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Welcome to the May 19 edition of the Quality Insights Renal Network 4 (QIRN4) e-newsletter. In this issue, we bring you information about what to do if you hear community alert sirens, how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, ESRD events, resources and much more. We encourage you to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions. 
CommunityAlertsDo you know what to do if you hear community alert sirens? 
Do you live in South and Southwest Philadelphia? If so, what do you do if you hear the community alert sirens? 
The following information regarding the Community Alert Siren System is intended for residents and businesses in South and Southwest Philadelphia nearest the refinery to advise everyone what to do when the sirens sound.

The sirens are tested on the first Saturday of each month at noon for 30 seconds. In the event of a real emergency, the siren sounds continuously for three minutesResidents are advised to follow Shelter-in-Place advisories whenever the sirens sound.

Shelter-in-Place information below will guide you and your family about what precautions to take in the unlikely event of a release from the refining complex or from a rail or truck accident anywhere in the community. We hope that you will find the information useful, and that you will share it with your family, friends and neighbors.
  1. Do not panic, but go inside immediately. 
  2. Close all doors and windows.
  3. Turn off ventilation system.
  4. Go to an easily sealed room and stay there. 
  5. Tune radio to KYW 1060 (AM) for instructions. 
  6. Wait for the "All Clear" broadcast. 

There are currently 11 sirens located throughout South and Southwest Philadelphia. These include:  

  • Pepper Middle School, 82nd and Lyons
  • Eastwick Library, Island Ave. & Lindbergh
  • Finnegan's Playground, 70th and Grovers
  • Connell Park, 65th & Grays
  • Bartram's Village, 56th and Lindbergh
  • Recreation Center, 48th & Woodland
  • Fire House, 32nd and Grays Ferry
  • JFK Annex, 25th & Morris
  • Passyunk Library, 20th and Shunk
  • FDR Park, 20th and Pattison
  • PES Refining Complex, 28th & Passyunk

If you see, hear, or smell something you think is coming from the refining complex, contact the PES Communications Center at (215) 339-2286.


Want to get alerts on your smart phone from ReadyPhiladelphia?  Sign up or login here. For questions, e-mail warning@phila.gov. 

HurricanePreparednessit's Hurricane preparedness week 
Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 15 - 21. To prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, consider these tips from America's PrepareAthon

How to Get Home, Family Ready
The Office of Emergency Management suggests following these steps to get your family and home ready for hurricane season.

Determine your risk.
Understand how hurricanes can affect where you live, work, go to school and play and how the weather could impact you, your family and your community. When you understand your risk, you are more likely to know how to prepare. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for local alerts from emergency management officials and obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.

Develop an evacuation plan.
Create an emergency plan and practice how and where you will evacuate if instructed by emergency officials. Ask about evacuation plans at the places where you spend time such as work or community organizations. If you typically rely on elevators, have a back-up plan in case they are not working.

Secure an insurance check-up.
Examine your insurance policy to understand your coverage and make sure everything is up to date. Most standard policies for homeowners, farm and ranch owners, renters and condominiums do not cover damage caused by rising water. Contact your local insurance provider to discuss National Flood Insurance Program policies.

Assemble disaster supplies. 
Create a kit to plan for at least three days based on you and your family's personal needs. Set aside one gallon of water per person per day, including pets. Some recommended items are: perishable food, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit, can opener, prescription medications, infant formula and diapers, pet food, and important documents (i.e., copies of insurance policies, bank accounts, identification).

Strengthen your home.
Fortify your home can reduce the impact to your property. You can act now by trimming trees and shrubs, reinforcing roofs, windows, and doors, elevating and anchoring utilities and installing sewer backflow valves.

Identify sources of information for a hurricane event.
Identifying trusted sources to stay informed of a hurricane event is critical to understanding the expected impacts from the storm for your area, instructions from local officials, and when it is safe to return home.

Complete your written hurricane plan.
Create a communications plan. Your family may not be together when a hurricane strikes, so plan on how you will contact one of another. Text messaging or email may be more accessible than landlines during a disaster but we strongly urge you to designate an out-of-town contact, not in the impacted area, to be a point of contact for your family.

Residents getting ready for the season can get tips and advice on the federal government's website. To keep up with potential storm activity, bookmark the National Hurricane Center's website. For local weather and severe weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service
AlertsRecallsAlerts and Recalls 

Brintellix (vortioxetine): Drug Safety Communication - Brand Name Change to Trintellix, to Avoid Confusion with Antiplatelet Drug Brilinta (ticagrelor)

Olanzapine: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Warns About Rare but Serious Skin Reactions

Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial Drugs: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Advises Restricting Use for Certain Uncomplicated Infections


AAKPAAKP Hosts National Patient Meeting
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) will hold its 2016 National Patient Meeting in Nashville, TN, September 23-25. AAKP is looking forward to returning to Tennessee to build on the excitement, success, and education of last year's meeting. Registration opens in early spring.

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
KFCPKFCP Encourages Participation in Highmark's Walk for a Healthy Community
The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania (KFCP) is taking part in the annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on Saturday, May 21 at the main campus of the Harrisburg Area Community College. Highmark underwrites the cost of the Walk, so each participating nonprofit organization keeps 100 percent of the funds raised by its walkers. 

Proceeds from this important event help strengthen the KFCP's Patient Programs and Services. One important KFCP program in need of support this year is the Patient Emergency Assistance Fund. KFCP works closely with dialysis social workers who identify those patients in dire need of financial assistance, and temporary emergency funds are made available to help with prescription co-pays, nutritional supplements, or transportation costs to dialysis treatments. Due to fundraisers like the Highmark Walk, last year KFCP was able to assist over 350 patients when they needed it the most.

Please use the link below to make a donation or sign up to walk with the KFCP on May 21. Call (800) 762-6202 with any questions. Learn more

NKFKidneyWalkNational Kidney Foundation to Take Part in Highmark's Walk for a Healthy Community
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is also taking part in the annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. This walk will take place on Saturday, June 4 at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Register today, download this flyer, or contact Shab Dastagirzada for more information by calling (215) 923-8611 ext. 737. 
ESRDResourcesESRD resources  
 
Understanding Hyperphosphatemia and Mineral Bone Disorder
Did you know patients who perform peritoneal dialysis have lower phosphorus levels compared to hemodialysis?
Find out more at this eLearning site.

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


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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. ESRD4-051616b