Quality Insights Renal Network 4 (QIRN 4) is committed to providing valuable resources that help improve the quality of renal care in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

We encourage you to visit our Web site for the most up-to-date information or to contact us with questions, comments or suggestions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In an effort to bring you the most important information in the most convenient way, we have started to send our newsletter on a bi-weekly basis. Look for important updates about alerts and recalls, Quality Incentive Program news, Infection Prevention updates, and much more in your inbox every other week.

*This will serve as our primary method of communicating important news and updates.

Sincerely,
Your QIRN 4 Team

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

Mandatory Network Council Meeting

September 24, 2014 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Presenters:

Tish Lawson, Executive Director will present a brief Network update
Terry Holland, Transplant Coordinator from Penn Transplant Institute will present on UNOS Kidney Allocation Policy Changes

Each facility is to have a network council representative on the call. Thank you for your participation.

Webinar Information:

Meeting Password: meeting

Teleconference: 866-951-1151. Teleconference access code: 5505276. Please join us 15 minutes prior to the presentation to ensure the automatic system set-up has been properly established.

Attendee Instructions:

Click or Copy and Paste this to your web browser: https://qualitynet.webex.com
Locate the event you wish to join
Click on Join Now (located to the right of the event title)
Enter your name and email address as prompted
Enter the password: meeting
Dial in to the teleconference. The number is 866-951-1151. The access code is 5505276.

If you have any questions or problems accessing the meeting, please call the General Dynamics Information Technology WebEx Helpline at 540-347-7400 x390.

Cannulation Crossroads (Eastern PA)

October 16, 2014

Giant Super Food Store

315 York Road

Willow Grove, PA 19090

Learn more and register today.

Mini Cannulation Crossroads (Western PA)

Presented by Diane Peck, RN CNN

Nurse Education Manager

Lifeline Vascular Access

October 5, 2014

Diane Peck is one of the speakers for the 35th Annual Horizons in Dialysis event held at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, PA. See the brochure for registration information and other presentations.

Kidney Transplant Goes Well for Pair from Bucks Church

The following story was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer last month. Learn more about the success of a kidney transplant surgery for two young men at a Camden hospital.

Forum of ESRD Networks Seeks Feedback on Care Transitions

The Forum of ESRD Networks is creating a resource for providers regarding the unique transitions of care that are experienced by ESRD patients. We are interested in what transitions are considered most challenging by clinicians, providers, patients and others. We would like you to assist us by completing a short survey and particularly would like your comments on why a particular transition is or is not challenging from your perspective. We thank you in advance for your help and believe that understanding the differences in perspectives among all parties will help us understand how to better serve ESRD patients.

Cynthia Kristensen, MD

Chair, Care Transitions Toolkit Committee

Past President, Forum of ESRD Networks

QIRN 4 Website Updates

Monthly Vascular Access and General Education Materials Posted

Monthly vascular access and general education materials are now posted on the QIRN 4 website for your convenience.

Provider Resources

Patient Education

New Patients Materials Posted

New patients can now access an ESRD New Patient Orientation Packet from the QIRN 4 website. New Patient Orientation Packets can take up to 30 days for home delivery, so we hope you can encourage your new patients to visit our website so that they can access these important materials prior to the mail delivery of their personal packets.

Emergency Preparedness Updates

Submit Your Disaster Preparedness Articles

Our focus at QIRN 4 is to "Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare." If you have any disaster preparedness articles or links, please e-mail your information to dknight@nw4.esrd.net so it may be posted in our bi-weekly newsletter.

All Emergency Management Coordinators Invited to Upcoming Mock Emergency Drill with Robert Grant

All Emergency Management Coordinators are invited to the upcoming QIRN 4 Emergency Management Coordinator Meeting and Mock Drill.

Robert Grant, a patient and one of our subject matter experts, has more than 20 years of emergency management experience and has been working with us to develop the mock emergency drill.

Mr. Grant will assist us in presenting the mock drill on September 23, 2014 from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. and again from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. Click on the link to your desired attendance time for call information. The scenario for the mock drill is sudden water loss. We will be offering two sessions on the same day.

