2014 NHSN Deadlines and Revisions

CDC has released the December 2013 NHSN Newsletter, containing important information for dialysis facilities.  If you don’t have a copy, sign up for them at http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/newsletters.html.  Highlights follow…

Beginning January 2014, outpatient dialysis facilities will be required to report 12 months of dialysis event data into NHSN.  Outpatient dialysis facilities will have three months after the end of each quarter to submit data to NHSN.  For example, Q1 data (January – March 2014) will be due on June 30, 2014.

A new version of the Outpatient Dialysis Practices Survey will be available on the Dialysis NHSN website in December.  Responses to this survey should be based on data from the first week of February 2014 and must be completed before the first  week of May 2014 in order to continue reporting.

A new version of NHSN is scheduled for release January 25, 2014, and includes several changes to the dialysis event module.  See the Newsletter for an overview of these changes and screenshots of the modified reporting forms.   Also remember to complete your annual retraining.  A new training module which offers continuing education credits will be available at the end of January; see http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/dialysis/dialysis-event.html.

 

A-Z Patient Education Library

Northwest Renal Network’s Patient Education and Orientation Learning and Action Network (LAN) has compiled an Educational Checklist for Patients and a corresponding Library of Resources for use by facilities to help orient new patients, to help educate existing patients on topics that they might want to know more about, and to help staff encourage and facilitate patient engagement.  Find these and many other resources for staff and patients posted on our LAN web page at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/QI/LAN/LAN.htm#edu.

Introductory tips to help staff use the Checklist (titled A-Z Patient Education Library) can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/QI/LAN/PtEdLibrary.pdf, and the Checklist itself (called Things I Want to Know More About) at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/QI/LAN/PtEdChecklist.doc.  The Checklist is a list of questions that link to the Resources in the Library.  The Library contains concise 1- or 2-page answers to each question.

HDC Kidney Views Blog

Home Dialysis Central – http://www.homedialysis.org/ – has an excellent thought-provoking blog called “KidneyViews”on their website, at http://www.homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog.  A couple of recent posts worth reading are “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” at http://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/26-respect and “The Dialysis Waterfall (Forget Urea: It’s Fluid That Kills)” at http://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/27-dialysis-waterfall-forget-urea.

Medicare, Obamacare, & Disability.Gov

Disability.gov, https://www.disability.gov/, has announced a new four-page fact sheet on Medicare & the Health Insurance Marketplace (aka Obamacare, ACA, or the Affordable Care Act), containing a good deal of important information about how the two insurance plans interact.  For the announcement and a link to the fact sheet, see http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USODEP/bulletins/9b5870.

If you aren’t already familiar with https://www.disability.gov/, don’t neglect to explore it for future reference.  It has links to literally hundreds of resources on benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology, and transportation.

Recall: Baxter Dextrose & NaCl IV Solutions

The FDA has announced a recall of select lots of Baxter 5% Dextrose Injection and 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection IV Solutions because of particulate matter.  For lot numbers and other details, see http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm379914.htm.

Patient Transplant Choices Feb 3 in Tacoma

Franciscan Dialysis will host its annual free Transplantation Choices for Patients with CKD conference February 3, 2014 in Tacoma WA.  Leading transplant experts from the Puget Sound transplant centers will discuss transplant evaluation and processes for all potential recipients, donors, family members, and providers.   For details and registration see http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/N/SJMCTransplant2014Reg.pdf.   Direct questions to Michael Mace, MSW, LICSW at michael.mace@davita.com or (253) 671-3146.

AVF Success Workshop Jan 15 in Kansas

The ESRD Network Coordinating Council and the Heartland Kidney Network (Kansas City) will present a 3-hour in-person training on Maximizing Successful AV Fistula Creation, Maturation and Maintenance January 15, 2014 in Overland Park KS for surgeons, interventionalists, nephrologists, advanced practitioners, and vascular access managers.  For details see http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/N/VA2014Jan.pdf.

Recall: Hospira Lidocaine Injection

The FDA has announced a recall of one lot of Hospira Lidocaine HCl Injection, USP, 2%, 5 mL Single-Dose Vial (NDC 0409-2066-05), Lot 32-135-DD, expiration date 1AUG2015 because of a potentially dangerous reddish orange particulate on the inner surface and floating in the solution.  For details see http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm379751.htm.

AAKP Anemia Webinar Feb 26

AAKP HealthLine will present a webinar for patients February 26, 2014 on “Managing Anemia.”  The webinar will discuss symptoms, causes, treatments, exercise, nutrition, and patient experience.  For details and to register, see https://www.aakp.org/community/programs-events/aakp-healthline/aakp-healthline%20managing-anemia.html.

AAKP Self-Care Webinar Jan 22

AAKP HealthLine will present a January 22, 2014 webinar on “New Year, New You!  Learn How to Take Charge of Your Heath,” covering treatment options, communication, self-care, and caregiving.  For details and registration, see https://www.aakp.org/community/programs-events/aakp-healthline/aakp-healthline%20new-year-new-you!.html.