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.

Important Save the Date: Mandatory QIRN 4 Council Meeting

A mandatory QIRN 4 Council Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 at 2:00 p.m. An encore meeting will be held the following day on Thursday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. for anyone who was not able to attend on Wednesday. All facilities must have staff representation at one of the meetings.

Participant Number: (866) 951-1151
Participant Access Code: 539890865

Important Announcement from CMS

A memo was recently issued regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) plans to release a new user system for the ESRD QIP and related programs. This system, which will be known as "ESRD QIP 1.0.0," and replaces the DialysisReports.org interface that was discontinued earlier this year. ESRD QIP 1.0.0 will provide a portal for dialysis facility staff to access public reporting documents and participate in the annual Preview Period. Additionally, appropriate corporate personnel and ESRD Network staff will be able to access facility data.

CMS will provide information about the Preview Period, including guidance for using ESRD QIP 1.0.0, to the stakeholder community as part of a National Provider Call on July 9, 2015. Register for the call.

CMS expects that ESRD QIP 1.0.0 will be operational in time for the July 15 start of the PY2016 Preview Period, and it plans to provide training opportunities for users. Further guidance will be released over the next several weeks. Authorized users will access QIP 1.0.0 through the QualityNet.org portal. Existing CROWNWeb Facility Administrators will be assigned by default to the "QIP Facility Viewer" role in the QIP 1.0.0 System. Others will be required to establish their own ESRD QIP 1.0.0 accounts through an application process to be described soon.

Please take a moment to review this memo, and share it with the appropriate individuals at your facility and in your organization.

If you have any questions about this memo, they can be directed to the QualityNet Help Desk. Assistance is available by calling (866) 288-8912 or contacting qnetsupport-esrd@sdps.org.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

NCC Webinar Encore: Eliminating Blood Stream Infection in Patients with Dialysis Catheter: A Matter of Life and Death

The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) will offer on June 11, 2015 a repeat of its free webinar on Eliminating Blood Stream Infection in Patients with a Dialysis Catheter: A Matter of Life and Death, providing 1.0 CE hours for nurses and technicians. Learn more. A CE-enabled recording of the earlier presentation is also available.

CMS National Provider Call

On July 29, 2015, CMS will hold a National Provider Call about the PY 2019 Quality Incentive Program. Proposed measures, standards, scoring methodology, and payment reduction scale for PY 2019, and methods for reviewing and commenting on the proposed rule will be covered. Learn more.

National Kidney Foundation Walks Near You

The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk is the nation's largest walk to fight kidney disease. Held in nearly 100 communities, the event raises awareness and funds lifesaving programs that educate and support patients, their families and those at risk.

Check out these upcoming walks in Pennsylvania and Delaware:

Sunday, October 11: Wilmington Kidney Walk

Sunday, October 11: Philadelphia Kidney Walk

Saturday, October 24: Chester County Kidney Walk

Dialysis Facility Medical Directors Symposium

The National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) and the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) will collaborate on a workshop for dialysis facility medical directors. With a shared vision and commitment to patient-centered care, the NRAA and RPA will hold the Dialysis Facility Medical Directors Symposium, October 9-10, 2015, in Orlando, Florida. CMEs will be offered during the workshops for physicians seeking to maintain licensure and certification.

The symposium is part of the 2015 NRAA Annual Fall Conference hosted at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista on October 7-10. To find out more information on the Dialysis Facility Medical Directors Symposium and 2015 NRAA Annual Fall Conference please visit the NRAA Meetings Page. More details coming soon. Registration opens in June.

Save the Date: QIRN 4 Annual Meeting

QIRN 4 Annual Meeting

October 27, 2015

Seven Springs, PA

Patient Testimonial: Lou Yang

My name is Lou Yang and I am a 73 year old kidney transplant survivor. I was told I would need dialysis when I was around 52 years old. I was told I would not live past 8 months if I did not go on dialysis. I did not believe my doctors, so I did not go on dialysis. I started to have
difficulty breathing about a month after refusing dialysis. I remember sitting up in the living room sofa to sleep at night. One night, I called my son and told him that I felt as though I was going to die. My son took me to the
hospital and that was the beginning of my dialysis
journey.

I remember my doctors and nurses asking me if I wanted to go talk to a transplant center about being evaluated to see if I would be able to get on a kidney transplant list. I am thankful my doctors and nurses encouraged me because I did not know there was anything else to clean my blood except for coming to the dialysis center. Within the first year of dialysis, I was evaluated by the transplant center and was on a waiting list. About 2-3 years into receiving in-center hemodialysis, I needed to change treatment modality. I went to peritoneal dialysis (PD) and
was on PD for almost 3 more years. I thought to myself, "It's been a while...why have I not received a call from the transplant center?" I started asking questions, and about 2-3 weeks later, I started receiving calls from the transplant center. In the summer of 2000, I received a
kidney and had a kidney transplant at Hershey Medical Center. I just had my 6 months visit with my kidney doctor and he said my kidney is very good.

I am thankful for another chance to do the things I love. I look forward to spring because I can garden every day! I still remember those days after my dialysis treatments where I was tired and my legs would often cramp. Even though I have to take post-transplant medications every
day, it's better than dialysis.

My advice to those who are still deciding if they want to go talked to a transplant center is this, "You have to get in line. If you don't get in line, you will never know."

We're Looking for Patient Representatives

QIRN 4 is looking for a few good Patient Representatives. Please post this flyer in your dialysis facilities to encourage patients to get involved.

Learn More About the QIRN 4 Grievance Process

Download this flyer to learn more about QIRN 4's Grievance Process .

Upcoming Reporting Deadline for Quarter 1 CMS ESRD QIP: June 30, 2015

The Quarter 1 deadline for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) rule for calendar year 2015 (payment year 2017) is right around the corner.

Report 1st Quarter 2015 data to NHSN by

Tuesday, June 30, 2015.

Facilities reporting to NHSN should report all 3 months of data by June 30, 2015 in order to receive full credit for Quarter 1 reporting and to meet all minimum requirements for the CMS ESRD QIP. Learn more.

FREE CME/CE from the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is offering a FREE CME/CE opportunity for Challenges in Lipid Management: Addressing High-Risk Patients and the Potential for Novel Therapies. Learn more.

ANNA Core Curriculum Revised

The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) has revised its Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing, now in its sixth edition. The previous version dates from 2008. The six online and print modules may be purchased separately, or as a set (for half price), and in total offer more than 50 CE contact hours. Learn more.

ANNA Completes Online Tools for Non-Nephrology and Non-Dialysis Healthcare Personnel

ANNA has completed a series of online tools to educate non-nephrology and non-dialysis healthcare personnel in caring for CKD patients. The seven modules are cumulatively worth 7.8 CE hours. The modules will be available online through mid-April 2017. Find them here.

Join a Technical Expert Panel

Are you interested in making a difference in renal care? Consider becoming a volunteer Technical Expert Panel Member. CMS is looking for members for special projects. Learn more. If you wish to nominate yourself or other individuals for consideration, please complete the form found on the website and email it with your CV and letter of interest to: dialysisdata@umich.edu by close of business (5:00 p.m. ET) on June 18, 2015.

Vascular Access Education Spotlight: Going to See the Surgeon

Why should you go to see a surgeon before your access surgery is scheduled? Learn more about this important step by visiting page 7 of the Lifeline for a Lifetime: Planning for Your Vascular Access Manual.

NHSN Education Spotlight: Reporting on Prevention Process Measures

Learn more about Dialysis Prevention Process Measures from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

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

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King of Prussia, PA 19406
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