Facility Resources
As a professional caring for individuals with chronic kidney disease, you are aware of the multitude of resources available to you on the Web. We hope we have provided enough materials on our site that you find these helpful.
We are always looking for ways to improve our webpages, so should you have any suggestions or comments, please call us.
Immunization Resources Moved!
We moved our immunization information (flu, pneumonia and hepatitis b) to a new page on our website. Visit our IMMUNIZE homepage
Clinical Performance Goals Document
NOW AVAILABLE -- 2011-2012 Clinical Performance Goals Document (format: PDF, size: 1.1 mb)
This document may be used to develop appropriate Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs within your unit.
Let us know what you think about our Clinical Performance Goals Document -- Evaluate online
  The Renal Network is aware of recent issues related to Bed Bugs. Below are some resources that may help you with this topic.
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Adherence Toolkit
The Renal Network developed an 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.
Exercise and Dialysis Resources
Exercise has been shown to improve some aspects of health-related quality of life in individuals with kidney disease. Our Exercise Resources Page give you tools promote motivation, helping patients get started, and how to set up an exercise program.
Vocational Rehabilitation Toolkit
The Renal Network strives to facilitate the achievement of optimal wellness for renal disease patients. "Optimal wellness" not only includes safe and quality care, but must also include efforts to improve patient independence, quality of life, and rehabilitation. The CMS Conditions for Coverage for ESRD Facilities require facilities to assist patients with an individualized vocational rehabiliation (VR) plan. In support of this endeavor, and to aid you in your quality improvement efforts, The Renal Network has developed a Vocational Rehabilitation Toolkit.
The Renal Network is pleased to provide the following articles. These stories were written by patients, for patients. Feel free to print and display them in your patient areas, or pass them around to people you feel would benefit or enjoy reading about "Fistula Journeys".
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For Immediate Release: June 28, 2011 About the movie"We created this short, high-impact message to help dialysis patients understand why replacing a hemodialysis catheter with a fistula is so important," explained MEI Executive Director Dori Schatell. The movie quickly and graphically addresses:
Dialysis professionals can use the movie to start a conversation with patients about converting from a catheter to an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The movie can be quickly downloaded or sent via email, and is available for mobile devices via YouTube™ (www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmOG2TzO7dk). A DVD will soon be available for a small fee; submit a request via the website (www.lifeoptions.org/letstalk/). Funding for the project was provided by the Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative, Amgen, and Genzyme. Increasing fistula useResearchers estimate that as many as 68,653 lives could be saved in the U.S. solely by reducing dialysis catheter use to less than 7%. The decision to allow creation and use of an AVF is in patients' hands. Gaining patient cooperation to convert from a catheter to a fistula is literally a matter of life and death. About Life OptionsLife Options is a program of the non-profit Medical Education Institute, Inc. Founded in 1993, Life Options is dedicated to helping people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) live long and live well. All Life Options materials are non-commercial and have been reviewed for accuracy by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. For more information about the non-profit Medical Education Institute and its programs, including Life Options, visit www.meiresearch.org. |
ESRD Quality Incentive Program
CMS developed the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) to be the nation's first pay-for-performance quality incentive program as mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) section 153 (c). This first-of-its-kind program provides the ESRD community with the opportunity to enhance the overall quality of care than ESRD patients receive as they battle this devastating disease.
ESRD Network 4 is pleased to share the following documents to help you understand the ESRD Quality Incentive Program.
- ESRD QIP Talking Points (format: PDF, size: 286 kb) -- a Questions and Answers formatted document that addresses most QIP issues.
- ESRD QIP Medicare Fact Sheet (format: PDF, size: 80 kb) -- a Medicare Fact Sheet with topics: overview, background, linking payment to quality, payment parameters, QIP measures, performance scoring, program monitoring and evaluation.
- ESRD QIP Medicare News Release (format: PDF, size: 60 kb)
Care Transitions
The "Dialysis Transfer Summary" document was used in the Pilot Project to improve communication between dialysis facilities and acute-care patient settings. This form is available in both an editable Word version (size: 40 kb) and a "print and use" PDF version (size: 55 kb).
Involuntary Patient Discharge
- Federal Guidelines on Involuntary Discharge - Conditions for Coverage Section 494.110(f) (format: PDF, size: 140 kb)
- DPC Position Statement on Involuntary Discharge (format: PDF, size: 187 kb)
- The Renal Network Document - Involuntary Discharge Process (format: PDF, size: 407 kb) -- Approved by "The Renal Network: ESRD Network 4 Medical Review Board" October 26, 2010
Involuntary Discharges by Attending Physicians
The Medical Review Board (MRB) recently discussed patients who are involuntarily discharged by their physicians. The MRB acknowledges that physicians can discharge patients without the consent of The Renal Network or the staff at the unit. However, the attending physician is required to follow the unit’s involuntary discharge (IVD) process which should include the Network's IVD process (format: PDF, size: 407 kb) that is outlined in the Conditions for Coverage (494.180).
The medical director is required to be involved in all discharges and the MRB recommends that medical directors reinforce V760 and V763 of the State Guidance for the Conditions for Coverage (format: PDF, size: 82 kb). In addition, medical directors need to educate their attending physicians on the policies regarding involuntary discharges and to make them aware of the resources available from the staff that also can assist them with challenging situations to avoid discharging patients whenever possible.
For a complete Check-List of all responsibilies, refer to the Network's IVD Process (format: PDF, size: 407 kb).
PATIENT BULLETIN BOARD PACKET (updated July 2011)
- Network 4 Poster (format: PDF, size: 138 kb) -- best if printed on 11x17" paper -- provides a summary of the Network, our grievance procedure and contact information
- Patient Rights and Responsibilities Brochure (format: PDF, size: 262 kb) -- prints on 8.5x11" paper
- CMS Dialysis Facility Compare Brochure (format: PDF, size: 1.9 mb) -- best if printed on legal (8.5x14") paper
- Network 4 Website Flyer (format: PDF, size: 163 kb) -- prints on 8.5x11" paper
- Getting Back to Work Brochure (format: PDF, size: 574 kb) -- prints on 8.5x11" paper
- Patient Safety Brochure (format: PDF, size: 161 kb) -- prints on 8.5x11" paper
- 5 Reasons to Consider an A-V Fistula Pamphlet -- electronic resource not available
- Services for Patients Brochure (format: PDF, size: 635 kb) -- best if printed on legal (8.5x14") paper
- Transplant Education Document (format: PDF, size: 528 kb) -- prints on 8.5x11" paper
- ABCs of Fistula Placement Brochure -- inside (format: PDF, size: 8.7) -- outside (format: PDF, size: 8.5 mb)
- How Do I Look Brochure -- inside (format: PDF, size: 2.9) -- outside (format: PDF, size: 2.8 mb)
National ELAB Report
The National ELAB Report provides information and trends analysis from our Lab Data Collection project.
- 2009 National ELAB Report format: PDF, size: 3.1 Mb)
- 2008 National ELAB Report (format: PDF, size: 4 Mb)
For background information and additional analysis, you may visit http://www.esrdnet11.org/Elab -- The Renal Network of the Upper Midwest (a.k.a. ESRD Network 11) manages the national electronical ESRD lab data collection project.
This document may be used to develop appropriate Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs within your unit.
ESRD Conditions for Coverage Page
Click the link above to go to our page dedicated to the revised ESRD Conditions for Coverage, which were published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2008. Included on this page are resources such as a crosswalk from the old conditions to the new, the state's Interpretive Guidance document, measures assessment tool, comprehensive multidisciplinary patient assessment example, and frequently asked questions on the revised conditions
Decreasing Dialysis Patient-Provider Conflict (DPC)
Click the link above to go to our Decreasing Dialysis Patient-Provider Conflict (DPC) page. There you will find the DPC Brochure and DPC Provider Manual.
Assessing Functional Status of ESRD Patients
This page is dedicated to resources and tools that can be used to assess the functional status of ESRD patients.
Looking for Disaster or Emergency Preparedness information?
Then turn to our Disaster Preparedness and Response page for materials and information.
Looking for Dialysis Units?
Then turn to our Patient Resources Page for several dialysis unit search engines. Links to these search engines are provided in the left side menu under the heading "Dialysis Unit Search Engines".
Looking for Patient Education Opportunities?
Then turn to our Patient Resources Page for information on home modalities, tranplantation, the Offices of Vocational Rehabilitation and more (including our "Services for Patients" pamphlet).
Network Document: ESRD Network 4's Guidelines for Care of ESRD Patients Document (format: PDF, size: 616 kb) -- DRAFT version available effective April 2010
This document is an excellent resource that provides some general guidelines that could be followed by dialysis and transplant facilities. The information in this guide does not contain "rules" that should be considered enforceable, unlike Medicare's Conditions for Coverage. They are recommendations made by the professional communities within Network 4.
