PAC Member Spotlights Treatment Choice

We’ve added the August edition of our patient newsletter, Network Consumer News, to the Network website, at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/ncn.html .  This issue discusses quality of life, advance directives, the Patient Advisory Council or PAC, and an online treatment choice decision aid.  We’ve also included a copy of The Role of the Network in Handling Grievances in English and Spanish, and a poster for the September 25-27 AAKP National Patient Meeting in Nashville.  For more information on the AAKP meeting, see https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/aakp-natl-patient-meeting-925-27-in-nashville/ .

Network Provider Meeting 10/25, Seattle

The 2015 Annual Provider Meeting will be held October 25, 2015 near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  The Meeting will teach you how to improve patient outcomes and quality of life, provide patient-centered care, and foster a facility environment that is safe for patients.  Speakers will also cover fluid management, survey citations, water treatment, and the QIP, with nationally-known faculty.  Awards will be presented to the best-performing or most-improved facilities in seven critical areas of concern.  Nurses, technicians, social workers, and dietitians can earn 6.5 CEUs.  Be sure to register before October 22 to save $25.  Find full details at https://www.nwrn.org/files/N/NWMtg15.pdf .

August Patient Poster – Vaccination

We’ve added our August patient poster/flyer to the Network website at https://www.nwrn.org/files/PM/Vacc0815.pdf .  This edition is on Vaccination.  You can find the index to all of our monthly patient poster/flyers at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/mon.html .  Contact our Patient Services Director Lisa Hall, at lhall@nw16.esrd.net , if you have questions, or ideas for future topics.

Notify Network of Facility Disruptions

Northwest Renal Network is required by CMS to track the status of facility operations and patient access to treatment during emergency events.  If the operations of your facility, or ability for patients to have access to dialysis are impacted by emergency events – such as wildfires – please fill out the form at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/emerstf/disrpt.html and fax it back to the Network as soon as possible.  Contact Lisa Hall at the Network with questions: LHall@nw16.esrd.net or 206-923-0714.

NHSN Vaccination QIP Training 9/10,14

On September 10 and 14, 2015, CDC will offer two training sessions on the NHSN Outpatient Dialysis Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Module.  Sign up for one or the other; both sessions will cover reporting requirements and data entry for the Module.  Register at http://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/nhsn/, but be sure to scroll down and choose one of the Dialysis sessions – if you inadvertently sign up for an inpatient psychiatric session instead, you won’t get the correct material.  NHSN Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination is a QIP reporting measure in the PY2018 PPS.

ASN Kidney Week, 11/3-8, San Diego

The American Society of Nephrology has announced some details of its 2015 Kidney Week program, including the list of Early Programs at http://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/2015/program-early.aspx .  This year’s Kidney Week will be November 3-8, 2015 in San Diego.  For other details as they develop, see http://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/ .

Recall: More FMC NaturaLyte Dialysate Concentrate

The FDA has announced the recall of an additional two million bottles of FMC NaturaLyte Liquid Bicarbonate Concentrate (Liquid Dialysate Concentrate for Hemodialysis), 6.4 Liter, Catalog Number 08-4000-LB because of possible bacterial contamination.  For details see http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=Z-2373-2015&w=08192015&lang=eng .  This is in addition to the lots announced at https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/recall-fmc-naturalyte-dialysate-concentrate/ .

August Network 16 News

We’ve put the August issue of Network 16 News, our monthly newsletter for providers, on out website at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/nw16n.html .  This edition includes articles on the Network’s October 25, 2015 Annual Provider Meeting, and on a new brochure from the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition on Community Considerations in Emergencies, as well as a list of upcoming professional meetings.  You can find the KCER brochure at https://www.nwrn.org/images/pdf/KidneyCareinEmergenciesBrochure.pdf .

NHSN Updates: SIR QIP et al

We’ve updated our NHSN web page, including information on:

• Guide to the NHSN DE Surveillance BSI Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) Measure – a new QIP measure
• BSI Rate by Access Type from NHSN DE data for 2014, revealing that
• Dialysis patients using a CVC are more than eight times more likely to experience a BSI than patients using an AVF
• How to Complete a DE Denominators Form
• Reporting Related DEs Together in NHSN

along with copies of recent NHSN newsletters.  Find the Network NHSN page at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/nhsn.html .  We’ve also linked to the BSI SIR Guide from our QIP page at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/im/imqip.html .

ANNA Dialysis Workshop 10/4, Seattle

ANNA Greater Puget Sound Chapter 503 will hold their Fall Dialysis Workshop 2015 in Seattle on October 4, 2015.  Topics will include blood pressure, PD, ANNA resources, compassion and compliance, HHD, and emergency preparedness.  For details see https://www.nwrn.org/files/N/ANNAFall15.pdf .