December 2016
Flu Season.  Protect Your Patients. Have YOU Had Your Flu Shot?

When you protect yourself against the flu, you are also protecting your patients.

 

 Influenza (the flu) is a serious illness, especially for older adults. People's immune systems become weaker with age placing people 65 years and older at high risk of serious, flu-related complications. It's estimated that between about 70% and 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths in the United States have occurred among people 65 years and older.

 

People 65 years and older can get any flu shot that is approved for use in that age group. That includes some traditional, regular-dose flu shots, recombinant flu shots and two other flu shots designed specifically for people 65 and older.

For more information and resources about flu season and how to protect yourself, visit the CDC website.
 
Preventing Hospital Readmissions in Diverse Populations
Earlier this year, CMS Office of Minority Health (OMH) released the Guide to Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries. This guide is designed to assist healthcare leaders and stakeholders focused on quality, safety, and care redesign in identifying root causes and solutions for preventing avoidable readmissions among racially and ethnically diverse Medicare beneficiaries.

 
Winter Weather Preparedness Resources
Preventive action is the best defense against health and safety hazards. Please share the resources listed below with your patients. These vital tools and resources, related to emergency preparedness for the upcoming winter season, will help patients prepare for winter storms and build an emergency fund. You'll also find provide tips for driving in snow and ice.   
   
5 Resources to Help Prepare for Winter Weather:
 
 
Dialysis Facility Compare Star Ratings Technical Expert Panel: Nominations & Self Nominations Wanted
CMS seeks nominations and self-nominations for a Technical Expert Panel to recommend  potential quality measures to include in the Dialysis Facility Compare Star Ratings.  Patients and professionals with a wide variety of experience and expertise are invited, including patient and healthcare perspectives, methodology, QI and performance measurement, and disparities.   Nominations are due by December 22, 2016.  For more information see  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/MMS/TechnicalExpertPanels.html#422
 
CROWNWeb 5.0 New User Training
Are you new to CROWNWeb, or just need a refresher on new features or how to use the system?  CROWNWeb 5.0 New User Training is for you!  This informative, 90-minute course covers all the basic information a new CROWNWeb user would need to begin using the system. 
Need Help with Data?  See the Network's Online Customer Portal
With the increase in data that must be submitted, as well as systems through which the data is collected, there are multiple ways in which you can reach the Network Data Support Team for help. 
  • Knowledge Base and Customer Portal http://help.esrd.ipro.org
  • ESRD Network Data Department can be reached at the following email address: [email protected]
  • The Network Data Department can be reached by phone at 516-209-5459.
*Please remember that you should NEVER include any patient-specific information such as Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Medicare Claim Number, etc. The only patient identifier that can safely be communicated is the Unique Patient Identifier (UPI) from CROWNWeb.*

IPRO End-Stage Renal Disease Network of New York, the ESRD Organization for New York state, prepared this material under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. CMS Contract Number: HHSM-500-2016-00020C.

IPRO ESRD Network of New York
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