Network 4 Brochure: Transplant Education Document (format: PDF, size: 357 kb) - Publication Number: PBB-000-062010
Contains: "Preparing for a Kidney Transplant / Frequently Asked Questions, Transplant Centers in ESRD Network 4, and Kidney Donation / Frequently Asked Quesitons"
This brochure should be included on the Patient Bulletin Board at each Dialysis Facility and it REPLACES the following two documents:
1. Key Information About Kidney Transplant Brochure (Publication Number: PBB-002-032009)
2. Preparing for a Kidney Transplant / Frequently Asked Questions (Publication Number: PBB-003-062008)
Please discard Publication Numbers PBB-002-032009 and PBB-003-062008
In Service Education: Dialysis Patient Care Staff Education Modules - From the Mid Atlantic Renal Coalition (MARC)
The Mid Atlantic Renal Coalition (MARC), also known as ESRD Network 5, created five great training modules for dialysis patient care staff centered on "Communication Skills for Providing Quality Care."
The five modules are:
- 1. Professionalism in Dialysis Care
- 2. Patient Centered Care
- 3. When Patients Have Concerns
- 4. Fistula First
- 5. Caring Through the End: Final Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease
Life Options Resources: Life Options Products Catalog
Free resource materials are available from Life Options and range from a Unit Self-Assessment Tool to booklets on the 5 E's of rehabilitation: Encouragement, Education, Exercise, Employment, and Evaluation.
Now on DVD! Exercise Guide for People on Dialysis
May 29, 2009 -- Madison, Wisconsin -- Announcement for Immediate Release
The Life Options program announces the re-release of the popular "Feeling Better with Exercise" video in a new DVD format. Back by popular demand, this 30-minute guide includes easy-to-follow demonstrations -- by people on dialysis -- of stretching exercises (to build flexibility) and strength exercises (to build muscles). Many of the exercises can be done while seated, making them suitable for those who cannot stand for a long time or are in wheelchairs. Testimonials and instruction about the importance of exercise for maintaining good quality of life round out the program.
Originally filmed in 1995, "Feeling Better with Exercise" was part of a comprehensive exercise program for people on dialysis, developed by Life Options. Noted exercise physiologist Patricia Painter, PhD, developed the exercises and reviewed all the content of this program. It has been one of the most popular offerings in the history of Life Options, with more than 10,000 copies distributed since the original release.
The DVD can be ordered online at http://www.lifeoptions.org for $10.00, which includes shipping and handling to all U.S. locations.
The Life Options program, founded in 1993 with a grant from Amgen, is dedicated to helping people live long and well with chronic kidney disease. In addition to the exercise DVD, Life Options offers many other educational materials, including a free online learning program called Kidney School (http://www.kidneyschool.org). Life Options is administered by the nonprofit Medical Education Institute, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about Life Options, please visit the Life Options website at http://www.lifeoptions.org.
Medicare Conditions for Coverage: End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities
This link to the Medicare Conditions for Coverage of End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities also provides the "State Operations Manual: Guidance to Surveyors".
CDC Resources -- Hepatitis B Vaccination Recommendations for the Hemodialysis Facility
- Complying with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (format: PDF, size: 603 kb) -- Added April 1, 2009
This reference material comes from the NIOSH/OSHA office which will be sending this information directly to each facility. - Poster -- Recommended Infection Control Practices in Hemodialysis Units (format: PDF, size: 1.52 Mb)
- Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infections Amoung Chronic Hemodialysis Patients (format: PDF, size: 386 kb)
- ACIP Guidelines for Vaccinating Kidney Dialysis Patients and Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (format: PDF, size: 297 kb)
- Dialysis, Viral Hepatitis and Immunization Information from the Immunization Action Coalition
NKF KDOQI
Homepage to the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative
Journal of Renal Nutrition
The official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation and the International Society of Renal Nutrition & Metabolism
UNOS
Homepage to the United Network for Organ Sharing
USRDS
Homepage to the United States Renal Data System, located at the University of Michigan
National CPM Information and Report
This site, from CMS, provides the measures, data collection descriptions and ESRD CPM Annual Reports
ASN
Homepage to the American Society of Nephrology
NRAA
Homepage to the National Renal Administrators Association
ANNA
Homepage to the American Nephrology Nurses' Association
RPA
Homepage to the Renal Physicians Association
RENALNET
RENALNET is a kidney information clearinghouse that has a lot of useful information, including chat rooms for the renal community (look for those under "RENALNET Features" then "Conference Rooms")
NIDDK/NIH
Homepage to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases at the National Institute of Health
Nephron
Homepage to Nephron, a nephrology information resource center
