Standardizing the Early Identification of Acute Kidney Injury: The NHS England National Patient Safety Alert

Abstract

Whilst varying standards of care for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) continue to contribute to poor outcomes, a strong focus on strategies to drive quality improvement is paramount. To this end, a national Patient Safety Alert was issued in June 2014 to all healthcare providers in England entitled 'Standardising the Early Identification of Acute Kidney Injury'. The aim was to embed an automated AKI detection system in the biochemistry laboratories of all acute hospitals. In addition to the direct clinical benefits that may come from earlier and more systematic recognition of AKI, it has also helped position AKI as a patient safety issue and will feed a national AKI registry, the latter a potent tool for future measurement and improvement initiatives.