"Be an encourager. I have never met anyone too encouraged."
— shared by Mike Bronson, Kidney Transplant, Kansas
Stephanie Huskey is one of our Quality Improvement Managers and has been with the Network since January of 2018. She is a Registered Nurse and has been in the dialysis field since 2000. Stephanie is the project lead for the 2018 Blood Stream Infection Reduction, Long Term Catheter Reduction and Depression Screening Quality Improvement Activities. She offers quality and educational support to facilities, builds relationships with dialysis facilities, patients and stakeholders and performs grievance chart reviews.

If you ever have a question about the Network, please reach out to us at 816-880-9990 . 
Annual Network Council Meeting - Register Today!
The Annual Network Council meeting (Webinar format) is open to Facility Representatives, Regional Directors or any facility staff that would like to join. We ask that at least one representative from each facility register and attend.

Date: Tuesday, July 17
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT
Pre-Registration Required. Click Here .
Network Patient Representative (NPR) Connection Calls

This month’s NPR Connection Calls will be held July 12 and 13 at 1pm.

The goal of these calls is 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 support other patients.

Living Donation
Patient Navigators in Kidney Transplantation

Hear one living donor's story as they share their journey to donating a kidney and learn hw patient navigators can assist the patient that wants a kidney transplant.

Date: Thursday, July 26
Time: 1 p.m. CDT

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
ESRD Quality Incentive Program Payment Year 2019 and EQRS Updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced dates for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) Payment Year 2019 preview period and information regarding user on-boarding for the ESRD Quality Reporting System (EQRS).

Dialysis Facility Report (DFR) Review Period:
July 17-Aug. 15

Once a year, the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center release the annual Dialysis Facility Report. This report is typically published in July with a 30 day comment period if you disagree with any of the findings on your dialysis facility.

Depression Screening QIA: One group's plan for sustainability

As part of our Depression Screening Quality Improvement Activity, Social Workers from DCI Mid-Missouri have formulated a plan to ensure depression is receiving the same attention and care as other symptoms of dialysis.


Building a Bridge to Continuity of Care


The transfer of information between dialysis units and hospitals has always been a challenge.

An article from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology discusses this unique challenge of information exchange.

Questions and Answers
Engaging Patients in Quality Improvement Activities
Although patient engagement is not a new concept, engaging patients and family members in the facility’s quality improvement activities can require a significant shift in the facility’s culture.

All the Network Quality Improvement Activities (QIA’s) this year include a patient engagement component and encourage you to identify a Network Patient Representative (NPR) and engage a patient or family member in your quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) meetings/activities.

The article "Guidance for Engaging Patients in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement" will provide some answers to some common questions the Network has received. Also, click here for a resource for inviting your patients to your QAPI meeting.

My Kidney Calendar
Each month the Network shares ideas based upon the "topic of the month" in conjunction with the 2018 My Kidney Calendar. July's monthly topic in the My Kidney Calendar is “My Treatment: Fluid Matters”. Last month we shared some resources and ideas for patient engagement related to this topic so you could plan ahead.

To prepare for August, check out the latest topic sheet on "My Life: Prevention Saves Lives" with information on vaccinations, infection and disease prevention.

Highlighted Tips and Ideas from the “Decreasing Dialysis Patient-Provider Conflict" Provider Manual

In June’s e-newsletter, we provided an overview of the Decreasing Dialysis Patient-Provider Conflict (DPC) toolkit. This month we’d like to highlight some of the additional tips and ideas offered in the “Provider Manual” component of the toolkit. The manual offers “Tips for Defusing Anger” and “Six Steps to Resolving Conflict”.

The manual can be downloaded by visiting the NCC website or if you’d like a hard-copy complete the Network Resource Request Form or call the Network at 816-880-9990 . We encourage you to review these tips and ideas during your next team meeting or huddle.
End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center -
Quality Improvement Activity Learning and Action Networks
The ESRD NCC hosts a series of calls based on topics of the CMS Quality Improvement Activities (QIAs). These include: Blood Stream Infection (BSI), Home Modality, Transplant, and Depression. ALL ESRD facilities will receive invitations to these meetings because improving the lives of dialysis patients in these areas is a global goal. The expectation is that project facilities join these calls but the calls are optional for non-participating facilities. Please also share these calls with your patients.

If you have questions, please call the Network office at 816-880-9990 . 

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: NHSN | NHSN Helpdesk
DEADLINE EXTENDED

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces a deadline extension for completing the online National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Agreement to Participate and Consent form. The new deadline for completing the Consent, July 9, 2018 , applies to ALL facilities currently enrolled in NHSN regardless of their CMS participation.

NHSN is pleased to assist with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the Consent process. Click here for more information on how to complete the NHSN Agreement to Participate and Consent process. You may also email your questions directly to NHSN.
Pneumococcal Disease and ACIP's Recommended Sequencing for Adults 65+

This webinar will provide information about Pneumonia and provide the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the sequencing of Pneuomococcal vaccinations in adults over age 65.

Date: Tuesday, July 10
Time: Noon-1 p.m. CT Register
ANNA Platte River Chapter 324
Education Day


ANNA Platte River Chapter 324 is offering a Distance Learning Education Day on Aug. 7, in Omaha, Neb.

You don’t have to be present in person to receive CE’s!



ALERTS
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. 18.Q-ESRD12.03.036