Epoetin alfa--focus on patients who are hospitalized. Case study of the anemic patient.

Maintaining continuity of care in dialysis patients who require hospitalization is an ongoing challenge for nephrology clinicians. One of the keys to improving continuity of care is establishing open lines of communication between the staffs of the dialysis center and local hospitals. This article examines the integral role nurses can play in this communication process and uses anemia management to illustrate how proactive planning can help improve continuity of care throughout the treatment continuum.