A Newsletter from Quality Insights Renal Network 3
In This Issue


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Welcome to the September 2019 issue of the Quality Insights Renal Network 3 e-newsletter.  In this issue, we bring you information about nutrition and kidney disease, updated recommendations for measles in healthcare settings, an update on antibiotic use in the United States, upcoming webinar opportunities, CMS updates, upcoming events and more. Please contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions.  
 
topicFACILITY-LED PATIENT EDUCATION TOPIC OF THE MONTH: Food for Thought
We will provide a Network 3 Patient Education Sheet each month in 2019. Please provide all of your patients with this education sheet each month.  Also, we ask that you please encourage your facility's Patient Representatives to pass out this educational information.
Measlesupdated interim infection prevention and control recommendations for measles in healthcare settings 
CDC's updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings can help clinicians protect against the spread of measles. Measles is most commonly spread from person to person either at home or in public settings, but it can also spread in healthcare settings. While the most important way to prevent the spread of measles is community vaccination, core measles prevention in healthcare settings requires a multi-faceted approach including:
  • Ensuring healthcare personnel (HCP) have presumptive evidence of immunity to measles
  • Rapidly identifying and isolating patients with known or suspected measles
  • Adhering to Standard and Airborne Precautions for patients with known or suspected measles
  • Routinely promoting and facilitating respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette 
  • Appropriately managing exposed and ill HCP 

CDC's interim guidance should be implemented as part of a comprehensive infection prevention program to prevent the spread of germs among patients, healthcare providers, and visitors. 

NetworkWebinarsnetworks partner with mtppi to host free webinars on pcori findings  
This fall, together with Medical Technology and Practice Patterns Institute (MTPPI), Quality Insights Renal Networks 3, 4 and 5 is providing a series of free webinars targeted to patients, dialysis facility staff, and nephrologists. The webinars isseminate findings from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) studies. Registration is required for each webinar and continuing education credit will be provided to nurses and social workers, for some of the events.*  See additional details below:

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. EST
Depression in Dialysis Patients - For Dialysis Professionals
Speaker: Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra
Audience: Dialysis facility staff, nephrologists
*Continuing Education Credit offered to all nurses and social workers
Register today.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EST
Patient Peer-Mentoring - For Dialysis Professionals
Speaker: Dr. Nasrollah Ghahramani
Audience: Dialysis facility staff, nephrologists
*Continuing Education Credit offered to all nurses and social workers
Register today.

Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. EST
Patient Peer-Mentoring - For Patients
Speakers: Dr. Nasrollah Ghahramani
Audience: Dialysis Patients
*Continuing Education Credit NOT OFFERED
Register today.

Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EST
Shared Decision Making - Renal Supportive Care
Speakers: Dr. Joan Berzoff and Jenny Kitsen
Audience: Social Workers
*Continuing Education Credit offered to all nurses and social workers
Register today.
antibioticsUpdate on Antibiotic Use in the United States: Progress and Opportunities  
Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Antibiotic Use in the United States: Progress and Opportunities, 2018 Update, which is an update to CDC's 2017 antibiotic stewardship report. Improving antibiotic use is important to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance, one of the most urgent threats to the public's health.

Progress has been made in improving antibiotic prescribing and use, but many opportunities remain. Help spread the word about this updated report by:
  • Reading the report. This updated report highlights data from 2018 studies, program activities, and resources related to antibiotic prescribing and use in healthcare settings.
  • Sharing the report broadly with your network and partners. This report also includes examples of antibiotic stewardship improvements in outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care settings from healthcare facilities and organizations across the country. 
  • Joining the conversation about antibiotic stewardship on social media. Like and share CDC's antibiotic stewardship content on LinkedIn and Twitter (@CDC_NCEZID). 
CDCTrainingcdc/strive announces free infection control training courses  
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the launch of the first two of 11 new infection control training courses,  Hand Hygiene and  Competency-Based Training . These courses are part of the new States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement (STRIVE) curriculum intended for the infection prevention team, hospital leaders, clinical educators, nurse and physician managers, environmental services managers, all patient care staff, and patient/family advisors. Additional courses will be launched over the summer. 

These training courses were developed by national infection prevention experts led by the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All courses are free and offer continuing education (CE).

Access the new courses at the STRIVE training page.

The STRIVE curriculum will include over forty individual training modules grouped into 11 courses that focus on Foundational and Targeted infection prevention strategies.

Foundational Infection Prevention Strategies
  • Competency-Based Training (available now)
  • Hand Hygiene (available now)
  • Strategies for Preventing HAIs
  • Environmental Cleaning
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Patient and Family Engagement
Targeted Infection Prevention Strategies
  • Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bacteremia
  • Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI)
  • Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)
CMSUpdatesCMS Updates
NHSN to begin collecting individual dialysis event dates in 2020  
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will begin collecting individual dialysis event dates in 2020. Currently, related events are reported on one form, with one event date (for example, positive blood culture and a related IV antimicrobial start). NHSN is moving toward collecting an individual event date for each event type, even if the events are related. Individual event date fields will be optional in 2020 and required by 2021. Download this overview from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more. For questions, please email [email protected] and put "dialysis" in the subject line.
transition period for new medicare card ends soon  
Starting January 1, 2020, you must use the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). Claims submitted with the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) will be rejected, with a few exceptions and reject all eligibility transactions. Protect your patients' identities by using MBIs now for all Medicare transactions. Ask your patient for his or her card. If he or she did not get a new card, give them the Get Your New Medicare Card flyer in English or Spanish. For more information, see the MLN Matters article.
ich cahps reminder and resources  
Remember to check the official web site for the ICH CAHPS Survey regularly for updated information about the ICH CAHPS Survey. Also, consider checking out the following resources: 
UpcomingEvents2Upcoming Events
patient ambassador panel tour with Chris Klug:
Saturday, november 2     
Astellas and the Chris Klug Foundation are partnering with NJ Sharing Network and Team Liberty for an upcoming Patient Ambassador Panel Tour on Saturday, November 2 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the NJ Sharing Network Headquarters at 691 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974. The event will include a full day of discussion with recipients, living donors and caregivers, including Olympic Snowboarder and liver transplant recipient Chris Klug. Klug will moderate a conversation with the panelists. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear stories from each panelist about their journey - from diagnosis to transplant, the experience with caregivers and how each of them have been living their lives to the fullest and giving back to their communities. To learn more and RSVP, download the event flyer or visit www.njsharingnetwork.org/chris-klug. 
ResourcesResources
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latest edition of KCER Watch now Available
The KCER Watch September newsletter is now available. The newsletter addresses the following topics.  
  • National Preparedness Month
  • KCER Emergency Preparedness Week
  • Storm Surge Danger
  • Emergency Preparedness Planning for the Kidney Community
  • Rx Open is Ready to Help in the Event of an Emergency
  • Don't Be a Victim: Avoid Fraud after the Storm
 
Executive Director
Quality Improvement Director
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Patient Services Director
Patient Services Coordinator
Data Manager
Data Support
 
 
Cranbury Gates Office Park
109 South Main Street,  Suite 21 
Cranbury, NJ 08512 
(609) 490-0310 
(888) 877-8400 (patients only) 
(609) 490-0835 (fax) 
This material was prepared by Quality Insights Renal Network 3 under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 

Publication No. ESRD3-102119