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Greetings from qirn4 
Welcome to the April 1 edition of the Quality Insights Renal Network 4 (QIRN4) e-newsletter. In this issue, we bring you information about CROWNWeb Data Management Guidelines, an inspirational kidney transplant story, NHSN reporting deadlines, ESRD events, resources and much more. We encourage you to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions. 
PARTdon't forget to do your part
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CROWNWeb Data Management Guidelines earlier this year. These guidelines describe CMS' expectations for the management of data in CROWNWeb. Starting immediately, the Network will begin monitoring the completion of your PART in CROWNWeb. By the fifth business day of each month a CROWNWeb user must log into CROWNWeb and verify the data on the Patient Attributes and Related Treatments (PART) screen for your facility. By doing so you'll ensure that the following information is correct:
  • Patient census
  • Admits/discharges status
  • Current treatment summary
  • Patients' current attending physician

Verifying data on the PART screen helps with reducing the number of patients who fall into what is known as a "gap" status. Additionally, reviewing these data indirectly supports the CMS-2744 form completion.


The State Survey Agency will be notified after a facility misses the PART deadline three times. PART training is available here.

KidneyStoryWith little hope for life-saving transplant, woman gets kidney in unique procedure
Check out this inspirational story from the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) News Center, written by Sharon Parmet. 
NHSNDeadlinecms reporting deadline is aPproaching for nhsn dialysis event surveillance: march 31
To meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) ESRD QIP National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting requirements for Payment Year 2017, outpatient hemodialysis clinics must submit their fourth quarter 2015 Dialysis Event data collected from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, by Thursday, March 31. New or revised fourth quarter data entered into NHSN after March 31 will not be sent to CMS. Therefore, please be aware that any changes or corrections to fourth quarter 2015 data should be made prior to the reporting deadline. Review the newsblast for information to help ensure your data are complete and accurate before the March 31 deadline. Contact the NHSN Helpdesk with the subject line 'Dialysis' with any questions.


NKFSpringMeetingRegistration for NKF's Spring Clinical Meetings is now open
The National Kidney Foundation's Spring Clinical Meetings 2016 present a unique opportunity for busy renal health care providers to learn new developments related to all aspects of nephrology. Registration is now open. 

ANNASymposiumANNA NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD IN MAY
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) will be hosting its 47th National Symposium May 1 - 4 at the Marriott Louisville and Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY. The symposium provides opportunities for nephrology nurses to expand their knowledge, enhance clinical skills, and widen professional networks. For more information, visit www.annasymposium.org. 
KidneyFoundationofCentralPAThe Kidney foundation of central pa presents annual professional symposium
In partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania presents its Annual Professional Symposium/Update on Chronic Kidney Disease on April 19 at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This program is designed to update nephrologists, physician assistants, certified registered nurse practitioners, dialysis nurses and technicians, renal social workers, renal dieticians, and other interested health care professionals on recent medical advances in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease. Other event sponsors are Pinnacle Health and the Lancaster General Health Essa E. Flory Renal Dialysis Endowment. Presentation of the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania Founders' Club Award for Clinical Excellence (ACE) will take place at the conference. The ACE Award was created to recognize the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania's commitment to the advancement and promotion of renal professionals living and working in our 28-county region. By casting a spotlight on the accomplishments of these outstanding professionals, the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania looks to honor those who have made a positive and lasting impact on the delivery of care to people living with kidney disease. Learn more and register today. 

CNSWCNSW of Eastern PA and DE spring program is announced
The Council of Nephrology Social Workers (CNSW) of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware has announced its upcoming spring program for Wednesday, April 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.  The program will take place at the Community Center at Giant, located at 315 York Road, Willow Grove, PA. 5.0 CEUs will be offered, pending approval. The cost of registration is $50. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Register today or learn more and view the agenda. 

PKDPKD National Convention to be held in June
The Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) National Convention will be held June 24-26 in Orlando, FL. The registration fee is reduced if you register by May 5. For ongoing details, visit the PKD Foundation website. 
ESRDResourcesESRD resources  
 
ISHD Offers New Online Manual
The International Society for Hemodialysis (ISHD) offers a 282-page online practical manual, Implementing Hemodialysis in the Home, free on its website. 
The manual can also be purchased from Amazon.

New Podcast Series Addresses Conversations about End-of-Life Care
Providing high-quality end-of-life care is a major commitment and responsibility faced by millions of health care professionals every day. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have partnered with ReachMD to broadcast a new podcast series for health care professionals based on the 2015 Institute of Medicine report Dying in America: Improving Quality and Honoring Individual Preferences Near the End of Life.

In this series, sponsored by the National Academy of Medicine, hear about various aspects of end of life care from the perspective of experts in the field. Topics include palliative care, interdisciplinary teamwork, clinician-patient communication and advance care planning, and policies and payment systems for care near the end of life.

The Dying in America: Conversations About Care at the End of Life podcast series can be found on the ReachMD website, and also on iHeartRadio, Tunein, Stitcher, and iTunes.  

MEI Updates Patient Video Series
The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has updated its video series How to Have a Good Future with Kidney Disease. The videos accompany an updated free, downloadable slide toolkit to help professionals engage people at any stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in slowing disease progression, choosing a treatment for kidney failure (when appropriate), and setting life goals. The 6-part series covers coming to terms with kidney disease, what kidneys do, slowing CKD, transplant, dialysis, lifestyle, and finances.  Professionals can refer patients to the videos, or use the videos themselves to learn how to present the slides.

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 ncc@ncc.esrd.net or visit the ESRD NCC website. 


ContactsQIRN4 Staff

Executive Director
Quality Improvement Director
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Patient Services Coordinator
Data Manager
Administrative Assistant
610 Freedom Business Center,
Suite 102
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 265-2418
(800) 548-9205 (patients only)
(610) 783-0374 (fax)
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.

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. ESRD4-033116