Justin Cox has been in the renal field for 7 years and enjoys the family atmosphere of the small clinic that he works for located in Corydon, Iowa. Justin likes helping the patients every day and making a difference. Justin enjoys being on the Medical Review Board because he is making improvements for the betterment of patients and staff.

Thank you for your service with the Network, Justin! 
Interns in the Network Office!
Please welcome Jada Steele and Chaice Wilson to the Network office! They join us from University of Missouri-Kansas City working on their Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree.
You may be hearing from one of them regarding Network projects.

Jada is a prominent member of UMKC’s D1 track and field team and is very active in the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society and the National Honor Society. Jada also enjoys baking and makes gourmet cheesecake jars in various flavors. She also loves going to the movies to see romantic comedies.

Chaice is hoping to pursue a career in healthcare management. When he’s not working here or going to school, he loves playing and watching sports. Chaice also enjoys being outdoors and participating in activities such as hiking, fishing and camping.
The Network is committed to assisting facilities to increase patient engagement in their care at the facility level. Our goal is to help patients be more active in their own care for themselves and to help the facility to improve the care for all.

Each month the Network will share ideas based upon the "topic of the month" and an action step in conjunction with the “Be Active in Your Care” 2019 Patient Engagement Calendar. 
February Action Step:
Share Your Concerns
This month we encourage all facilities to conduct a patient engagement activity to encourage patients to share their concerns. Consider initiating a suggestion box at your facility. 

Check out the February “ Topic of the Month ” for a listing of resources and patient engagement activity ideas. Consider initiating a suggestion box or inviting a patient to a team huddle to discuss how it feels to share a grievance as a patient.

You can also check out the Patient Engagement Showcase to see bulletin board ideas shared by dialysis facility staff from throughout the Network. Click on the button below to find all these patient engagement resources.
Review the resources and activities on the topic “My Plan: My Wishes” to plan ahead for March.  The “My Plan: My Wishes” topic sheet has resources to provide patients with information and tools to be engaged in their care, now and in the future.

The topic sheet has a variety of resources, so we encourage you to work with your Network Patient Representative (NPR) to discuss what information and activities they think would be most helpful to the patients at your facility. If you don’t have a Network Patient Representative, be sure to check out the webinar recording “Partnering Together- 2019 NPR Kick off” to get you started.

The Network recognizes that facilities are always working hard to develop and implement creative and engaging activities for their patients, through bulletin boards, games and lobby days.

Please share the great work you are doing through the reporting link offered within the topic sheet. 
Thank You Network Patient Representatives!
This year, the Network wanted to send out a special recognition to all the Network Patient Representatives that were active in 2018. Thank you, DaVita Omaha South for sharing a photo of your team acknowledging Laura Novy’s contribution! We look forward to hearing more about your great partnership working together to improve care for all patients.
Date: Feb. 14 | Feb. 15
Time: 1 p.m. CT

Goal: To provide an opportunity for NPRs to connect with the Network and each other, share ideas, and learn what they can do at their clinic to improve the patient experience at their clinics.

In addition to sharing information on the Network quality improvement activities, our “Ten Minute Topic” in February will be “My Plan: My Wishes.”
We will discuss advance directives and care planning as well as resources and ideas to help them identify what information to share with their clinic staff and patients and plan an activity for March.

We always wrap up the call with open discussion where NPRs share the great things they are helping with and seeing at their clinics. Please encourage your NPR to attend one of the calls and staff is always welcome to join, too.
Dial In by Phone:
1-888-537-7715
Access Code: 885 90 323#
Annual Facility Survey Form 2744
The survey period for Heartland Kidney Network  starts Feb. 15 and all surveys must have No Errors and be in "Finalized" status by March 29. 

Detailed instructions will be emailed to facilities prior to Feb. 15.

VHA and Transplant units who do not use CROWNWeb will have their forms mailed to them for completion. Sandy Cannon will be leading the 2744 process this year.

Please direct all question to her at 816-880-1704 or  [email protected]  .
Errors in CROWNWeb admission/discharge reasons can cause your Annual Survey to have errors and/or be inaccurate. One of the biggest errors is when the very first admission into CROWNWeb is not "New ESRD".

Every Friday Sandy Cannon emails a list of patients falling into this category to the responsible facility for correction.

Usually either changing the admission reason to "New ESRD" or asking the clinic that previously treated the patient as ESRD to enter the New ESRD admission into CROWNWeb.

A 2728 form cannot be created if there is no "New ESRD" admits for the patient.
Need Assistance with Providers.Exchange?
If you are having issues with Providers.Exchange , please take a minute to complete this form .

