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Adherence Toolkit

Non-adherence creates many concerns for dialysis staff as it affects patient outcomes and patient quality of life. In many cases, non-adherence is at the center of both challenging situations and involuntary discharges even though non-adherence is not regarded by CMS as an acceptable reason to discharge a patient. The concerns include missed treatments, shortened treatments, diet and medication non-adherence as wll as missed appointments. Since 2002, non-adherence had been one of the main reasons for patient discharges. In The Renal Network, non-adherence is one of the top three reasons a facility contacts the Network about a patient concern.

The Renal Network Patient Services Department and Communication Department developed the Adherence Toolkit as a response to address adherence issues. The toolkit is divided into three sections and contains tools for staff, patient handouts, and articles that address the topic of adherence. These resources are available below. Some of the resources included were developed by the Network Patient Leadership Committee, Medical Review Board, and other Networks. The list of resources and tools is not exhaustive but is a beginning point for facility staff working with this complex issue.

Please complete a Toolkit Evaluation to provide feedback on this resource.

Section One: Staff Tools

Section Two: Patients Handouts

Section Three: Articles

NHSN Dialysis Event Reporting for CMS ESRD QIP

-- PROJECT MANAGER Position Posting --

The Project Manager of ESRD Network 4, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will direct staff members in the ESRD Network 4 office in Pittsburgh, and report to the Executive Director of The Renal Network, Inc., in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Renal Network contracts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to oversee quality initiatives for chronic dialysis units in ESRD Network 4 (Pennsylvania and Delaware), ESRD Network 9 (Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky), and ESRD Network 10 (Illinois).

ESRD Network 4 is responsible for quality improvement in 272 outpatient dialysis units and 19 transplant centers in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Project Manager will work directly with representatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that the CMS contract deliverables are met on a timely basis and that quality goals are achieved. The Project Manager ensures that requirements for the CMS-ESRD Network 4 contract are maintained, and is responsible for financial and program oversight. The Project Manager supervises a staff consisting of quality of care, data, and ESRD beneficiary relations managers as well as support staff. The position regularly interacts with and takes direction from the Board of Trustees, a Medical Review Board and various specialty committees of The Renal Network focused on improving the quality of end-stage renal disease care.

Applicants should have a background in nephrology and/or end-stage renal disease, a working knowledge of quality improvement principles, and management experience. An advanced degree in a health care related field is required. Knowledge of the federal End-Stage Renal Disease Network program and/or the Quality Improvement Organization Program is desired. Applicants should send an introductory letter and resume or curriculum vitae to: info@nw10.esrd.net.

-- CANNULATION CAMP --

Thursday, May 3, 2012
Willow Grove, PA
Giant Super Food Store
315 York Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
(Conference room is located on the 2nd floor at the Community Center)

To register, download Brochure (format: PDF, size: 268 kb) or call 215-887-1122.

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