Monthly Archives: April 2018

5/8+ NHSN Training Webinars

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ANNA has announced that CDC will present four NHSN training webinars during May.  Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol will be held May 8, 2018 and repeated May 9.  Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports will be held May 14, 2018 and repeated on May 15.  For details and links to registration see https://www.annanurse.org/article/cdc-host-four-nhsn-dialysis-event-surveillance-training-webinars-may-2018-april-11-18.

4/26 DPC Nutrition Webinar

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Dialysis Patient Citizens will present an April 26, 2018 webinar on A Livable, Lovable Approach to Kidney Disease Nutrition.  The webinar will include information on using food to slow progression and reduce complications of kidney disease, on reducing confusion in kidney-friendly diets, and on making them more enjoyable.  For details and registration see http://www.dpcedcenter.org/education-seminars.

DPC will also present educational webinars on May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25, November 22, and December 27, 2018.  The May and July webinars will be on kidney transplantation.

5/2 Grievance Toolkit Webinar

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The National Forum of ESRD Networks will present a May 2, 2018 webinar for dialysis facility staff on The Grievance Toolkit: Fostering Communication and Improving Quality.  Continuing education credit will be available for nurses, technicians, and social workers.  Find more information and register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/417211176479162113.  Find copies of the Toolkit in English and Spanish at http://esrdnetworks.org/resources/toolkits/patient-toolkits/dialysis-patient-grievance-toolkit-1.

Fraud Prevention Resources

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CMS has published information about helping patients avoid fraud and scams, which may be particularly important with the release of the New Medicare Cards.

Medicare will never call beneficiaries uninvited and ask for personal or private information to get their new Medicare Number and card.  Scam artists may try to get personal information (like their current Medicare Number) by contacting them about their new card.  If your Medicare patient is asked for their information, for money, or someone threatens to cancel their health benefits if they don’t share their personal information, have them call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

The new Medicare Number is also called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) and is replacing the current Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on Medicare health insurance cards.  Medicare will continue to accept the HICN through the transition period; see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/index.html#target.  Identity theft resources for people with Medicare can be found at https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/identity-theft/identity-theft.html.

Recall: FMC 2008 K2 HD Machines

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The FDA has announced a Class II recall of 127 Fresenius 2008 K2 Hemodialysis Machines with software version 5.40, Models: (1) Hemodialysis SYS OLC/Diasafe PLS 190610, UDI 00840861100859 (+Serial Number), and (2) Machine Short Cap, OLC.DP HP 190630, UDI 00840861100866 (+Serial Number) indicated for acute and chronic dialysis therapy because of software errors.  For serial numbers and other details see https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Product=162434.

5/2 Grievance Toolkit Webinar

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The National Forum of ESRD Networks will present a May 2, 2018 webinar on The Grievance Toolkit: Fostering Communication & Improving Quality.  The Toolkit was developed BY patients FOR patients!  While it was written to guide patients through the grievance process it has proven to be a useful tool for both patients and providers to help improve communication.  This webinar will provide strategies to improve collaboration between patients and the care team, including tips for communicating with dialysis patients, and for addressing patients fears associated with presenting a grievance.  Contact hours will be available for nurses, PCTs, and social workers.  Find more information and register at http://esrdnetworks.org/education/quality-conference/quality-conference-webinar-2018.  Download the Grievance Toolkit and a poster summarizing its contents at http://esrdnetworks.org/resources/toolkits/patient-toolkits.

4/26 CW Town Hall, Newsletter

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CROWNWeb will present a ninety-minute April 10, 2018 New User Training; see http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/april-crownweb-nut-2018/ for full details and registration.

They’ve also released their April Newsletter, at http://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/April-Newsletter%E2%80%93508.pdf.  It includes articles on the MBI (Medicare Beneficiary Number) for the New Medicare Cards and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and introduction of a new CROWNWeb Newsletter section on Clinical Questions.  It also provides notice of an April 26, 2018 Town Hall meeting on EQRS 1.2, and deadlines for CROWNWeb data entry from areas with FEMA extensions.  Data from these areas for December 2017 and January 2018 must be entered by April 30, 2018.

NW16 4/19+ Portland Kidney Walk/Run

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Mark your calendar for the Tabor Trot fun walk/run and gathering the morning of May 26 at beautiful Mt.Tabor Park on the Saturday before Memorial Day.  See past photos, video, more information, and register at http://www.tabortrot.com/.  We’ve already posted information on other Donate Life Northwest events in Portland (April 22, May 7) and Medford OR (April 11-15); for details see our Patient Calendar at the link above.  Donate Life Northwest has also recently added four new Portland volunteer opportunities:

Donate Life has also provided details on their 2018 raffle – winners will be vacationing in Maui, Baja California, Santa Fe NM, Lake Tahoe NV, or Seaside OR – see https://www.donatelifenw.org/content/annual-raffle.  For a summary of and links to all this news, see https://mailchi.mp/donatelifenw.org/april-donate-lifeline?e=d7486be0ed.