Greetings from QIRN 4
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Welcome to the September 28 edition of the Quality Insights Renal Network 4 (QIRN4) e-newsletter. In this issue, learn about QIRN4's upcoming Annual Meeting, take note of National Preparedness Month resources, a health advisory from the CDC, NHSN updates and much more. We encourage you to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions.
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QIRN4 is hosting its 2nd Annual Meeting with the theme "Teaming up for Success" on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015 at Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA. We invite you all to come and enjoy the experience with us. Register online today. Our headline speaker is Lori Hartwell, founder of the Renal Support Network. This activity has been submitted to Alabama State Nurses Association for approval to award 6 contact hours. Alabama State Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
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CDC Issues Health Advisory
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Advisory on Immediate Need for Healthcare Facilities to Review Procedures for Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sterilizing Reusable Medical Devices. All healthcare facilities that utilize reusable medical devices are urged to (1) immediately review current reprocessing practices at their facility to ensure they are complying with all steps as directed by the device manufacturers, and (2) have a qualified professional audit policies and procedures that are consistent with current standards and guidelines. Read the full Health Advisory, which includes an extensive list of more detailed recommendations.
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Emergency Preparedness Resources
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National Preparedness Month: America's PrepareAthon!
September is National Preparedness Month. This year, we are asking you to take action by making a plan with your community, your family, and for your pets. Plan how to stay safe and communicate during the disasters that can affect your community. We ask everyone to participate in America's PrepareAthon! and the national day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, which culminates National Preparedness Month on September 30. To participate, form a team for your facility and join the America's PrepareAthon! event.
2015 Remaining Weekly Hazard Themes for National Preparedness Month
Week 4: September 20 - 26 (Power Outage - English/Spanish)
Week 5: September 27 - 30 (Lead up to National PrepareAthon! Day on September 30)
Kidney Disaster Awareness Week Resources
Monday, Sept. 21 - KCER Emergency Information Handout (English/Spanish)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 - KCER Vital Information Wallet Card
Wednesday, Sept. 23 - Flu Preparedness (English/Spanish)
Thursday, Sept. 24 - Resources for Kids (English/Spanish)
Friday, Sept. 25 - Three Day Emergency Diet (English/Spanish)
Additional Resources
America's PrepareAthon! - Alerts and Warnings
America's PrepareAthon! - Safeguarding Valuables
Wildfire Resources (English)
Wildfire Resources (Spanish)
Emergency Information Form (English)
Emergency Information Form (Spanish)
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"One is Too Many": Join the QIRN4 Catheter Removal Campaign
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Using only a catheter for dialysis can create risks for infection and hospitalization. QIRN4 has a goal to have 350 central venous catheters (CVCs) removed in Network facilities by September 30. Join us by pledging your facility's CVC removal goal today.
Join the QIRN4 "One is Too Many" catheter removal campaign by pledging here today.
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Resource Spotlight: QIP - What does it mean to me?
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NKF Peer Support for Living Donation
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The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Peers program now also offers peer support to those considering living kidney donation and those who have already donated a kidney, in addition to their traditional support helping people adjust to living with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or a kidney transplant, and people considering home dialysis. The program is free, national in scope, and telephone-based (toll-free). To seek support or volunteer to help others, learn more.
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Updated NHSN Dialysis Event Protocol
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The September 2015 update of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Protocol is now available. This training should be completed annually by NHSN users, facility administrators, clinic managers and data managers. Learn more. |
Healthcare Personnel Safety Component (HPS)/Influenza Vaccination
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Reporting to this new ESRD Quality Incentive Payment measure begins October 1st. Remember - the reporting incorporates in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis units.
A few reminders:
- If your facility has not already done so, join NHSN. Learn more.
- NHSN members need to join the Network Group. Learn more.
- Activate the HPS Component [slides 16-19]. Learn more.
- Confer rights to Network 4.
- Once you activate the HPS Component, a link will appear on the HPS Component Home page 'rights not accepted'.
- Click on this link, go to the bottom of the page and click Accept.
If you have any questions about these processes, please contact Jeannette Shrift at jshrift@nw4.esrd.net.
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ESRD NCC Free Webinar: "Achieving Catheter Freedom: A Team Approach"
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 The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) is offering a Fistula First Catheter Last (FFCL) Learning and Action Network (LAN) Webinar Event, "Achieving Catheter Freedom: A Team Approach." The webinar will be held on October 22, 2015 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET and is available free of charge. Nurses and technicians can receive 1.0 CE. More than 90% of ESRD patients use hemodialysis for renal replacement therapy and have one or more vascular accesses in place. Decreasing the use of hemodialysis catheters and maximizing the health and maintenance of existing arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) or arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) continues to be a challenge for the dialysis community. Experts from the FFCL Workgroup Coalition will present on the team approach to catheter safety, access planning and coordination, and vascular access monitoring. Information will be provided on the tools and educational resources available to patients and dialysis care teams (DCTs) to help manage and protect a patient's Lifeline for a Lifetime. Registration for this event can be found online. The webinar is available free of charge. Read the entire announcement.
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QIRN4 Contest Announcement: Hand Hygiene Video
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 Get your creative juices flowing. QIRN4 is asking your facility to develop a short music video using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hand Hygiene protocol. The facility with the winning video will receive a tailgate party and the video will be shown during QIRN4's Annual Meeting on October 27th at Sevens Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, PA. The winning video may also be shared with the entire Network as a fun educational video for staff and patients. The winner will be selected and notified prior to the Annual Meeting. Contest Rules- Make it fun. Videos can be funny, have a catchy original tune, be a parody of an existing song, include lip-syncing to a song, etc. Videos can include one individual or a group from your facility.
