NW <12/31 Winter Storm

The National Weather Service is forecasting (and many are already experiencing) a variety of serious winter weather conditions in Washington, Idaho, and Montana through at least Saturday night:

• Flooding, wind, and loss of power in western Washington
• Snow, freezing rain, and ice in Montana, northern Idaho, and northern Washington, including possible flash freezing on roads

Networks are 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, please let your Network know right away.  Contact Lisa Hall or Ashley Thomsen at 206-923-0714 or by email at LHall@nw16.esrd.net or athomsen@nw16.esrd.net.  The Network office is normally closed on weekends, but we’ll be monitoring phones remotely, so leave a message.  We also ask that you fill out and submit the Network 16 Disaster Reporting Form, at https://nwrn.org/files/E/Interruptions.pdf .

New Grievance Process

To bring our Complaints and Grievances processes in line with the new Network contract, we’ve modified our web pages on the topic.

• Find Network 16’s revised Complaints page for patients at https://nwrn.org/patients-a-family/voice.html , which outlines our process, and provides links to the Network’s Grievance Poster and Brochure, and the Forum of ESRD Network’s Grievance Toolkit.  Our new page for Network 16 social workers is at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/ptcenter/sw/grievances.html .  Please address questions or concerns to Network 16 Patient Services Director Lisa Hall at lhall@nw16.esrd.net or 206-923-0714.

• Find Network 18’s information for patients and care partners at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/patients/grievances/, and for providers at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/providers/patient-services/.  Please address questions or concerns to Network 18 Patient Services Director Eileen Rhodes, 888-268-1539 or ERhodes@nw18.esrd.net/.

Providers: Make sure you have the HealthInsight Grievance Poster posted in your lobby or another area that is accessible to patients and guests.  There are links to the posters and brochures on the web pages listed above.  Feel free to print out some brochures and pass them out to patients or have them available in your lobby.  Ensure that all patients understand how to file a grievance with you, with the Network or with the State.  Please keep in mind that no patient should ever suffer any retaliation for filing a grievance.  The Network is here to assist you and your patients in resolving any concerns that may arise in a collaborative and positive manner.

CDC HAN re Flu

CDC has issued a “HAN” Health Advisory on increased influenza A(H3N2) activity and its clinical implications.  The HAN also includes a summary of influenza antiviral drug treatment recommendations, an update about approved treatment drugs and current supply, and background information for patients about influenza treatment.  Find the HAN at https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00409.asp.

CMS has also recently published a list of flu vaccine resources, at https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/FFSProvPartProg/Provider-Partnership-Email-Archive-Items/2016-12-08-eNews.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending#_Toc468862699.

1/14 RSN Teen Prom

The Renal Support Network’s Annual Prom for Teens with Kidney Disease will be held January 14, 2018 in Glendale CA.  The theme for this year’s event will be “Calypso.”  The Prom is free to any teen with kidney disease, and one guest.  For details see http://www.rsnhope.org/renal-teen-prom-for-kids-with-kidney-disease/.

Winter Safety

Home Dialysis Central, at http://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/236-emergency-planning-for-home-therapies, has published an emergency preparedness checklist for facilities with home patients.  The checklist was motivated by hurricanes, but it applies equally to serious winter storms, fire, flood, earthquake, and general bedlam.

Networks are 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, please let your Network know right away. 

• In Southern California (Network 18), contact Eileen Rhodes or Julie Aguilar at 888-268-1539 or by email at ERhodes@nw18.esrd.net or JAguilar@nw18.esrd.net , and fill out the form at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/machform/embed.php?id=16298 .
• In Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington (Network 16), contact Lisa Hall or Ashley Thomsen at 206-923-0714 or by email at LHall@nw16.esrd.net or athomsen@nw16.esrd.net.  We also ask that you fill out and submit the Network 16 Disaster Reporting Form, at https://nwrn.org/files/E/Interruptions.pdf .

The Kidney Foundation of Canada has also posted a list of tips to help patients survive winter storms; see https://www.kidney.ca/page.aspx?pid=2209.

Recall: Riomet Metformin Oral

The FDA has announced the recall of two lots of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Riomet brand Metformin Hydrochloride Oral Solution:

• NDC Code 10631-206-01 Lot A160031A
• NDC Code 10631-206-02 Lot A160031B

Both lots Expire 01/2018.  These lots were found to be contaminated with Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, which can cause pneumonia, sinusitis and disseminated infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.  For details see https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm586510.htm .

1/4+ CW Trainings

CROWNWeb will hold online training classes January 4 and 23, 2018 on completing Attestations and entering data on the new ultrafiltration and number-of-sessions clinical measures, in addition to a new-user training class on January 9, 2018.  Details and Registration information are listed below:

• January 4, 2018 Attestations etc; http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/january-4-attestation-ultrafiltration-and-number-of-dialysis-treatments-training/ .
• January 9, 2018 New Users; http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/january-crownweb-new-user-training/ .
• January 23, 2018 Attestations etc; http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/january-23rd-attestation-ultrafiltration-and-number-of-dialysis-treatments-training-event/ .