Click here to learn more about the IPRO ESRD Networks (1, 2, 6 & 9).
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What You Need to Know about CMS' 2018 Priorities, Goals, and Quality Improvement Activities
Join us for an informative webinar, hosted by the Network, to understand CMS' expectations for dialysis facilities in 2018.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
Registration: Click
here to register online
Dialysis professionals are invited to attend a webinar about the role of the ESRD Network, and how the National Quality Strategy (NQS) principles, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) priorities, and CMS goals will affect ESRD patient care in 2018. The medical directors, facility administrators, nurse managers, social workers, and dietitians from each dialysis facility are strongly encouraged to attend to better understand facility-level expectations for 2018 initiatives.
Topics include:
- Patient and Family Engagement
- Emergency Preparedness
- Data Management
- Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)
- Long-Term Catheter (LTC) Reduction
- Transplant Referral Coordination
- Home Therapies
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Learning and Action Networks (LANs)
For more information,
please contact the Network at
516-209-5578.
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Resource Release: Updated New York State Renal Transplant Center Referral Guide
A kidney transplant is a possible treatment option for people on dialysis. However, not everyone who wants a transplant is considered eligible to receive one. Only transplant center professionals can determine if a patient is a good candidate for a transplant. Each transplant center uses its own set of standards for deciding if a patient is an ideal candidate for a kidney transplant.
This Network- developed resource provides exclusion criteria and contact information for the 13 transplant centers in the state of New York to help you and your patients identify transplant centers that best fit their unique needs.
The Network worked with each transplant center to ensure that absolute exclusion criteria for the center is included in the resource, in an effort to help you and your patients easily identify differences in transplant center eligibility criteria. To view and download this new resource visit the
Network Website or contact the ESRD Network at
[email protected] to request printed copies.
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Strategies for Preventing Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients
A 2016 article in the International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease evaluates management strategies for preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections, with recognition that many patients begin hemodialysis (HD) with a catheter. The authors conclude that "Early
efforts must be directed toward preventative care emphasizing placement of other vascular accesses or initiating an alternative dialysis modality, such as timely peritoneal dialysis (PD) to avert HD catheter placement before it becomes necessary
."
Findings include:
- "Urgent start PD" programs are a safe alternative to HD in patients without an established AV fistula or graft.
- Should no options exist outside of catheter placement, proper catheter care and infection control procedures implemented through educating and auditing dialysis unit staff as well as patients, are the first step in preventing infections.
- In high-risk groups for whom all other conservative measures to prevent infection have failed, the authors recommend consideration of antimicrobial lock (AML) therapy.
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First Annual Technician Training Day: A Success!
On September 20, 2017, in collaboration with SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, the IPRO ESRD Network of New York hosted its 1st Annual Technician Training Day, "Technicians Encouraging Patient Choices: Expand Skills. Share Knowledge. Empower Patients." The Technician Training day, attended by 120+ individuals, was developed to provide an opportunity to learn, build skills, share knowledge, and collaborate as an ESRD community with other ESRD professionals and patients.
The Network also featured an education resource table supported by three Patient SMEs and members of the Network's Patient Advisory Committee (PAC). These PAC members helped promote facility staff awareness of the availability of the patient peer mentorship training program, patient-centered resource toolkits, and the importance of active patient involvement in care decisions and at the facility-level.
The Network received overwhelmingly positive evaluation feedback and comments, with requests for additional topics and future training. The Network looks forward to hosting future technician trainings and additional educational meetings in 2018. To support development for future events, please complete the following brief survey to share feedback and suggestions on topics of interest: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NW2TechTrainingTopics
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How Does the ESRD Network Partner with Facilities to Improve Patient Care?
Under contract with CMS, ESRD Networks are charged with achieving healthcare transformation, promoting the
National Quality Strategy
, and supporting the
Health and Human Services Secretary's
priorities
, by working with dialysis providers, government agencies, ESRD stakeholders, patients, family members and care partners to reach CMS set goals. The Network strives to achieve these goals through activities that include:
- conducting directed quality improvement activities focused on patient care,
- maintaining a patient registry,
- assisting with emergencies,
- providing educational materials, and
- investigating patient grievances.
