7/26 CW Newsletter & Town Hall

CROWNWeb has published their July Newsletter, containing articles on the CROWNWeb Data Quality Goals progress, and the Missing Forms Report.  It also includes a CROWNWeb FAQ pointing out that clinical data which is entered and saved, but not submitted before the appropriate Clinical Closure Date, never makes it to CMS.  Find the July Newsletter at http://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/July_2018_Newslette_508_Compliant.pdf and a catalog of past Newsletters at http://mycrownweb.org/news/newsletters/.  The Newsletter also announces a July 26, 2018 CROWNWeb Town Hall.

NHSN Roadmap

To clarify how to use NHSN, CDC has published an “educational roadmap” of the training materials available for the NHSN Dialysis Component.  Find the dialysis roadmap at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/training/roadmap/dialysis-roadmap.html.

7/12 SSI/SSDI & Employment Webinar

Employment Options will present a free July 12, 2018 webinar on Common Ticket to Work Benefit Questions, to cover questions about SSI and SSDI benefits and how they interact with employment.  For more information and registration, see https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/webinar-registration-page/.

7/2 NHSN QIP Deadline Extension

CMS has announced that the deadline for entering and correcting NHSN data for January-March 2018 has been extended to July 2, 2018.  Corrections or additions entered after that date will not be forwarded from CDC to CMS, and they will not be included in your QIP calculations.  Send questions to ESRDQIP@cms.hhs.gov.

7/11 QIP PY2019 Preview Period & Webinar

The PY2019 Preview Period for the ESRD QIP will begin on July 23, 2018, and end on August 23, 2018.  The Preview Period provides an important opportunity for each facility to review and pose questions about its ESRD QIP scores and any potential payment reductions that may result.  During the Preview Period, facilities will be able to access a PSR to learn about how their estimated Total Performance Scores were calculated.  CMS updated this year’s Preview PSR to provide more-streamlined reporting of facility performance.

On July 11, 2018 CMS will present a webinar on the PY2019 Preview Period to discuss how to access, review, and submit clarification questions and/or a formal inquiry about a facility’s estimated scores before the close of the Preview Period.  Find details and register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4774560365192234755.

In preparation of the PY 2019 Preview Period, CMS encourages all facilities to review and update their authorized users in accordance with the updated password requirements for EIDM accounts as applied to EQRS; see http://mycrownweb.org/2017/06/new-eidem-password-requirements/.  Each facility also must designate a point of contact (POC) in EQRS; facilities without a POC will not be able to access their Preview PSRs, nor will they be able to submit clarification questions or a formal inquiry.  If your facility has not established authorized users and a POC, CMS encourages you to do so as soon as possible.

The QualityNet ESRD QIP Resources page at https://www.qualitynet.org/dcs/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=QnetPublic%2FPage%2FQnetTier3&cid=1228776130548 provides additional information and tools.

Bring questions or concerns about use of the ESRD QIP system to the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org, or 866-288-8912 Monday-Friday between 5 am and 5 pm PDT.

7/10 CW New User Training

CROWNWeb will hold New User Training July 10, 2018.  For details and registration see http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/july-crownweb-new-user-training-2018/.

RSN Audio on Living Full Life

The Renal Support Network has published an audio presentation titled Living the Fullest Life Possible with Kidney Disease – Part One, featuring long-time Northwest dialysis patient and activist Bill Peckham sharing tips on getting the most out of life despite being on dialysis for twenty eight years.  For example, Bill once took his portable dialysis machine with him down the Grand Canyon!  Find that story at http://www.dciinc.org/newsroom/a-dialysis-patients-tale-rafting-the-grand-canyon/, and find Part One of the RSN audio at https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/living-the-fullest-life-possible-with-kidney-disease-part-one/.

6/28 DPC Pain Audio Conference

Dialysis Patient Citizens will present a June 28, 2018 audio conference on Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain.  RSVP for full details at http://www.dpcedcenter.org/.  You can also login directly at http://www.dpcedcenter.org/education-call shortly before 11am PDT on June 28, or call 877-399-5186 and enter code 433 459 5474.

6/28 CW Town Hall on EQRS2 and Goals

The June 28, 2018 CROWNWeb Town Hall, titled A Look into the Future, will include review of the CMS assessment of ESRD Quality Goals, and discussion of and screenshots of EQRS 2.0, which will combine CROWNWeb, the ESRD QIP, and REMIS.  For full details and registration, see http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/crownweb-town-hall-event-a-look-into-the-future/.

Preventing Organ Stunning

Home Dialysis Central has published a summary of “organ stunning,” where dialysis removes too much water, or removes it too quickly, and your internal organs are shocked.  This can damage your organs, and the damage may be cumulative.  The HDC article covers the causes and processes of organ stunning, and most important, describes how you can avoid it.  Find the article at https://homedialysis.org/life-at-home/articles/organ-stunning-on-hemodialysis-what-is-it-and-what-can-you-do.