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month with the theme "Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare." The campaign's goal is to have all facilities, facility staff and their families become aware and prepare for a disaster.
QIRN 4 has posted a robust collection of emergency preparedness information on its website.

We will focus on the following topics during the month of September in order to increase disaster awareness and preparedness.

Week 1: Reconnect with Family after a Disaster
Week 2: Plan for Specific Needs before a Disaster
Week 3: Build an Emergency Kit
Week 4 & 5: Practice for an Emergency

Visit the QIRN 4 website for more information and resources.

Congratulations Are in Order

QIRN 4 congratulates DaVita Oak Spring for achieving 5-Diamond status as well as completing the emBRACE program.

QIRN 4 also congratulates DSI Seaford for renewing its 5- Diamond status.

ESRD NCC Offers National HAI LAN Event

The End Stage Renal Disease Network Coordinating Center (ESRD NCC) is offering a National Healthcare Associated Infections Learning and Action Network (HAI LAN) event, Aiming for 100%: What You Should Know to Increase Your Patient's Willingness to Take the Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccines. The webinar will be held on September 30, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET and is available free of charge.

This event will educate ESRD care providers and other members of the ESRD community about the current rate of vaccination within the ESRD population, the efficacy of these vaccines, and new findings related to their use. It will also assist in developing strategies to help patients who normally refuse the vaccines make good choices for their health.

The event has been developed in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the ESRD Networks. Nurses and technicians can receive 1.0 CEs through the Northwest Renal Network (Network 16), provider # CEP 16217, which is certified through the California Board of Registered Nurses. The NCC appreciates Network 16's collaboration, which allows these CEs to be offered. Registration for this event is available online, National HAI LAN Event: Immunization.

For more information, please contact the ESRD NCC at 516-209-5253 or email ncc@ncc.esrd.net.

NHSN Data Reporting

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) second quarter data will close September 30, 2014. PLEASE NOTE: Any second quarter data that is entered after September 30th will not be accepted by CMS. Only data entered into NHSN by the quarterly deadline is what is reported to CMS. Keep in mind, the website does allow for data to be edited, but any edits performed after September 30th will not be reported to CMS.

Get directions on how to generate your report to validate the facility's NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance required reporting.

Featured Continuing Education Opportunities

National Kidney Foundation

Clinical Aspects of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Chronic Kidney Disease

This free CME/CE On-Demand webcast provides current information about the emerging clinical significance of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a major modifier of bone mineral metabolism, and studies linking FGF23 to adverse renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Earn 1.5 CME/CE credits/contact hours

For more information call 800-622-9010 or visit www.kidney.org.

American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA)

Nephrology Certification Review Course

ANNA Keystone Chapter is offering a Nephrology Certification Review class on Saturday September 20, 2014 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Location:
Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
5501 Old York Road
Braemer Conference Center
Gouley Conference Room

Earn 6.25 contact hours and 1.25 RX minutes.

CROWNWeb Updates

CMS recently released the following memorandum about CROWNWeb clinical months closing monthly beginning on January 31, 2015. View the memorandum for details.

Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating System Delayed

CMS believes that star ratings will empower consumers and encourage providers to strive for higher levels of quality in health care. Please review this document regarding the implementation of the Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) star ratings system. Please email questions to Elena Balovlenkov, DFC Lead, at elena.balovlenkov@cms.hhs.gov.

Infection Prevention Updates

Core Interventions for Dialysis Bloodstream Infection (BSI) Prevention are Now Available

Learn more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approach to BSI prevention in dialysis facilities.

Dialysis Patients Speak: A Conversation about the Importance of AV Fistulas

Watch this video about hemodialysis patients and their experience with AV Fistulas.

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 Web site. You can also check the QIRN 4 website for updates that include material from the Information Exchange.

Quality Insights Renal Network 4

630 Freedom Business Center, Suite 116
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-265-2418

800-548-9205 (patients only)

610-783-0374 (fax)

www.qirn4.org

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. ESRD4-091114