On December 1, 2017, all 18 ESRD Networks across the country began a new contract year.
Do you want to learn more about the work of the Network?
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Empower Your Patients
With your help, we can make a difference!
Have any of your patients or their caregivers/family members shared with you their feelings about not being heard?
Has a patient ever shared an idea they felt would be useful for others with ESRD?
If so, we know you'll understand the value of engaging such individuals in efforts to improve patient care. We need your help!
The Network has convened a group of Patient Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to provide patient perspective and feedback to the Network on educational materials, quality improvement projects and other issues that relate to our work in improving care to ESRD patients. Please consider nominating patients, transplant recipients, and family members /care partners who are interested in sharing their talents and ideas with other SMEs in the Network.
What do SMEs do? Ultimately, they help Network staff understand what is important to patients, share useful ideas and experiences, and foster Network initiatives at their own dialysis facility and transplant center. Their efforts focus on providing feedback on Network quality improvement activities related to infection prevention, transplant referrals, home dialysis training, vocational rehabilitation, and patient engagement.
For more information, please contact
Nigisty Lulu
, Community Outreach Coordinator, at
516-209-5549
or [email protected].
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The Grievance Process: Do You Know Your Facility's Responsibilities?
Dialysis facilities are required to ensure a process has been implemented for patients to express concerns about their care without reprisal or denial of services.
According to CMS, a grievance is defined as "a written or oral communication from an ESRD patient, and/or an individual representing an ESRD patient, and/or another party, alleging that an ESRD service received from a Medicare-certified provider did not meet the grievant's expectations with respect to safety, civility, patient rights, and/or clinical standards of care." The grievant is not required to explicitly state that the care did not meet professionally recognized standards.
Federal regulations at 42 CFR §405.2112(g) specify "evaluating and resolving patient grievances" as one of the Network's functions. The Network's case review responsibilities include investigating grievances filed with the Network and addressing non-grievance access to care cases. However, some concerns do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Network; in these cases patients would be referred to a more appropriate agency, such as the state health department.
The following resources provided by the Network can help educate staff and patients about grievances:
An updated Grievance Poster will be sent to facilities by the end of December. Please post it in a prominent area in the facility by the first of the year.
For more information, or assistance with patient grievances, please contact the Patient Services Director in your Network.
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News for Your Patients: CMS Announces Improved Access to High-Quality Health Coverage Choices; Decreased Premiums for 2018
 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released 2018 benefit and premium information as well as Star Ratings for Medicare health and drug plans. Changes announced represent more health coverage choices, improved access to high-quality health choices, and decreased premiums in 2018. "Medicare's top priority is to ensure that beneficiaries have choices for affordable, high-quality care that fit their needs," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
The following resources have been created to assist patients with understanding health coverage options:
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Posting of Payment Year 2018 Performance Score Certificates
CMS regulations state that each facility's Payment Year (PY) 2018 Performance Score Certificate (PSC) must be printed and posted in a prominent patient area within 15 business days of its availability. PSCs are expected to be available on or about December 15, 2017.
For information on how ESRD QIP affects patients, please visit:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ESRD-QIP team at [email protected]. If you have any questions for the Network staff, please send an email to [email protected].
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Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Alerts and Information
- Click here for up-to-date KCER Alerts and Recalls.
- For professional and patient KCER resources, please click here.
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The staff members of IPRO ESRD Network of New York want to take this opportunity to say, "thank you" for the tireless efforts of ESRD healthcare professionals. We applaud your commitment and dedication in providing quality of care to the patients you serve. As our partners in the renal community, your collaboration and hard work helps to ensure the realization of our goals for improved quality and safety for all ESRD patients in the state of New York.
Wishing you a season of joy and looking forward to continued success in 2018. Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
IPRO ESRD Network of New York
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IPRO End-Stage Renal Disease Network of New York, the ESRD Organization for the state of New York, prepared this material under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. CMS Contract Number: HHSM-500-2016-00020C.
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IPRO ESRD Network of New York
1979 Marcus Avenue, Suite 105, Lake Success, NY 11042
PH
516-209-5672 · FAX
516-326-8929
[email protected]
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