This ESRD facility monthly newsletter highlights the latest ESRD insights and resources. Our goal is to provide you with a resource that makes it easy for you to stay on top of trends and support you in providing the best possible care for those you work with and serve.
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“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be, well, January.” - Jim Gaffigan, comedian
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In This Issue:
- News and Updates
- Alabama Units
- Upcoming Training
- February Health Observance
- March Recognition
- Patient Services
- De-Escalation Strategies for Dialysis Staff
- Home Dialysis
- Highlighting Home Modalities and Fluid Management
- Hospital Admissions and ER Visits
- Celebrating Heart Health: "Love Your Heart" Month
- Transplant
- Kidney Paired Donation: Expanding Transplant Options
- Vaccinations
- Using Motivational Interviewing to Address Vaccine Hesitancy
- Patient and Family Engagement
- New Video: Addressing Missed Treatments
- EQRS
- Focus on EQRS Discharge Choices
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- Alabama Units: The UAB School of Public Health, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health Bureau of Communicable Disease, Infectious Diseases and Outbreaks Division and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will launch free dialysis infection prevention workshops across Alabama this year. These one-day workshops will feature morning sessions on key infection prevention topics for dialysis centers and hands-on infection prevention simulation stations in the afternoon, led by dialysis and infection prevention experts. Dates and locations will be announced soon. Additionally, all outpatient dialysis centers in Alabama will receive Glo Germ kits and a link to videos on how to use the kit to teach hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. Alabama nurse managers, watch for a separate email from Sheila McMaster with more details.
- Upcoming Training: Recent reports revealed factors associated with bloodstream infection risk in dialysis patients. A new three-part series for Project Firstline, the CDC’s National Training Collaborative for Infection Prevention and Control, will address these factors. Experts will discuss the role of social determinants of health in educating patients about infection risks from central venous catheters. Join Decreasing the Risk of Dialysis-Related Infections: Central Venous Catheters on Friday, February 14, 2025, from 10-11 a.m. ET to learn how all care team members can help to prevent catheter-related infections. CLICK HERE to register.
- February Health Observance: To celebrate American Heart Month, check out the American Heart Association website for heart health resources.
- March Recognition: In March, we celebrate social workers and dietitians, including our ESRD social workers. Thank you for your dedication and expertise!
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Enhancing Communication: A Guide to Effective De-Escalation
As health care professionals, we aim to provide excellent care in a positive environment, but conflicts can arise. Effective de-escalation skills are vital to keeping patients and staff calm and safe.
The Decreasing Patient-Provider Conflict Manual (DPC Addendum), developed by the ESRD Networks, is a resource to help dialysis facility staff understand conflict and respond appropriately. Each module contains key concepts, case scenarios, and discussion topics to enhance conflict resolution skills and improve staff-patient communication. The training also highlights how verbal and non-verbal interactions can trigger or escalate conflicts.
We encourage facilities to use the DPC Addendum to train inexperienced staff and for routine in-service training. For questions or to discuss specific incidents, contact the Network.
We encourage facilities to use the DPC Addendum to train inexperienced staff and for routine in-service training. For questions or to discuss specific incidents, contact the Network.
Contacts:
Network 8: ericka.webb@allianthealth.org
Network 14: cassandra.hanna@allianthealth.org
Network 8: ericka.webb@allianthealth.org
Network 14: cassandra.hanna@allianthealth.org
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Dialysis Education: Video Shows Benefits of Home Modalities
As we work to successfully complete this contract cycle, we encourage all clinicians to review how home modality education is presented to patients. While discussing the advantages and disadvantages of home modalities, it is also important to address in-center hemodialysis (ICHD), particularly regarding total time expenditure per treatment, including travel and wait time, as one common barrier to home dialysis is the time invested compared to ICHD.
The Home Dialysis Central's Water Removal in Hemodialysis video illustrates the benefits of this investment as home modalities are generally a gentler form of dialysis for fluid removal, decreasing episodes of cramping and headaches while helping to maintain vital organ perfusion, which may impact cardiac function. This video is also an excellent review of fluid removal basics for clinical staff.
