February | 2022
February 2022 QIA Participation Updates
This monthly communication is part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Improvement Goals for Vaccination, Hospitalizations, and Patient and Family Engagement. Each month, Qsource ESRD Networks will share specific resources and interventions to help you meet the CMS goals at your facility. Use these tools and resources in your facilities to implement and support sustainable change among your staff and patients.
Have questions? Need assistance? Want to share a success story from your facility? Email Us
Reduce Hospital Admissions, Readmissions, and Outpatient Emergency Visits
New Resource Available!

Missed treatments increase the risk of hospitalization for dialysis patients. This workbook helps patients take an active role in their care by understanding the importance of attending every treatment. There are modules and activities included that may help patients avoid health-related problems because of missed treatments. 
February is Black History Month
and American Heart Month
Black Americans have a higher risk of developing heart disease than non-Hispanic whites and other ethnic groups. Learn more from our partners at the National Kidney Foundation.
ESRD Patients and the Importance of Vaccination
Date: Feb. 23
Time: 9 a.m. CT
Vaccination Webinar
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. Keeping up to date on vaccinations is imperative to the health of both staff and patients. Please join Qsource ESRD Networks and Telligen to hear Dr. Marie Philipneri talk in greater detail about individual vaccines and their importance, as well as vaccine adherence.
Pneumococcal
Clinical Tool
This clinical tool summarizes how to implement adult pneumococcal vaccination recommendations and addresses the needs for adults with certain medical conditions. 
Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update
It’s not too late for a flu shot! Check out this surveillance report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to see flu activity in your area and across the nation.
Immunization
Newsletter
If you missed the January Immunization Newsletter,
COVID Vaccination
CMS strongly recommends that healthcare workers receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. Please see this letter from CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
Patient and Family Engagement
Life Planning

Use these resources to help your patients set new goals that are important to their individual lifestyle. 
My Dialysis Plan™
My Dialysis Plan™ is an interdisciplinary plan of care program designed to align dialysis care with patient-identified priorities and improve the care planning experience. The program was developed in collaboration with patients, clinic personnel, and medical providers. My Dialysis Plan™ aims to:

  • Individualize dialysis care by using patient-identified priorities as the foundation
  • Promote meaningful conversations and shared decision-making among care teams and patients
  • Help patients achieve their personal and health goals
  • Improve engagement and satisfaction with dialysis care planning for all
Including the Patient Voice in QAPI
From our colleagues at the IPRO ESRD Network Program, this five-minute video is for clinical staff to consider simple ways your facility can include patients in your monthly QAPI meetings and improve your facility’s patient and family engagement.
Let’s Talk About Dialysis
Care Planning

This three-minute video features patients talking about their dialysis journey and how care teams can tailor care plans to each individual’s life.
PEERS in Action
Schedule Now Available
2022 PEERS in Action Connection Calls

The goal of the PEERS In Action Connection Call is to provide an opportunity for kidney patients and caregivers to connect to the Network and each other, share ideas and learn what they can do at their clinic to improve the patient experience. 
Join the PEERS in Action Connection Calls the second Thursday and Friday of every other month at 1 p.m. CT. 
This material was prepared by Qsource, an End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. 22.Q-ESRD.02.026
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