HDC on Kidney Patient Psychosocial Needs

Home Dialysis Central has published a blog post on Staff Orientation to Psychosocial Needs of People with Kidney Failure.  In it Beth Witten, MSW, ACSW, LSCSW, explains how she responded when an FA asked her, “as the clinic social worker, [how would you] provide an orientation for new staff to help them understand the patients they would be working with, explain [your] role, and let them know how [you] could help them.”  It’s a comprehensive and impressive post.  Find it at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/310-staff-orientation-to-psychosocial-needs-of-people-with-kidney-failure.

RSN Podcast on Home Dialysis Success

The Renal Support Network has published a podcast on Tips for Home Dialysis Success.  Find it at https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/tips-for-home-dialysis-success/.  This website also includes links to a Spanish version, to the Home Dialysis Central blog, and to a number of previous kidney-related podcasts.

RSN Podcast on Pain Management

The Renal Support Network has published a podcast on Pain Management for Those Who Have Kidney Disease.  Find the podcast at https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/kidney-disease-and-pain-management/.

ANNA Fact Sheets on PD, AKI

The ANNA Special Practice Networks have published a series of several-page Fact Sheets on a number of topics:

• Peritoneal Dialysis Fact Sheet at https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/pdFactSheet.pdf.
• Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Fact Sheet at https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/pedPDFactSheet.pdf.
• AKI Fact Sheet on Clinical Issues at https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/akiClinicalFactSheet.pdf.
• AKI Fact Sheet on Financial/Payment/Billing Issues at https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/akiFinancialFactSheet.pdf.

New CMS Transplant Center Survey Protocol Manual

CMS has added a new Appendix X to their State Operations Manual, detailing Interpretive Guidance and Survey Protocols for Organ Transplant Program Conditions for Participation, effective May 24, 2019.  Find a copy at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2019Downloads/R189SOMA.pdf.

May 2019 DFC Refresh

CMS has issued an informative Q&A on the May 2019 Refresh of Dialysis Facility Compare.  Find the Q&A at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/End-Stage-Renal-Disease/ESRDGeneralInformation/Downloads/DFC-May-2019-Refresh-Q-A.pdf, and DFC at https://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/.

NW18 6/13+ UCLA re PD, Alport, BP, Labs

The UCLA Core Kidney Program has announced three new webinars and a patient-education meeting.  For more information see https://www.uclahealth.org/core-kidney/upcoming-events.

• June 13, 2019: Peritoneal Dialysis – A Patient’s Experience webinar.  Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07egbezn4e6837e5bc&oseq=&c=&ch=.

• July 11, 2019: Alport Syndrome webinar.  Check the uclahealth.org link above in mid-June for registration.

• July 14, 2019: High Blood Pressure – What You Should Know UKEEP patient-education meeting.  See the uclahealth.org link above for more information and the RSVP phone number.

• August 8, 2019: Labs – What You Should Know webinar.  Check the uclahealth.org link above in mid-July for registration.