Home Dialysis Contacts:
Network 8: katherine.buntin@allianthealth.org
Network 14: grace.robbins@allianthealth.org
Network 8: katherine.buntin@allianthealth.org
Network 14: grace.robbins@allianthealth.org
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Facility Celebrates Heart Health With "Love Your Heart" Month
Focusing on cardiovascular health is a key part of keeping patients healthy and reducing hospitalizations. This February, we want to highlight a facility celebrating heart health with “Love Your Heart” Month.
Tanya Aguilar of DaVita Mercedes Dialysis in Mercedes, Texas, has planned several activities for staff and patients to promote heart health. The unit is decorated with a Valentine’s theme, and staff and patients will wear red shirts on certain days. Patients will also receive one-on-one education on heart health and the dangers of fluid overload through a hands-on balloon demonstration, illustrating how overstretching affects elasticity.
Tanya Aguilar of DaVita Mercedes Dialysis in Mercedes, Texas, has planned several activities for staff and patients to promote heart health. The unit is decorated with a Valentine’s theme, and staff and patients will wear red shirts on certain days. Patients will also receive one-on-one education on heart health and the dangers of fluid overload through a hands-on balloon demonstration, illustrating how overstretching affects elasticity.
Additional activities include:
- Perfect Attendance Recognition: Patients with perfect attendance in January and February will receive a certificate and a ticket for a "New (Toy) Car" raffle.
- Wall of Fame: Patients can take photos with props to be displayed.
- Special Valentine’s Treats for all participants.
Hospitalization Contact: koby.guthrie@allianthealth.org
Kidney Paired Donation: Expanding Transplant Options
Many patients awaiting a kidney transplant may have a potential living donor who is not a compatible match. Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) offers a life-saving solution for these patients, reducing reliance on dialysis and the uncertainty of waiting for a deceased donor.
In KPD, an incompatible recipient-donor pair is matched with one or more other incompatible pairs to create kidney transplant chains where each patient receives a compatible kidney from a living donor.
To help patients better understand kidney transplants and KPD, My Kidney Transplant & Paired Donation Coach is a new, easy-to-follow animated video series. This 10-part series answers common patient questions in a clear and engaging format. Watch and share these short videos to educate and empower your patients.
To help patients better understand kidney transplants and KPD, My Kidney Transplant & Paired Donation Coach is a new, easy-to-follow animated video series. This 10-part series answers common patient questions in a clear and engaging format. Watch and share these short videos to educate and empower your patients.
Transplant Contact: arlandra.taylor@allianthealth.org
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Vaccinations
Using Motivational Interviewing to Address Vaccine Hesitancy
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a powerful tool for health care professionals to address vaccine hesitancy. It involves a patient-centered approach that encourages individuals to talk about their concerns and motivations, guiding them toward making informed decisions about vaccination.
Show Empathy
Start by showing empathy to validate the patient’s feelings and concerns, which fosters trust and promotes productive conversation. Respect the patient’s autonomy by asking permission to discuss vaccines first. For example, “Do you mind if we talk about your thoughts on vaccines?” This shows respect and makes the patient more receptive to discussion.
Encourage Self-Motivation
Ask open-ended questions that prompt the patient to express their reasons for considering vaccinations. For example, “Would it be okay if I shared some information about how vaccines work?” You can tailor your responses accordingly.
Reinforce the patient’s autonomy and support their decision-making process. Offer support and resources to help them make an informed choice, e.g., “I respect your decision, and I’m here to support you with any information you need.”
Start by showing empathy to validate the patient’s feelings and concerns, which fosters trust and promotes productive conversation. Respect the patient’s autonomy by asking permission to discuss vaccines first. For example, “Do you mind if we talk about your thoughts on vaccines?” This shows respect and makes the patient more receptive to discussion.
Encourage Self-Motivation
Ask open-ended questions that prompt the patient to express their reasons for considering vaccinations. For example, “Would it be okay if I shared some information about how vaccines work?” You can tailor your responses accordingly.
- Vaccine ingredients: “Vaccines contain safe amounts of necessary components. Would you like more details on any specific ingredient?”
- Side effects: “Most side effects are mild and temporary, like a sore arm or mild fever. Serious side effects are rare and monitored closely.”
