Which of the following is NOT considered a primary quality outcome in renal care?

In the context of renal care, primary quality outcomes are specific indicators that directly relate to patient health and treatment efficacy. Albumin, phosphorus, and hemoglobin (HGB) are all key markers that reflect the overall metabolic and nutritional status of patients with kidney disease.

Albumin is a critical protein that indicates nutritional status and is also a marker for kidney function and health. Phosphorus levels are essential to monitor because they can indicate phosphate retention, which is a common issue in patients with renal impairment. Hemoglobin is important for assessing anemia, which is frequently seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to a reduced production of erythropoietin.

Weight change, while an important parameter for patient monitoring, does not serve as a primary quality outcome in renal care. Weight can fluctuate for many reasons unrelated to the adequacy of renal treatment, making it less reliable as a measure of treatment quality or patient health compared to the other listed laboratory values. Hence, weight change is considered secondary in the context of assessing quality outcomes specifically in renal care.