Sent to all dialysis facility leadership and disaster contacts in NY State with valid email addresses in CROWNWeb, and all Emergency partners and stakeholders in the Network Service Area.
UPDATE: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) Relief from QIP Reporting

CMS announced relief from QIP-related reporting requirements for CROWNWeb and the ESRD QIP on March 22, 2020.  Find the full CMS press release here .  

CMS published an additional bulletin on March 27, 2020 here , with ESRD information on pp.9-10. This bulletin clarifies the original and includes new information on NHSN QIP relief, and information on opting out of the relief.

Excerpt: "Dialysis facilities should be aware of the potential subsequent impact to a facility’s total performance score (TPS) when data are excluded from score calculations. Facilities impacted by COVID-19 may elect to opt out of the CMS granted exception by emailing the request to the ESRD QIP at  esrdqip@cms.hhs.gov . The email must be sent by the dialysis facility’s chief executive officer (CEO) or designee.  We are requesting that a dialysis facility make this request within 90 days of March 22, 2020.  For further assistance regarding the ESRD QIP information contained in this message, please contact the ESRD QIP at  esrdqip@cms.hhs.gov ."
New York City Staffing Assistance

The City of New York will work to fill the needs of healthcare facilities with licensed healthcare staff as they are available. If you are a healthcare facility seeking New York State-certified healthcare workers, please  complete this form .


UPCOMING Webinars

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 NOON
The Northern Manhattan Healthcare Emergency Liaison Partnership (North HELP)  link
Dialysis Centers: Call Regarding COVID-19 Preparations #2
Register here

Thursday, April 2, 2020 2:00 PM
NYC DOHMH Update on COVID-19 for New York City Healthcare Providers
Register for Webex here
American Society of Nephrology
COVID-19 W ebinars


Ma rch 11: COVID-19 Information for Providers of Dialysis Services
MANDATORY NETWORK REPORTING

It is very important that your facility report any COVID-19 Impact on your facility (Including staff shortages, need to alter treatments, any Persons Under Investigation (PUI) or Confirmed COVID-19 Positive, as we report to CMS daily.

If you have any patients or staff that are being tested (PUI) or that are unable to access the dialysis facility due to voluntary 14-day isolation, or confirmed COVID-19. Please submit this brief online Network reporting form.
https://redcap.ipro.org/surveys/?s=XAJLFDJPT8
CDC Checklist and Guidance Pages

CDC Checklist: COVID-19 Outpatient Dialysis Facility Preparedness Assessment Tool link

NEW Additional CDC Guidance (3/23) Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Patients with COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings ( Interim Guidance )

Screening and Triage at Intake Screening Dialysis Patients for COVID-19 link

How is our dialysis facility keeping patients safe from COVID-19 Printable Fact Sheet
CDC Advisory
Severe Illness Associated with Using Non-Pharmaceutical Chloroquine Phosphate to Prevent and Treat Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Find the full CDC HAN here

Recommendations for Clinicians and Public Health Officials
  • Educate patients on the serious risks of misusing non-pharmaceutical chloroquine products and other aquarium use chemicals.
  • Counsel your patients on the importance of taking medications only as prescribed and as directed by healthcare providers.
  • Contact your local poison center (1-800-222-1222) to report cases and to obtain specific medical management of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine poisoning.
  • Adverse events related to pharmaceuticals can be reported to the FDA MedWatch program (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program). Adverse events related to non-pharmaceutical products can be reported by emailing FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov or calling 1-888-InfoFDA (1-888-463-6332).
PPE Conservation Guidance

On Thursday, March 19, 2020, New York State has over 4,000 Active COVID-19 (+) positive patients. The COVID-19 virus has impacted the dialysis community and 18 ESRD patients have now tested positive for COVID-19, 28 ESRD Patients are under investigation (PUI) and multiple staff members are in voluntary 14 -day isolation and 9 staff members are awaiting test outcomes.  

COVID-19 has created a strain on resources, which includes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Shortages. In following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities.

Please continue to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) per guidelines:
  • CDC: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE including sections on eye protection, isolation gowns, facemasks, and N95 respirators link
  • NYCDOHMH Strategies for the Conservation of Respiratory PPE link
  • FDA : Surgical Mask and Gown Conservation Strategies - Letter to Healthcare Providers link

These shortages are being addressed daily on a National level, and we will share any future updates.
Disposition of Non-Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

This CDC Guidance provides various protocols for allowing patients to discontinue home isolation. at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html
Return to Work Criteria for Health Care Personnel
with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19

Guidance includes including sections on Return to Work Practices and Work Restrictions, and Crisis Strategies to Mitigate Staffing Shortages at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/hcp-return-work.html
COVID-19 Community Resources:


Patient Resources:
IPRO ESRD Network of New York
1979 Marcus Ave, Suite 105 Lake Success, NY 10042
Phone:  516-209-5578  · Fax:  516-326-8929
IPRO End-Stage Renal Disease Network of New York, the ESRD Organization for New York, 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.