Quality Insights Renal Network 4 (QIRN 4) is committed to providing valuable resources like this e-newsletter that help improve the quality of renal care in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Please contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions.

QIRN 4 Gets Social

QIRN 4 is now on Facebook and Twitter. Check out our social media feeds for news and updates regularly.

Clinical Months Close January 31

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will close the October-December 2014 clinical months in CROWNWeb on January 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. ET. All available clinical data for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and vascular access patients are required to be entered for October 2014-December 2014. This applies to all facilities.

If data are not available, please select "N/A." If data are in a "Saved" status, be sure to "Submit."

2014 Annual Facility Survey (CMS-2744)

With the close of the 2014 calendar year, facilities should begin preparing for the 2014 Annual Facility Survey, which all facilities are required to complete in CROWNWeb. All 2014 treatments, admissions, discharges and CMS forms should be entered before February 15, 2015. Facilities should also create their initial draft of the CMS-2744 in CROWNWeb by February 15. Final submission of the CMS-2744 needs to be completed no later than April 1, 2015.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Get started early. The CMS-2744 process is time-consuming, so getting started early is essential to completing the survey on time.
When generating your initial draft of the CMS-2744, be sure that you are selecting 2014 as the year and NOT 2015. Everyone should be completing the 2014 CMS-2744.
When entering your treatment information under the appropriate section on the form, you should be entering the total number of hemodialysis and other treatments for the year, NOT the total number of patients.
Visit www.projectcrownweb.org for additional information on how to successfully complete your 2014 CMS-2744.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

CMS National Provider Call

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a National Provider Call to provide an overview of the final rule that operationalizes the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) for Payment Years (PY) 2017 and 2018. The performance period for PY 2017 will begin on January 1, 2015. Register today.

Save the Date: Update on Kidney Disease

Update on Kidney Disease
Sponsored by the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania (KFCP)

April 21, 2015
8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Hershey Hotel

Hershey, PA

Save the Date: QIRN 4 Annual Meeting

QIRN 4 Annual Meeting

October 27, 2015

Seven Springs, PA

Facility Status Reporting Tool

PLEASE REMEMBER:
In the event of inclement weather that causes an alteration in your treatment schedule, please report your facility's status here. For questions, please contact the Network at (610) 265-2418.

Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority is Now on Facebook

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has developed a Facebook page.

Click on the link above, sign in and "Like" the page to receive the latest Authority news and updates on Facebook.

Free Webinar on Engaging Patients to Eliminate HAIs

The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) is offering a National Healthcare-Associated Infections Learning and Action Network event, The Patient: Engaging the Most Important Member of Your Infection Prevention Team. This FREE 1-hour webinar will be held on January 27 at 4:00 p.m. Nurses and technicians can earn 1.0 CEs. Learn more and register.

HHQI National Campaign Offers Free HAI Resources

The Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign recently posted an Immunization & Infection Prevention Best Practice Intervention Package (BPIP). To access this information, you'll need to register on the HHQI site, which is free.

Main Package Resources section:

General infection prevention information for HHAs (pp. 63-72 of the full BPIP)

Infection Prevention Resources section (1-page info sheets):

HAI Key Points: CAUTI (Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections)
HAI Key Points: CDI (Clostridium Difficile Infection)
HAI Key Points: SSI (Surgical Site Infections)
HAI Key Points: MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
Infection Test & Answer Key

For more information, please contact hhqi@wvmi.org.

Submit Your Emergency 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.

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.

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.

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. ESRD4-011915