Community Outreach Resources
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)
Check Out Our Other Community Outreach Pages ...
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 Resources
This page is devoted to resources to assist facilities to promote exercise among their patients.
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.
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.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Click the link above to go to our Patient Rights and Responsibilities page. There you will find information on: "Respect, Privacy and Confidentiality"; "Information, Education, and Counseling"; "Informed Consent, Transfer, and Refusal of Treatment"; "Knowledge of Facility Services"; "Emergency Care"; and "Grievance Mechanism". We also have this information in Spanish!
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.
Patient Resources
Our Patient Resources page provides a lot of information ... like: treatment options, transplantation, finding a dialysis unit, rehabilitation information, Medicare resources and other educational sites.
Grievance Policy
Our Grievance Policy page helps define what a grievance is, the guidelines for contacting the Network 4 office, the Network's involvement, and the response of the Network.
Facility Resources
Our Facility Resources page also contains a lot of really good information ... like: Network 4's guidelines for care of ESRD patients, inservice education modules, Medicare Conditions for Coverage link, Immunization materials, and link to discipline oriented websites.
Disaster Preparedness and Response
Our Disaster Preparedness and Response page contains our patient and facility emergency preparedness booklets, answers to frequently asked questions regarding disasters, pandemic preparedness resources, and a link to the Kidney Community Emergency Coalition.
Annual Reports
Look for our Annual Reports from 2000 to current on this page.
Network Newsletters
Our patient and facility newsletters are provided on this page.
Techical Assistance Available
ESRD Network 4 is happy provide the following services ...
- Assist you and your patients with resolution of complaints and grievances
- Consult regarding approaches to managing challenging situations
- Provide education regarding community resource information and materials
- Assist facility with developing education programs
- Provide voacational rehabilitation information
- Assist patients with locating transient dialysis care
- Provide education and assistance regarding CMS requirements
- Communicate essential information that will affect facilities via mail, e-bulletin, or fax
- Represent the needs of the renal community, patients and providers to CMS
- Develop collborative partnerships to promote improved quality outcomes for patients
- Inform facilities about Network goals and activities