Here are some troubleshooting steps if you are having issues:

  • Be sure you are using your facility's Medicare CCN for the user name, and your password in the password field.

  • If your password doesn't work, or you forgot it, then click on "Forgot Password" and enter the email address that is tied to your facility. If you aren't sure whose email address that is, then note that on the form (link above), and we will email you that information. Reset passwords are emailed to the address tied to the account.


  • If you are able to get reset passwords and they are not working then contact your IT department to ensure that Ports 443 and 4401 are not blocked on your router. Those two ports must be open for Providers.Exchange to work.
New Resource: Inventory Discharge/Transfer Checklist
No facility wants to be in the position to involuntarily discharge a patient from this
service but it’s important to know the steps to take if the situation should arise.

The Involuntary Discharge/Transfer Checklist has been developed to help staff make sure they take and document all the necessary steps.

Please contact the Patient Services Department at 816-880-9990 whenever you determine a patient may be at-risk for involuntary discharge, we’re available to provide technical assistance and guidance.

The Network will be posting on-Demand webinars in March to educate facilities on the process and prevention strategies. 
Calendar 3
REMINDER: Annual Grievance Definition Report due by Feb. 28
Don’t forget to report once your facility has completed the following steps as detailed in this memo distributed in December 2018:
  1. Review the CMS definition of grievance with all staff and patients.
  2. Review all options for addressing grievances.
  3. Review the facility grievance policy and procedure to ensure they meet the minimum requirements under the ESRD Conditions for Coverage including options for filing an anonymous grievance.
  4. Utilize the Heartland Huddle sheet, “Huddle Up to Improve the Grievance Process” for staff education.
  5. Provide all patients with a copy of “My Network: What to do if I have a concern” My Kidney Kit page.
  6. Ensure the Network’s posters are posted and the “My Life, My Choices: Knowledge is Power- My Kidney Kit” are in an area accessible to patients.
  7. Complete the reporting form by Feb. 28.
You Talked. We Listened.
Last year, the Network team made many site visits, hosted webinars and performed technical assistance for facilities participating in our Quality Improvement Activities.

The feedback received from our kidney partners shaped our 2019 Quality Improvement Activity & Patient Engagement processes to improve communication, track facility progress, and have one method for distribution.
The Network is excited to utilize Providers.Exchange , our communication portal to house facility specific feedback reports, resources, education webinars and more.

Providers.Exchange has facility specific login criteria. Every project facility should be utilizing this portal for all information pertaining to your Quality Improvement Activity.
Social Work A-Z:
A Conference for Renal Social Workers
Missouri Social Workers! Make sure you Save the Date to attend the April 11 "Social Work A-Z: A Conference for Renal Social Workers" in Columbia, Missouri.

The event is sponsored by the Missouri Kidney Program in partnership with Heartland Kidney Network.
National Kidney Foundation
Spring Clinical Meetings
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM) is designed for the entire nephrology interdisciplinary team and provides clinicians with continuing medical education credits and opportunities for networking and recognizing leaders within the community.
Explore Transplant Training Event
in St. Louis
Who Should Attend:
Renal professionals who want to:
  • Enhance your transplant and living donation knowledge
  • Learn strategies to increase waitlists at your center

Continuing Education credits for nurses, technicians, dietitians and social workers.

Cost: $25 includes registration fees, continental breakfast, lunch and CEUs.

Date: Friday, April 26
Time: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT

Where:
Mid-America Transplant
1110 Highlands Plaza Drive E #1000
St. Louis, MO 63110

Questions?
Christa Goalby | email
Ari Hariston | 314-361-9400
NHSN Reminders

NHSN is the nation’s most widely used healthcare-associated infection tracking system.

NHSN provides facilities, states, regions, and the nation with data needed to identify problem areas, measure progress of prevention efforts, and ultimately eliminate healthcare-associated infections.

Want more information? Questions?

Click on these links: 
Patient Safety Component Protocols

NHSN is happy to announce that the 2019 Patient Safety Component (PSC) protocols have been posted to the NHSN website, including the protocol for the new PedVAE module and a PedVAE calculator.

Please remember that these protocols are for use beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Until that time, please continue to use your 2018 PSC protocols, which can be found in the Additional Resources section in the left-hand corner of the NHSN homepage . 

The related data collection forms and Tables of Instructions are still undergoing clearance for posting which is anticipated within the next few weeks. Notification will be sent when that occurs.
REMEMBER: NHSN Data Deadlines
Facilities should:

Contact the NHSN Helpdesk ( [email protected] , subject line ‘Dialysis’) with any questions.
This resource was developed while under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contract #HHSM-500-2016-00012C. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 19.Q-ESRD12.02.031