing acute dialysis to critically ill patients in ICU settings is resource and cost intensive. The daily costs of acute dialysis can range from $528/day for intermittent hemodialysis to $865/day for continuous renal replacement therapy. Providing acute dialysis in ICU settings requires a specialized team of nurses, educators, physicians and stakeholders to ensure its safe and effective prescription and delivery. Acute dialysis is typically delivered to some of the most acutely ill patients admitted to the ICU to support organ function and sustain life. At present, there is not a standardized approach to the prescription and delivery of acute dialysis therapy in ICUs across Alberta. The DIALYZING WISELY program will implement a standardized approach to the delivery of best practices for acute dialysis therapy to all patients who receive treatment across ICUs in Alberta.