Qsource ESRD Network Updates
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER)
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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
.
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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
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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.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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There is information on both test-based and symptom-based strategies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
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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.
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Financial Preparedness
Ready.gov provides resources on financial preparedness. This video shares three tips for financial planning to help individuals prepare for disasters.
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Patient Engagement in the Time of COVID-19
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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.
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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
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ESRD Network 10: 317-257-8265 | Patient Line: 800-456-6919
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Website
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ESRD Network 12: 816-880-9990 | Patient Line: 800-444-9965
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Website
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