- Keep it professional. All language, music, clothing and dance (if any) must be in accordance with professional behavior. Due to privacy issues, no patients are allowed to participate or appear in the video. This includes the video background as well. Adhere to CDC protocol.
- Keep it short. The length of the video must not exceed 4 minutes.
- Keep it simple. No special equipment is necessary. Shoot this video on your phone, tablet, digital camera or any device that will allow you to upload it to a computer.
- Submit the video to the Network no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 27th.
Check out the following Hand Hygiene reference documents to help keep you on track. If you have any questions, please contact us.
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Get Certified through the QIRN4 emBRACE Program
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 The emBRACE program is a five step Certification Program for dialysis providers to improve patient engagement. Facilities that enroll and complete this program will be recognized by QIRN4 for their exemplary work and best practices. This Network certification will acknowledge the dedication to excel in providing outstanding patient engagement at the facility level. Facilities must complete all steps by October 5, 2015 to receive certification at the QIRN4 annual meeting. Ready to enroll?
For more information, contact QIRN4's Patient Services Director, Paul Gordon at 610-265-2418 ext. 2830.
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Kidney Walk Kick Off Parties a Success
Kidney Walk Kick Off parties in Philadelphia, PA, Wilmington, DE, and West Chester, PA were a success. Walkers enjoyed complimentary appetizers, collected Walk fundraising materials, chatted with National Kidney Foundation (NKF) staff members and other walkers. Prizes included a NKF Swag Bag, Tiffany & Co. earrings and restaurant gift cards. Did you miss one of our Kick Off Parties?
There's still time to register for the Kidney Walk.
Are you a Runner?Team Kidney is the National Kidney Foundation's new endurance program where you can run, jump ride, swim - anything that makes you sweat- to raise funds to enhance the lives of everyone with or at risk of kidney disease. Whether you participate in honor of someone or you yourself have kidney disease, Team Kidney will be with you every step of your training. Upcoming Events
Tough Mudder: October 17th & 18th - Coatesville, PA
Philadelphia Marathon: November 21st & 22nd - Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Love Run: March 2016 - Philadelphia, PA
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ESRD NCC Free Webinar: "Eliminating BSI in Dialysis Part 2 - Creating a Culture of Safety"
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 The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) is offering a sixth National Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Learning and Action Network (LAN) webinar event, " Eliminating Blood Stream Infections (BSI) in Dialysis, Part Two: Creating a Culture of Safety." The webinar will be held on September 29, 2015 at 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET and is available free of charge. Nurses and technicians can receive 1.0 CE. This event will discuss the effect of BSI on the dialysis population, review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended practices to eliminate BSI, and discuss how the creation of a "Culture of Safety" is proven to effectively eliminate healthcare associated infections in the healthcare setting. The presentation has been developed in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CDC, and the ESRD Networks. It will feature nationally recognized subject matter experts in the field of infection control, who are dedicated to eliminating healthcare acquired infections. Registration for this event can be found online. The webinar is available free of charge. Read the entire announcement.
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Q2 CMS ESRD NHSN Reporting Deadline
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The upcoming quarter 2 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2015. The latest Newsblast from the NHSN contains detailed information on how to successfully report Q2 NHSN data.
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Kidney Donation and Transplant FAQs
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QIRN4 has developed the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) flyers to help patients learn more about kidney donation and preparing for a kidney transplant. We encourage you to print these flyers and post them in your facilities.
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Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events
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Thirty-Six Horizons in Dialysis
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Sponsored by the Renal Round Table and the American Nephrology Nurses Association, Three Rivers Chapter 104, Thirty-Six Horizons in Dialysis will provide an update on the clinical, psycho-social and dietary aspects of care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sunday, October 4, 2015
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Champion, PA
Learn more by downloading the event brochure.
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The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) will be hosting its annual Fall Meeting October 10-12, 2015 at the J.W. Marriott in Austin, Texas. The ANNA Fall Meeting provides opportunities for nephrology nurses to expand their knowledge, enhance clinical skills and widen professional networks. ANNA is also pleased to offer a special $20 discount code for nurses within QIRN4.
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Dialysis Facility Medical Directors Symposium
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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.
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MLN Connects National Provider Call: Rollout of Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating
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The MLN Connects™ National Provider Call will provide stakeholders with an update on the following:
- The first year of Dialysis Facility Compare star ratings
- Future plans for Dialysis Facility Compare and the star ratings
CMS adopted star ratings across all Medicare.gov Compare websites to help consumers understand the website's information and make more informed decisions about where to get healthcare.
- The CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality worked with their contractor the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center to launch star ratings for the first time on January 15, 2015.
- The Dialysis Facility Compare star ratings reflect the overall quality of each dialysis facility.
In April, 2015 the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center convened a Technical Expert Panel to solicit recommendations regarding the star rating statistical methodology, the measures used in the star ratings (including the consideration of measures for retirement and future implementation), and the presentation of the star ratings on the DFC website. This National Provider Call will discuss the history of Dialysis Facility Compare start ratings, the first year of star ratings, the future of Dialysis Facility Compare and star ratings.
- Dialysis clinics and organizations, nephrologists, ESRD Networks, hospitals with dialysis units, billers/coders, quality improvement experts, and other interested stakeholders are invited.
Please register for the following National Provider Call: Rollout of Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Time: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (ET) To Register: Visit MLN Connects™ Upcoming Calls
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Free Kidney Transplant Lunch and Learns
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QIRN4 is committed to sharing all upcoming educational opportunities with the ESRD community. Learn more about free kidney transplant lunch and learn sessions on October 4, 2015 and November 15, 2015. Please share this event flyer with your patients.
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Submit Your Emergency Preparedness Articles
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Our focus at QIRN4 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.
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ESRD NCC Information Exchange
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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 QIRN4 website for updates that include material from the Information Exchange.
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