In This Issue

  • COVID-19 Guidance for the Kidney Community

  • March Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) Learning and Action Networks (LANs)

  • Honoring Organ Donors During Donate Life Month

  • End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) National Coordinating Center (NCC) Caregiver Peer Connection Calls

  • Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Watch Newsletter: Coronavirus Updates
COVID-19 Guidance for the Kidney Community

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working to ensure the health and safety of the nation’s ESRD population. Kidney patients are among the high-risk groups of people with a chronic illness who may experience more serious outcomes due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Healthcare providers are being encouraged to share the latest information and resources with their kidney patients and family members. 

View and Download Resources
CMS Expands Telehealth Services to Help Fight COVID-19

CMS has expanded telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries. The move is an effort to help combat COVID-19. CMS leaders hope that an increase in telehealth services will reduce the number of people exposed to COVID-19. Older adults, ages 65 and older, are at an increased risk of illness. People are urged to call their healthcare provider if they have concerns about COVID-19 and any underlying condition, or if they are sick .

Quality Improvement
Implementation of January 2020 QIA LAN Interventions
The following table provides an overview of the reported implementation rates for the interventions shared during January’s QIA LANs. The data were collected from the March post-LAN evaluation: “If you attended the January meeting or listened to the recording, which of the following QIA LAN interventions did you implement?” Respondents were asked to select all that applied.
Patient and Family Engagement
Honoring Organ Donors During National Donate Life Month
April is National Donate Life Month! Established by Donate Life America, this month encourages Americans to register online as organ, eye, and tissue donors. We must still call attention to the fact that more than 120,000 individuals are still waiting for the gift of life ― an organ transplant.

Patients and healthcare workers are encouraged to participate in National Blue and Green Day on April 17, 2020. To participate, post pictures wearing blue and green to Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #BlueandGreenDay and, as applicable, add a website banner with a direct link to the Donate Life website: https://www.donatelife.net/blue-green-day/ .
ESRD NCC Caregiver Peer Connection Calls
The ESRD NCC is hosting a Caregiver Peer Connection call for kidney patients and caregivers. The call will offer caregivers and care partners an opportunity to ask questions, speak to, and learn from other caregivers about their experiences. The call is for people who:
  • Want to learn more about being a caregiver for someone with kidney disease.
  • Have been thinking about how to take care of themselves as caregivers.
  • Are curious about the experiences of other caregivers.

Thursday, April 9, 2020
  • 3–4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (DST)
  • 2–3:00 p.m. Central DST
  • 12–1:00 p.m. Pacific DST

Event address for attendees : https://bit.ly/2JLDLvf
Event number: 801 320 092
Event password: Connect2020!
Conference dial-in number: 1.844.740.1264
Access code: 801 320 092
Mark Your Calendar
April 1 – 30, National Donate Life Month
Happy National Donate Life Month ! This is the time of year for local, regional, and national activities to help encourage Americans to register online as organ, eye, and tissue donors. It also is a time to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of organ donation. Due to the spreading of COVID-19, organizations are encouraged to cancel all in-person events related to National Donate Life Month.

April 1 – 30, Move More Month
The American Heart Association encourages everyone to move more throughout their Move More Month campaign. The approach is simple: eat smart, add color, be well and, of course, MOVE MORE! Find out how you can safely add more activity to your daily routine even during this time of social distancing.   

April 1 – 30, Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people do the things they want and need to do. They can help people live life to its fullest no matter their health condition, disability, or risk factors. Learn about occupational therapy at the American occupational therapy website.

April 1 – 30, Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Women have higher rates of eye disease, such as cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degermation. Prevent Blindness, a volunteer organization, has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month to educate women about these issues and provide recommendations on how to take care of vision. Learn more at the organization's website:

April 6 – 12, National Public Health Week
The American Public Health Association brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week to recognize the contributions of the public health sector and highlight issues that are important to improving the nation. This week, join others in advocating for positive change.

April 7, World Health Day
April 7 is World Health Day . This celebration creates awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s theme is universal health coverage. The WHO wants to ensure all people and communities have access to quality health services whenever they need them, without suffering a
financial hardship.

April 27 – May 2, World Immunization Week
National Immunization Week promotes the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. This year’s theme is Protected Together: Vaccines Work! The aim of the campaign is to celebrate vaccine heroes ― parents and community members to health workers and innovators ― who help ensure we are all protected through the power
of vaccines.

May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day
World Hand Hygiene Day takes place on May 5, 2020. That day, as declared by the WHO, encourages patients and their family members to join health workers in their efforts to practice good hand hygiene. This year’s World Hand Hygiene Day is more significant as people from around the world attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The WHO says regularly and thoroughly cleaning hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Learn about hand hygiene from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/campaign/ .

May 3 – 9, National Hurricane Preparedness Week
The threats from hurricanes to you and your family can vary widely depending on where you live. It is not just those along the coast that can experience significant, life-threatening impacts. Take some time this week ― Hurricane Preparedness Week ― to evaluate what you need to do to protect your home and family now, before the first storm of the season even forms. Visit hurricanes.gov/prepare .

May 6 – 12, National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. It features a host of events across the United States to honor nurses for the work they do and educates the public about nurses’ role in healthcare. Visit the Nursing World website to learn more: https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/ .

May 10 – 16, National Women’s Health Week
National Women’s Health Week serves as a reminder for women to make their health a priority and build positive health habits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health leads this awareness week and encourages all woman to be as healthy as possible.

May 19, Hepatitis Testing Day
Millions of American have chronic viral hepatitis and most do not know they are infected. Hepatitis Testing Day is an opportunity to remind healthcare providers and the public who should be tested for viral hepatitis. Visit the CDC website to learn more and for information on how to get involved.

May 31, World No Tobacco Day
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. The event is intended to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of second-hand smoke exposure and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form. Visit the WHO website to learn more.     
KCER Watch Newsletter
People with kidney disease and transplant recipients have a higher risk of suffering from COVID-19. Dialysis patients are urged not to miss a dialysis treatment. KCER is working with CMS and other national health agencies to keep the kidney community informed. KCER’s emergency alert webpage is constantly updated with the latest information from government, kidney health professionals, and patient advocate groups.

Visit the KCER Watch webpage to access the latest information on COVID-19 as it relates to the kidney community.
Don’t forget to ‘ Like’ the ESRD NCC on Facebook.
‘ Follow ’ us @ESRDNCC on Twitter.
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This material was prepared the End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center (ESRD NCC) contractor, 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 nor imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. FL-ESRD NCC-7N51TB-04022020-01.