September Network 16 News

We’ve added the September edition of our provider newsletter Network 16 News to the Network website at
https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/nw16n.html .  This issues features information about the Network Annual Provider Meeting on October 25th at the Seattle Airport, a short article on the new QIP Heathcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination measure, and notes on ICD-10-CM and on reporting requirements for disruptions in delivery of care.   The “Hot Dates” column includes the October 18 Mid-Columbia Nephrology Seminar, October 23 and November 11 CNSW Chapter Conferences, and the February 27-March 1 Annual Dialysis Conference.  For more information on the Conferences, see our Facility Calendar at https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/staff-education-calendar/ .

Annual Network Meeting, 10/25, Seattle Airport

Don’t miss out on our 2015 Annual Network Provider Meeting, on October 25, 2015 at the Seattle airport.  Earn 6.5 CEUs for nurses, technicians, social workers and dietitians, and hear nationally known speakers on topics that can enhance patient outcomes.

Danilo Concepcion will speak on Water Treatment, for example.  Danilo is a prolific speaker nationally and internationally, has published in numerous professional journals, and has served on the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) advisory board since 2000.  Also, Dr. Suhail Ahmad will speak about Fluid Management, Frank Schitoskey about Surveyor Citations, Katrina Russell about the QIP, Bonnie Greenspan about Culture of Safety, and Beth Witten about Patient Engagement.

Get all the details at https://www.nwrn.org/files/N/NWMtg15.pdf , and register at https://www.nwrn.org/ – $25 discount before October 22.

ICD-10-CM Primary Causes of Renal Failure

CMS has prepared a list of the ICD-10-CM codes that are recommended for use as Primary Causes of Renal Failure after October 1, 2015.  Find the list at

• http://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ICD-10-CM-LIST-OF-PRIMARY-CAUSES-OF-END-STAGE-RENAL-DISEASE.pdf .  

For more information see http://mycrownweb.org/icd-10-cm-code-list-with-primary-causes-of-renal-failure-now-available/ .

UNOS Transplant FAQ for Patients & Guidance for Physicians

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has developed an 8-page brochure on Frequently Asked Questions about Kidney Transplant and Listing.  It’s intended to help pre-dialysis CKD patients consider their treatment options, but will be helpful to dialysis patients as well.  It complements an earlier white paper for physicians on Educational Guidance on Patient Referral to Kidney Transplantation.  Both documents can be found at https://www.unos.org/brochure-addresses-patients-questions-about-kidney-evaluation-and-listing/ .  For more specific information about qualifying for a transplant at a center in our Network, see the Transplantation Selection Criteria page on our website at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/treatop/txselcrit.html .

BONENT Test & M-C Seminar 10/17-18

A Reminder that the Mid-Columbia Nephrology Seminar, around the theme “Knowing More about What Our Patients Need,” will be held October 18, 2015 in Richland WA.  A BONENT test to certify dialysis technicians will be offered on October 17.  Find out more at https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/mid-columbia-seminar-1018-richland-wa/ .

Monthly Patient Poster on the PSR

We’ve added our most recent monthly patient poster to the Network website at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/mon.html .  This month’s poster/flyer describes the facility Performance Score Report (PSR), and is titled, Did You Know that Each Dialysis Clinic Gets a Report Card?  The flyer describes the clinical and reporting measures used in the PSR, and also introduces Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC).  We welcome comments on these posters, and suggestions for future topics; direct them to our Patient Services Director Lisa Hall at lhall@nw16.esrd.net .

NKF Peer Support for Living Donation

The NKF Peers program now also offers peer support to those considering living kidney donation and those who have already donated a kidney, in addition to their traditional support helping people adjust to living with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or a kidney transplant, and people considering home dialysis.  The program is free, national in scope, and telephone-based (toll-free).  To seek support or volunteer to help others, see https://www.kidney.org/patients/peers for details.

Employment Opportunities 9/24, 10/8

My Employment Options for Job Seekers with Disabilities and Other Challenges will offer a free webinar on Virtual Job Fair Tips at noon PDT September 24, 2015.  The My Employment Options CEO will share tips and tricks for a successful online job fair.  Register for the webinar at http://myemploymentoptions.com/webinar-registration-form/ .

The next My Employment Options Online Job Fair will be held October 8, 2015.  For details and registration see http://myemploymentoptions.com/register-for-virtual-job-fair/ .

The My Employment Options home page, at http://myemploymentoptions.com/ , contains much more information, and a running list of work-at-home job openings.

Kidney Week 9/16, 9/23 Deadlines

The substantial cost savings on early registration for Kidney Week, November 3-8, 2015 in San Diego CA, ends September 16th.  See http://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/2015/program-early.aspx and http://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/ for more information.

Abstracts on late-breaking phase II or III clinical trials  will be accepted online through September 23rd; see http://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/2015/abstract-late-breaking.aspx .

Network Meeting 10/25, Seattle

The Network’s 2015 Annual Provider Meeting will be held near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on October 25, 2015.  Speakers will include:

• Beth Witten on Patient Engagement in Action.  Beth contracts with the CMS Survey and Certification Group, where she serves on the ESRD Training and Support Team that develops guidance, policies, and training materials, and trains ESRD surveyors nationally.  Renal social workers will recognize Beth from her mentorship on the CNSW Listserv.
• Bonnie Greenspan on Culture of Safety.  Bonnie is a consultant to independent and corporate dialysis providers for active facility oversight and performance improvement, and consults with CMS in several ESRD projects, including CMS Surveyor Training.  She authored the chapter on Culture of Safety and QAPI for the 2015 ANNA Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing.
• Danilo Concepcion on Water Treatment.  Danilo is a prolific speaker nationally and internationally, has published in numerous professional journals, and has served on the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) advisory board since 2000.

Additional speakers will cover fluid management, survey citations, water treatment, and the QIP.  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 .  Register at https://www.nwrn.org/ .