Quality in Practice - A Monthly Newsletter
April 2009
 
Campaign for Kidney Health
 
Diabetes and CKD: A Free 1 Hour Ethics CME
TMF offers on-site or online continuing education events.
 
Contact us today to schedule "Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Save Their Kidneys," a one-hour CME presentation, in your office or as a Webinar training event. Geared for clinical staff, this presentation covers the scope of preventing, diagnosing and treating kidney disease in the primary care office. TMF consultants can present in-person to your office staff, or you can participate in a real-time, online presentation. Either option is free to physician offices participating in the Campaign for Kidney Health project.
 
Call Virginia Badgley at 1-866-439-8863 to schedule a date, or e-mail us at KidneyHealth@tmf.org. 
 
 
Two Tests Are Better Than One
UACR and eGFR combination more likely to identify patients who will progress to kidney failure.
 
Adding the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio to standard estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) substantially improved diagnostic accuracy, according to researchers in this study. The albumin-to-creatinine ratio roughly indicates progression, while eGFR assesses how advanced the disease is. Read more >>
 
 
Why Early Nephrology Referrals Are Critical
Pre-dialysis care affects survival outlook for ESRD. 
 
Survival rates are higher among patients with end-stage renal disease who received the most nephrology care before starting hemodialysis than those who received the least pre-dialysis care. Read more >>
 
Patients Lack Understanding of Disease, Treatment and Options
Knowledge increased with number of nephrology visits and progression of disease. 
 
One-third of surveyed patients in this study reported limited or no understanding of their chronic kidney disease and no awareness of treatment options. While age and gender didn't affect knowledge, African-Americans reported having significantly less understanding than Asians or Caucasians. (Free Medscape registration required.) Read more >> 

Free CME Webinar: "Nutritional Management of CKD"
Wednesday, April 29, 11:00 a.m. CT  
 
Primary care providers are invited to learn more about the importance of diet in the management of chronic kidney disease, how to prevent malnutrition, and Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy and the referral process. Practical clinical tools will be introduced for clinicians not familiar with kidney disease or dietary counseling. Online registration >> 
 
Doctor's Office Quality - Care Management 
 
Study Calls for Improved E-Prescribing Alerts 
Alerts "may be more of nuisance than an asset" in current state. 
 
Most clinicians will override the automatic alerts generated in their electronic prescribing systems, preferring to rely on their own judgment and knowlege of patient history. Researchers recommend new classification levels and more features for clinicians to customize to increase effectiveness and patient safety. Read more >>

 
EHRs and Other Innovations Can Re-Shape the Patient-Physician Relationship 
Can your technology enhance your patient-centered care model?

The "medical home" concept and pay-for-performance have introduced a new emphasis on patient-centered care that is efficient and high quality. A new commentary explores how electronic health records (EHRs) and other innovations in patient treatment are changing the traditional relationships between patients and their primary care physicians. Read more >>
 
 
CMS Adds New E-Prescibing Web Pages
Bookmark these pages and visit frequently to view updated tools and resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently added two sections to the 2009 Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) Incentive Program area of their Web site.
 
The E-Prescribing Measure section page contains several resources including Measure Specifications, new Claims-Based Reporting Principles and a Sample E-Prescribing Claim.
 
The Educational Resources section page contains E-Prescribing fact sheets, links to Medicare's Practical Guide to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program and information on how to earn continuing education credit related to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program. This page also features recent MLN Matters articles giving a high-level overview of the E-Prescribing program.
 
Upated information is frequently added to the E-Prescribing Incentive Overview pages. Physicians are encouraged to bookmark these sections and visit often for new resources. 
This material was prepared by TMF Health Quality Institute, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Texas, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 9SOW-TX-PRE-09-10
TMF Health Quality Institute is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 
TMF Health Quality Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
The presentation "Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Save Their Kidneys" has been designated by TMF for 1 hour of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibilty.