QIRN4 Develops Hospitalized Patients Blood Culture Tracking Tool
Through an initiative of the QIRN4 healthcare-associated infections (HAI) learning and action network (LAN), a blood culture tracking tool has been developed for use with hospitalized patients. CMS is launching an initiative to improve the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data quality related to the reporting of positive blood cultures (PBCs) obtained within 1 day of hospitalization. The use of this tool is NOT a requirement, but we encourage you to
review this tool to determine if would be of value to use in your facility to increase PBC reporting.
New Booklet on Palliative Care for Children is Available
The NIH National Institute of Nursing Research provides a booklet for families regarding supportive medical and non-medical care for children suffering from a chronic disease such as CKD, called
Palliative Care for Children: Support for the Whole Family When Your Child Is Living with a Serious Illness.
Download a copy.
National Kidney Foundation Develops New Website for Hispanic/Latino Cultural Concerns
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has created a new website addressing cultural concerns that Hispanic/Latino patients, donors, family, and friends may have about kidney transplantation, including cultural misconceptions, treatment options, steps to become a living donor, risks and benefits of donation, financial issues, and immigrant issues. The
website is available in both English and Spanish.
Living Donor Financial Assistance is Available
The National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance for living donors to travel to the transplant center for their evaluation, surgical procedure, and medical follow-up appointments. Approved applicants receive a controlled value card to pay for their travel, lodging, and food up to a total of $6,000. Eligibility is based on the recipient's household income. For more information, call (888) 870-5002 or
visit the website.
Find Important Social Security Forms Here
The Social Security Administration's website has many forms you can download, print and fill out. Available forms include applications for disability benefits and child's insurance benefits, enrolling in Medicare, appealing a medical decision and requesting a waiver on an overpayment. Of course, you can also
apply for benefits and take care of other Social Security business
online. For more information, read Disability.gov's
Guide to Disability Benefits or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or your
local Social Security office.
Check out the 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
[email protected] or visit the
ESRD NCC website.