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Welcome to the July 31 issue of the Quality Insights Renal Network 4 e-newsletter. In this issue, we bring you information about patient education features, our quality improvement activities, upcoming events, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) updates, CROWNWeb updates, continuing education opportunities,  resources and much more. We encourage you to  contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions.  
FeedbackPlease provide us with your feedback on last month's Facility-LED PATIENT EDUCATION
Please take this short survey to let us know what you thought about last month's facility-led patient education topics
FeaturedEducation2FACILITY-LED PATIENT EDUCATION TOPIC OF THE MONTH: 
Vocational Rehabilitation
We will be providing a Network 4 Patient Education Sheet each month in 2018. These documents are also located on  our website. Please provide all of your patients with this education sheet this month.   Also, we ask that you please encourage your facility's Patient  Representatives to pass out this educational information as well. 

Though your patients may want to return to the workforce, they may not know where to start. The Ticket to Work program will help connect your patients to employment (ages 18-64). 
NewResourceNEW RESOURCEs: WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE HOME dialysis?  
Quality Insights Renal Network 4 recently completed two new educational outreach pieces around the topic of choosing home dialysis. These resources explore the benefits of peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. Check out the new tri-fold brochureCheck out the new poster
QIAsQuality Improvement Activities (QIAs)

Increasing patient participation in Network 4's quality improvement activities through subject matter experts 
Many patients with kidney disease face barriers in completing the necessary steps required to be on the transplant waitlist. Studies show that peer support is effective. As a result, Network 4 - in consultation with its patient subject matter experts (SMEs) - is in the process of developing guidelines for a Patient Advocacy Initiative focused on improving the patient transplant waitlist status and home dialysis training initiations. Our goal is to build a pipeline of patients helping patients. Patient Advocates will be available for patient-to-patient sharing of experiences. The goal is to encourage/guide patients as they move through the processes of transplant evaluation and home therapy initiation. We currently have three SMEs partnering with four facilities. 

"stitches of hope" campaign encourages getting on transplant waitlist 
One of Network 4's four Quality Improvement Activities (QIA) is focused on increasing the number of patients on the Transplant Waitlist and there are currently 100 Network 4 facilities participating. As a creative way to keep track of patients who are waitlisted during the project period, Network 4, in consultation with our patient/caregiver subject matter experts, is creating a "Stitches of Hope" quilt. Imagine if 100 facilities are able to assist at least 10 patients each to get on the transplant waitlist. We could exceed CMS' goal! One of our caregivers has drafted a design and will make the quilt. 

Featured Patient Testimonial: 
Houa's Story

Check out an inspirational story from Houa Yang, a caregiver for several family members who suffered from kidney disease. Houa knows the benefit of kidney transplant first hand through experience with her mother and siblings. Read Houa's story

Learn more about the "Stitches of Hope" quilt campaign.

UPDATE: We recently received 10 quilt patches from a facility! This means facility staff have assisted 10 patients in getting on the transplant waitlist. We look forward to continued responses from project facilities. Please remember to mail all quilt patches along with signed patient consent forms and any unused patches to Network 4 in the included self-addressed envelope by September 28, 2018 (or as soon as you have recorded information on all 10 patches).  
UpcomingEventsUpcoming Events
rsn announces 16th annual essay contest
The Renal Support Network's (RSN) Annual Patient Essay Contest provides an outstanding opportunity for people who have chronic kidney disease (CKD), including people on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients, to make a valuable contribution to society by expressing their ideas, views, and most importantly, hope. This year, the theme asks the writers to "Tell us about someone (Doctor, Nurse, Family member, Friend, Patient, Pet) who has inspired, encourage or educated you on how to live well with kidney disease."  All submissions must be written by someone who has been diagnosed with CKD.

Contest winners will receive cash prizes: 
  • First Place, $500
  • Second Place, $300
  • Third Place, $100

The submission deadline is August 10, 2018. Winners will be announced on September 20, 2018, and winning essays will be featured in RSN's new magazine Live & Give and on RSNHope.org. Learn more

NHSNUpdatesNHSN Updates

nhsn dialysis team to host webinars on dialysis event surveillance
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Team will be providing four live webinars in August for new and experienced NHSN users. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) subject matter experts will be available to answer your questions about NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance during the webinars.

Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol 
NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance reporting is required for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) rule. This session will provide a complete introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event reporting requirements and the surveillance definitions necessary to complete accurate monthly reporting.
  • Tuesday, August 7 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
    Pre-registration is requiredListen-only audio will be available through your computer speakers. 
    • Participant Dial-In Number: (303) 248- 0285
    • Access Code: 6393927
  • Wednesday, August 8 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
    Pre-registration is required. Listen-only audio will be available through your computer speakers.
    • Participant Dial-In Number: (303) 248-0285
    • Access Code: 6393927
Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports
Learn how to apply National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Surveillance definitions through case studies that address common reporting questions. The session also will include an introduction to running and interpreting the most popular NHSN reports so you can review your facility's data, including Dialysis Event bloodstream infection rates.
  • Tuesday, August 14 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
    Pre-registration is required. Listen-only audio will be available through your computer speakers.
    • Participant Dial-In Number: (303) 248-0285
    • Access Code: 6393927
  • Wednesday, August 15 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDTPre-registration is required. Listen-only audio will be available through your computer speakers.
    • Participant Dial-In Number: (303) 248-0285
    • Access Code: 6393927
Please contact the NHSN helpdesk if you have any questions at NHSN@cdc.gov.
Required Dialysis Event Surveillance Training
CMS requires that at least one person from each outpatient dialysis facility that is eligible to report positive blood cultures (PBC), IV antibiotic starts, and pus, redness and swelling (PRS) to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) in 2018, complete the Annual NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Training. Eligible facilities include:
  • Facilities that provide in-center hemodialysis to at least 11 in-center hemodialysis patients
  • Facilities that have a CMS Certification date prior to January 1, 2018 

Learn more about eligibility.

Starting in 2018, Network 4 must verify, track, and report to CMS on a monthly basis the number of facilities completing this training for 2018. Please complete the following steps as soon as possible. 

  1. Complete the training and attestation no later than September 28.
  2. Print the certificate of completion. 
  3. Attest to completion of the training.

Dialysis Event Training/Re-training is available:  

June 2018 NHSN newsletter now available
The June 2018 edition of the NHSN newsletter is now available. This edition includes the following topics: 
  • NHSN Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Checklists: The Wait is Over!
  • Incorrectly Entered CLABSI Events and VAD field clarification
  • Information for Group Users
  • NHSN Surveillance Case Studies published in AJIC and more

Download the newsletter

CMSUpdatesCMS Updates
Updated dialysis facility compare data now available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce that new data on the quality of dialysis facilities will soon be available on Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC), the website that allows patients and health centers to view and compare quality data about dialysis facilities. CMS uses this data, organized into a series of measures, to create a rating system that can help patients make educated decisions about where to get their dialysis treatments, as well as to assist them in speaking with their healthcare team regarding their care.

What's in the July 2018 Refresh?
With the July 2018 refresh, the following measures on Dialysis Facility Compare will be updated with new data:
  • Adult and child patients who had enough waste removed from their blood during hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
  • Adult patients who had too much calcium in their blood
  • Hemoglobin management (Downloadable Data Only)
  • Phosphorus concentrations in the blood (Downloadable Data Only)
  • Proportion of adult hemodialysis patients who received treatment through an arteriovenous fistula
  • Proportion of adult hemodialysis patients who had a catheter (tube) left in a vein longer than 90 days, for regular hemodialysis treatments

The following measure and Star Ratings will continue to display the April 2018 release data until the next update: 

  • Survey of patients' experiences
  • Quality of patient care Star Ratings

The following measures will continue to display the January 2018 refresh data until the next update: 

  • Frequency of patient death, hospital admission, or readmission
  • Frequency of transfusions
  • Prevention of bloodstream infections

For more information about the July 2018 measures refresh, visit the DFC website. Please submit questions to dialysisdata@umich.edu.

Save the date: August 7 - ESRD QIP Quarterly Measures webinar on ultrafiltration
CMS will present an August 7, 2018  ESRD QIP Quarterly Measures Webinar on Ultrafiltration, covering both the clinical and performance measurement aspects of the QIP Ultrafiltration Rate (UFR) Measure.  Learn more and register
CMS to present conference call on changes to esrd qip 
CMS will present an August 14, 2018 conference call on changes to the ESRD QIP proposed in the CY 2019 ESRD PPS Proposed RuleView details on the Proposed Rule and comment deadline.

Topics for the call include:
  • ESRD QIP legislative framework
  • Updates to ESRD QIP measures, domain structure, and weights
  • Modifications to data submission requirements
  • NHSN Validation Study
  • Methods for reviewing and commenting on the Proposed Rule
The target audience for the call includes dialysis clinics and organizations, nephrologists, hospitals with dialysis units, billers/coders, quality improvement experts, and other stakeholders. The call will not include a question and answer session.  Register for the call.
update: Py2019 QIP preview period timeline changes
CMS has announced that the PY2019 Preview Period for the ESRD QIP will now begin August 6, 2018, and end September 5, 2018 at 11:59 pm PDT.

