Monthly Archives: January 2016

Mentoring and Missed Treatments

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The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition, ESRD Network 5, has developed a program for training dialysis patients to be mentors and mentees, and a test of the program has successfully reduced the number of missed dialysis treatments.  Missed and shortened treatments can result in fluid management problems, unhappy patients, and unnecessary hospitalizations.  The program is briefly described in Nephrology News & Issues, at http://www.nephrologynews.com/peer-mentoring-reduces-missed-dialysis-treatments/ .  Network 5 has made all of the materials for the program, which they call Peer Up!, available for free download, at http://esrdnet5.org/Peer-Up!-Program-Toolkit.aspx .  The Peer Up! Toolkit includes six sections: Background and Overview, Program Management, Recruitment and Retention, Mentor Training, Patient Support Resources, and Assessment and Evaluation.  Both mentees and mentors reported improvements in psychosocial and physiological factors.

2744 Training 2/4 and 3/2

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Sorry for the short notice, but the CROWNWeb training team prefers last-minute notifications.  They will offer a Training next week on Completing the 2015 CMS-2744 Annual Facility Survey, February 4, 2016, and repeat the session on March 2.  For details and registration, see http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/completing-the-2015-cms-2744-annual-facility-survey-training/ and http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/completing-the-2015-cms-2744-annual-facility-survey-training-encore/ .  You must generate your 2744 for review and cleanup before February 15.  The February CROWNWeb Newsletter on the same topic is now also available, at http://mycrownweb.org/news/newsletters/ .

2016 QI Activities

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We’ve published the January issue of Network 16 News, and put a copy on the Network 16 website at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/nw16n.html .  This issue summarizes the new CMS contract requirements for Network and facility Quality Improvement Activities.  This list also applies to Network 18 and Southern California facilities.  

The eight projects include improving:

  • The grievance process
  • Patient responses to ICH CAHPS
  • Vaccination rates
  • Coordination between dialysis facilities and hospitals

and reducing:

  • Long-term catheter use
  • Blood-stream infections
  • Unplanned hospitalization
  • High serum calcium levels

The issue also includes a note on ICH CAHPS exemption attestation for the QIP, and ticklers on professional meetings February 27 (ADC in Seattle), March 3 (NWRD Conference near Portland), April 27 (NKF Spring Clinical Meetings in Boston), and May 19, 2016 (CNSW Conference near Seattle).  For more information on these, click on “Facility Calendar” in the menu at the top of this page.

Recall: Baxter IV Solutions 100ml

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The FDA has announced a recall of four lots of various IV Solutions:

  • 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 100mL in Mini-Bag Plus Container, Product 2B0043, Lots P337857 and P328997
  • Metronidazole Injection, USP 500mg/100mL, Product 2B3421, Lot P339135
  • Clinimix E 5/15 (5% AA w/Electrolytes in 15% Dextrose w/Calcium), Product 2B7721, Lot P333930

Find the FDA announcement at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm483215.htm and detailed information on the Baxter press release at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm483147.htm .

CDC Hep C Health Alert

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CDC has issued a HAN Health Alert titled CDC Urging Dialysis Providers and Facilities to Assess and Improve Infection Control Practices to Stop Hepatitis C Virus Transmission in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in response to an increased number of reports of newly acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients undergoing hemodialysis.  Infection control lapses in dialysis care could expose patients to HCV.  Any case of new HCV infection in a patient undergoing hemodialysis should prompt immediate action.  CDC is urging dialysis providers and facilities to:

  • Assess current infection control practices and environmental cleaning and disinfection practices within the facility to ensure adherence to infection control standards
  • Address any gaps identified by the assessments
  • Screen patients for HCV, following CDC guidelines, to detect infections, determine treatment potential, and halt secondary transmission
  • Promptly report all acute HCV infections to the state or local health department.

For complete information see http://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00386.asp .

2/24 Patient Call re Exercise

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AAKP HealthLine will present a webinar and conference call on The Importance of Exercise for all Stages of Kidney Disease on February 24, 2016, led by Patricia Painter, PhD.  With the start of a new year, if exercise, fitness, and living a healthier lifestyle isn’t on everyone’s mind, it should be, especially for those living with kidney disease.  Join us as we learn the importance of staying fit, how to incorporate exercise regardless of your stage of kidney disease or modality, and the overall benefits of being the healthiest you can possibly be.  For details and registration, see https://www.aakp.org/community/programs-events/aakp-healthline.html .  You can watch webinars from their archives at https://www.aakp.org/media-files/aakp-healthline.html .

NW Poster re Patient Concerns

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January’s Network 16 patient poster/flyer has been distributed to facilities.  It covers patient concerns about access to care, grievances, and information about how Northwest Renal Network will respond to any request for assistance.  If you haven’t seen a copy yet, you can find one at https://www.nwrn.org/images/pdf/HelpingNavigateKidneyDisease0116.pdf .  Posters for earlier months are archived at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/mon.html .  If you have questions or suggestions for future Patient Flyers, please contact Network 16 Patient Services Director Lisa Hall at lhall@nw16.esrd.net . 

3/21 NANT Symposium, Las Vegas

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Including the pre-symposium workshops, the 2016 NANT Annual Symposium in Las Vegas NV March 21-24 will include sessions on professional development, water treatment, machine troubleshooting, empathy and patience with patients, patient needs, disaster preparedness, body and dialysis chemistry, cyber security, infection control, fluid management, vascular access, dialysis modalities, reuse, biofilms, and dialysate composition.  For details and registration see http://dialysistech.net/events/2016-annual-symposium .

Disaster Mental Health Resources

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Disasters are stressful and emotionally upsetting for everyone affected, especially children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or issues with access to health care.  The Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition has collected a number of disaster mental health resources that can be beneficial to your facilities, colleagues and stakeholders.  Find links these resources on the KCER website at: