Cardiovascular disease in chronic renal failure is the most common cause of death, and is highly prevalent in the existing haemodialysis patient population. The number of Dialysis patients with known cardiovascular disease is approximately 40% with a mortality rate being 10-20% greater than the general population.

An increasing number of patients requiring haemodialysis are being admitted to Ballarat Health Services with acute episodes of cardiac related illness. This was placing a significant strain on the avaliable human resources to provide haemodialysis treatment on those patients requiring cardiac monitoring. Cardiac monitoring facilities were not avaliable in the Ballarat Dialysis Unit prior to 2007. These patients were required to be dialysed in an alternative setting, primarily the Intensive Care Unit.

The introduction of a cardiac telemetry monitoring service within the Ballarat Health Services Dialysis Unit took place in 2007. Since it's implementation, twenty six patients with cardiac related illness have required cardiac monitoring. These patients have been dialysed safely within the dialysis unit. In addition, a more efficient utilisation of trained staff, without the extra costs of dialysing patients in an off site environment with cardiac monitoring facilities, has been achieved.