Facilities will still have 30 days to review their preliminary PSR and to submit clarification questions or a formal inquiry. CMS encourages all facilities to review their PSRs and to submit clarification questions and formal inquiries in a timely manner. Their current notice does not mention this, but in their earlier notice they urged facilities to submit their clarification questions during the first two weeks of the Preview Period, in order to be assured that their questions will be answered in time for use in formulating their formal inquiry if that is necessary.

For further assistance regarding the information contained in this message, please contact the ESRD QIP Support Team using the ESRD QIP Q&A Tool. If you have questions or concerns regarding use of the ESRD QIP system, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 866-288-8912 Monday through Friday between 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PDT.
July 2018 CROWNWeb newsletter now available
The July 2018 edition of the CROWNWeb Newsletter is now available online. The CROWNWeb Newsletter focuses on user-specific topics, such as training, account management, use of the CROWNWeb system, and tips and tricks, as well as key technical aspects of CROWNWeb.

This month's featured stories include:
  • The Data Quality Scorecard
  • CROWNWeb Reports: Forms
  • CROWNWeb FAQs
CEUOppsEducation and CEU Opportunities
Advanced Renal Education
This educational site provides CEU credits for anyone who completes a course. Register to gain access and complete a course.
American Kidney Fund
The American Kidney Fund offers several online courses that provide free CEs for health care professionals. Learn more
Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality is now offering short, interactive samples of courses to get a feel for how it creates engaging learning experiences that are relevant and applicable to your work improving patient safety. Samples are now available for the following cours es:
  • Patient Safety Certificate Program
  • Human Factors for Patient Safety
  • Becoming a Patient Safety Hero
  • Foundations of CUSP
These samples will work on mobile devices; however, for the best experience use on a laptop or desktop computer. Browse the course catalog for details on all courses, including continuing education credits, learning objectives and costs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Tune In for Safe Healthcare Webinar Series
The CDC has new free continuing education opportunities available through its Tune In for Safe Healthcare webinar series. Webinars include: 
  • Empowering Nurses to Protect Themselves and Their Patients: The Importance of Collaboration between Nurses and Environmental Services
  • Infections in Dialysis Centers: Understanding what Matters to Patients
  • Empowering Nurses for Early Sepsis Recognition
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and Medscape
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) presents a FREE continuing education activity on the following topic:
  • Prevention of Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis with Vaccines

In support of improving patient care, Medscape, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. If you are not a registered user on Medscape, please register for free or login without a password and get unlimited access to all continuing education activities and other Medscape features.

renal physicians association e-Learning portal offers new course
The Renal Physicians Association (RPA) has an eLearning portal that offers a wide variety of courses. The newest course, 2018 Fundamentals of Nephrology Coding and Billing, is now available online. This course will provide a better understanding of the federal and regulatory requirements for proper nephrology coding, billing and documentation. 
ESRDResourcesESRD Resources
Latest edition of KCER Watch is Now Available  
The  July 2018 issue of KCER Watch , the monthly environmental scan that provides timely and pertinent information related to emergency preparedness, is now available. Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) reviews available literature from peer-reviewed journals and emergency and disaster related trade publications; social media postings; and stakeholder websites to identify news and events in the emergency management field that are beneficial to the ESRD community.  The goal of KCER Watch is to facilitate the exchange of information, sharing of resources, and advancement of knowledge and expertise among ESRD and emergency management stakeholders. The Network encourage you to share KCER Watch with your colleagues and patients. 
new dialysis fluid restriction calculator available  
Home Dialysis Central has published a Dialysis Fluid Restriction Calculator to answer the question, "How much can I drink between dialysis sessions?" The calculator is individualized for each patient.  Learn more
Latest edition of The Express is Now Available  
The latest edition of the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) newsletter, The Express, is now available. 
Check out the ESRD NCC Information Exchange
The ESRD Network Coordinating Center (NCC) provides centralized coordination and support for the Medicare ESRD Network program. Each month, the ESRD NCC distributes an e-newsletter, known as the Information Exchange, that compiles the most important information from numerous ListServs and publications related to renal health. To sign up to receive this informative newsletter, please contact the ESRD NCC at ncc@ncc.esrd.net or visit the ESRD NCC website

 
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(610) 265-2418 
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
This bi-weekly e-newsletter will serve as our primary method of communicating important news and updates. We encourage you to visit our Web site for the most up-to-date information or to contact us with questions, comments or suggestions.
 
This material was prepared by Quality Insights Renal Network 4 under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.

Publication No. ESRD4-072618