Creating an Access Plan

These resources will help you learn what an access plan is, how to talk to your doctor about one, and how to keep track of your plan:

In Control (Vol. 1, No. 1: Fistulas)

Four page patient newsletter section talks about how a written plan can help in case your access fails.  From Life Options (MEI).

Your Access Care Pocket Guide

Two page reminder guide covers the most important points about access care, using a TLC (touch, look, care) approach.  From the The Renal Network, Inc.

Vascular Access Passport Set - Part 1
Vascular Access Passport Set - Part 2

Two part resource contains forms for access recordkeeping, so you can keep track of the date(s) of placement, your surgeon's name, access site(s), and any revision/cause of failure information.  Also provides cards to remind health care workers how to protect your veins (and access sites).  From the ESRD Network of New England.
 

Please Note: Before printing any of these resources, we recommend that you check your printer settings to determine the correct page orientation for the document.  Some tools may need to be printed in the 'Landscape' format to avoid cutting off any of the text.