Category Archives: Vascular Access (Patients)

4/17+ AAKP HealthLine Webinar on Vascular Access & COVID-19

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AAKP HealthLine will present an April 17, 2020 webinar on Taking Care of Your Dialysis Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic, featuring:

  • Vascular surgeon Ari D. Kramer, MD speaking on access care tips,
  • Nephrologist Gerald A. Beathard, MD, PhD, FACP, FCPA, FASN, FASDIN on what to do if you need care,
  • Caregiver, patient advocate, researcher, and author Terry Foust Litchfield, MPA, CPC on tips for taking care of your loved ones.

Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6355638310139874828.  The webinar has space for only 2,500 participants, but will be recorded and available soon at https://aakp.org/programs-and-events/aakp-healthline/.

Recall: Bard BD WAVELINQ 4F EndoAVF System

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The FDA has announced a Class II recall of one lot of the Bard Peripheral Vascular BD WAVELINQ 4F EndoAVF System, Arterial Catheter 50 cm, Venous Catheter 43 cm, Sterile EO, Rx only, Ref W04200, Lot S0053, UDI (01)00801741182754(17)210215(10)S0053 because of a magnetic deficiency that may delay or prevent formation of a functioning fistula.  For details see https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Product=179704.

11/21 DPC Webinar on Treatment Options

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Dialysis Patient Citizens will present a November 21, 2019 webinar on Treatments and Modality Options for Kidney Disease.  For details see below, and register at https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/education-webinars/signup/.

DFC January Update

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CMS has announced that new data on the care quality of dialysis facilities is now available on Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC), the website that allows patients and health centers to view and compare quality data about dialysis facilities.  CMS uses this data, organized into a series of measures, to create a 5-Star Rating system that can help patients make educated decisions about where to get their dialysis treatments, as well as to assist them in speaking with their healthcare team regarding their care.

The January revision has updated information for Standardized Transfusion Ratios, Standardized Mortality Ratios, Standardized Hospitalization Ratios, Standardized Readmission Ratios, vascular access types (fistula and catheter), bloodstream infections, hemoglobin management, and the CAHPS survey on in-center hemodialysis patient experience.  The July 2017 DFC data for dialysis adequacy, hypercalcemia, serum phosphorus, and the facility Star Ratings will remain until the next update.

Find DFC at https://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/#.

If you’re computer-savvy, you can download supplementary DFC data from https://data.medicare.gov/data/dialysis-facility-compare.

11/15 KCER Newsletter October

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KCER has published their October 2017 Newsletter, with articles on the following:

  • Emergency Preparedness Requirements Go into Effect November 15, 2017
  • Flu Season is Here: Time for a Shot
  • How to Prepare for a Wildfire
  • Emotional Support After a Disaster
  • Protecting Your Dialysis Vascular Access
  • Handwashing After a Disaster

Find the Newsletter at http://kcercoalition.com/contentassets/1fc6b84d9aeb48818c8a1fc8ea2830c9/102017kcerwatchoct2017fnl508.pdf .

Right to Self-Cannulate

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Home Dialysis Central  has published a thorough summary of the right that a patient has to “be informed about and participate, if desired, in all aspects of his or her care” [42 CFR 494.70(a)(5)], including self-cannulation.  A facility that denies a competent patient the right to be trained to self-cannulate is vulnerable to state survey citation tags V456, V512, and V585.  Find the summary at http://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/214-self-cannulation-a-patient-right-and-cms-expectation-for-interested-and-trained-patients .

Saving Patients’ Lifelines

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Along with February’s Network 16 News, we’ve distributed copies of an ESRD NCC Fistula First tool called It only takes a minute to save your lifeline.  It’s intended for facilities to add their contact information and give to patients, as instructions for them to use to monitor their vascular access.  Find an online copy of the tool at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/TakesAMinute.pdf .  We’ve linked to the tool from the NWRN website at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/vastf/stfprotect.html .  You can find more vascular-access-protection resources at 
http://fistulafirst.esrdncc.org/professionals/lifeline-for-a-lifetime/ .

1/24 Catheter Dressings Guidelines Review

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CDC is inviting comments on a draft revision of their Recommendations on Use of Chlorhexidine-Impregnated Dressings for Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections.  Comments are due by January 24, 2017.  For details see https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=CDC-2016-0110 . 

Patient Safety, Vascular Access

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Northwest Renal Network’s July Patient Bulletin discusses three types of Vascular Access that permit hemodialysis to occur, how vulnerable each type is to infection, and how you can help prevent infection no matter which type you use.  Find a copy under “July 2016” at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/mon.html .