Qsource ESRD Network Updates
Qsource is monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak closely and has put the necessary measures in place to protect our staff and their families. At the same time, we continue to serve and support our customers, healthcare partners and stakeholders, as we work together through the coronavirus pandemic to ensure the very best outcomes possible for our communities. We remain committed to our mission, our responsibilities, and we’re here to help.
Dialysis Facility Impact
If your local facility is impacted in any way (e.g., supply/PPE challenges, staffing concerns, and/or patient schedules) please make sure you notify the Network. We participate on daily calls with Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition. Your insight to the impacts of operations, staffing and patient care is welcomed. 
Regarding Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) Participation and other requests:
  • Network QIAs will continue as normal, as of now.
  • If you have a specific need or concern regarding participation in a QIA at a specific facility, please email us at NW10-QIDept@qsource.org for Illinois or NW12-QIDept@qsource.org for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, or Nebraska.
Please note: Facilities may have the ability to be temporarily removed from participation, as appropriate, for imp act of COVID-19. These facilities will be required to give routine updates to the Network for tracking, per Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, including but not limited to patient and staff status, infection control issues & best practices, and PPE status.
Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER)
KCER is working closely with national and local stakeholders as the nation continues to monitor COVID-19. Follow KCER alerts regarding COVID-19 .
KCER WHAT IF Campaign

If you need help talking to your patients about what they should do if they have no transportation to get to dialysis treatment or run out of medication, the KCER WHAT IF campaign can help. It offers an interactive way to improve emergency preparedness and patient engagement in the dialysis facility. It is also a unique way to meet the requirements of the CMS rule to increase patient safety during emergencies and establish a more coordinated response to natural and man-made disasters. Flyers, posters, brochures, and more can be found on the KCER website .
Patient Emergency Hotlines

  • DaVita: 800.400.8331
  • Fresenius: 800.626.1297
  • Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI): 866.424.1990
  • American Renal Associates (ARA): 888.880.6867
  • Satellite: 800.367.8292
  • U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 800.985.5990
  • U.S. Renal Care: 866.671.8772
  • Veteran Disaster Relief Hotline: 800.507.4571 
Patient Grants

There are grants available to help pay for things such as transportation, medication, and/or food after an emergency. The Patient Grant Library has links to disaster relief grants.

Grants may be offered by local and state government or by the federal government. Some may accept applications from individuals. Share the website with patients and encourage them to read the requirements and see if one may apply to them.
National Agencies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
According to the CDC, more cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified, and it is likely that at some point, widespread transmission of COVID-19 will occur in the United States. The CDC also has a webpage with information for healthcare professionals that offers interim guidance for clinical care , infection control , lab testing , environmental cleaning , and worker safety . For additional information from the CDC on COVID-19 visit the CDC website .
Receiving Dialysis During an Emergency

CDC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teamed up to create this video to help prepare dialysis patients for managing their dialysis during an emergency or natural disaster.
Financial Preparedness

Ready.gov provides resources on financial preparedness. This video shares three tips for financial planning to help individuals prepare for disasters.
Patient Engagement in the Time of COVID-19
Until further notice, it is recommended that patient engagement and advocacy activities such as peer mentoring, hosting Lobby Days, attending support groups, and participating in QAPI meetings be done virtually, over the telephone, online or thru another distant, non-person to person format to limit patient exposure risk.

This memo on the CMS website addresses prescriptions and may be of interest to patients and facilities.
This newsletter was prepared and distributed by Qsource ESRD Network 10 under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (contract number HHSM-500-2016-00010C and HHSM-500-2016-00012C). The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 19.Q-ESRD.03.042
ESRD Network 10: 317-257-8265 | Patient Line: 800-456-6919 | Website
ESRD Network 12: 816-880-9990 | Patient Line: 800-444-9965 | Website