KCER Watch

Welcome to the March Edition of KCER Watch

In This Issue   KCER Updates and Response to Coronavirus Flood Safety and Preparedness The CDC Provides Tips for Dialysis Patients Before a Disaster Strikes Money Matters in Disaster Planning Engage Patients in Emergency Preparedness with the KCER WHAT IF Campaign ESRD NCC Patient Grant Library—Emergency Grants

KCER Updates and Response to Coronavirus

KCER is working closely with national and local stakeholders as the nation continues to monitor the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Follow KCER alerts regarding COVID-19 by visiting https://www.kcercoalition.com/en/alerts-recalls/. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. The National Governors Association (NGA) created an interactive webpage to share steps the state government are taking to address COVID-19.

Flood Safety and Preparedness

Floods are the most common natural disasters in the United States. There is no set flood season. However, for most areas, seasonal thunderstorms in spring and summer are the most common times for flooding. "In the United States floods kill more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning."* You’ll have a better chance of surviving a flood if you follow these tips from Ready.gov/floods . *Source: The National Severe Storms Laboratory. Severe Weather 101: Floods. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/floods/

The CDC Provides Tips for Dialysis Patients Before a Disaster Strikes

Preparation is key for dialysis patients in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. In the video link below, the CDC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide guidance on what patients and family members can do now to prepare for the worst.

Education/Communication

Money Matters in Disaster Planning April is National Financial Capability Month. Personal financial planning helps individuals and families prepare for disasters, both big and small. One of the best ways to prepare for a natural disaster is knowing the risks of where you live and saving for the unexpected. Here are some tips to get you started from ready.gov/financial-preparedness to get you started.

Engage Patients in Emergency Preparedness with the KCER WHAT IF Campaign

Have you talked 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 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: https://www.kcercoalition.com/en/patients/what-if..3.campaign/

ESRD NCC Patient Grant Library

Did you know there are grants to help pay for things such as transportation, medication, and/or food after an emergency? The End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center (ESRD NCC) Patient Grant Library has links to disaster relief grants. Grants may be offered by your local and state government or by the federal government. Some may accept applications from individuals. Read the requirements and see if one may apply to you or bookmark this page in case you need it in the future. https://www.kcercoalition.com/en/patients/emergency-grants/

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

KCER Patient ID Card The KCER Patient Identification (ID) Card can assist patients with having critical information on hand in case of an emergency. Download it now from the KCER Patient Identification Card webpage .

Find this month's KCER Watch, along with past editions, on our website: www.kcercoalition.com/kcerwatch

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This material was prepared the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) contractor, 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 nor imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. FL-KCER-7K5T6B-03172020-01