Reinforce the patient’s autonomy and support their decision-making process. Offer support and resources to help them make an informed choice, e.g., “I respect your decision, and I’m here to support you with any information you need.”
Vaccination Contact: hayley.errington@alllianthealth.org
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New Video: Helping Patients to Stay on Track With Treatment
The Network has a new Toonly video to address missed treatments. Patients can watch it in their preferred language or use closed captions.
Viewers are encouraged to leave comments on whether the video was helpful and offer suggestions for improvement. Facilities can play the video on lobby televisions or show it to patients who do not have access to the link or QR code.
Viewers are encouraged to leave comments on whether the video was helpful and offer suggestions for improvement. Facilities can play the video on lobby televisions or show it to patients who do not have access to the link or QR code.
Watch the Toonly using the QR code or the video link below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Patient and Family Engagement Contacts:
Network 8: casey.rich@allianthealth.org
Network 14: ericka.webb@allianthealth.org
Network 8: casey.rich@allianthealth.org
Network 14: ericka.webb@allianthealth.org
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Clarifying EQRS Discharge Reasons: A Quick Reporting Guide
Due to instances of incorrect EQRS discharge reasons, we want to provide a review. The information below was provided by the Quality Insights Renal Networks.
Official ESRD Discharge Reasons and Their Use
Acute: The patient was on dialysis but was NOT ESRD. (Do not admit ACUTE patients in EQRS.)
Death: The ESRD patient has died.
Delayed Function Resolved following a Transplant: The transplanted kidney has begun to function, and temporary supportive dialysis is no longer required.
Delayed Function Unresolved Following a Transplant: The transplanted kidney has NOT begun to function, and the patient must return to a regular course of dialysis.
Discontinue: The ESRD patient has chosen to stop dialysis and has not died within 30 days after stopping treatment at the facility.
Involuntary: The ESRD patient is involuntarily discharged from the facility. YOU MUST contact your ESRD Network.
Lost to Follow-Up (LTFU): The ESRD patient has stopped coming for treatment, has made no contact with the facility, and their location is unknown. YOU MUST contact your ESRD Network.
Other: The chronic dialysis patient left the country or is imprisoned.
Recovered Function of Original Kidney: The ESRD patient no longer needs dialysis and has regained the function of their original kidney.
Transplant in U.S.: The ESRD patient received a kidney transplant in the United States.
Transplant Outside the U.S.: The ESRD patient received a kidney transplant outside the United States.
Transfer (and subcategories)
Dialysis Facility: An ESRD patient has been permanently transferred to another outpatient dialysis facility.
Hospice: An ESRD patient has chosen to stop dialysis and is now receiving hospice.
Hospital: An ESRD patient is admitted to the hospital and the patient is expected to remain hospitalized for 30 days or more.
Long-Term Care Facility: An ESRD patient is admitted to a Long-Term Care facility and is expected to remain there for 30 days or more.
Nursing Home: An ESRD patient has permanently transferred to a nursing home and will no longer be coming to his/her outpatient dialysis facility for treatment.
Rehab Center: An ESRD patient is admitted to a rehab center and is expected to remain there for 30 days or more.
Patients must be followed for 30 days unless they are admitted to another outpatient dialysis, and a CMS 2746 form must be completed if the patient dies within that 30-day period.
Official ESRD Discharge Reasons and Their Use
Acute: The patient was on dialysis but was NOT ESRD. (Do not admit ACUTE patients in EQRS.)
Death: The ESRD patient has died.
Delayed Function Resolved following a Transplant: The transplanted kidney has begun to function, and temporary supportive dialysis is no longer required.
Delayed Function Unresolved Following a Transplant: The transplanted kidney has NOT begun to function, and the patient must return to a regular course of dialysis.
Discontinue: The ESRD patient has chosen to stop dialysis and has not died within 30 days after stopping treatment at the facility.
Involuntary: The ESRD patient is involuntarily discharged from the facility. YOU MUST contact your ESRD Network.
Lost to Follow-Up (LTFU): The ESRD patient has stopped coming for treatment, has made no contact with the facility, and their location is unknown. YOU MUST contact your ESRD Network.
Other: The chronic dialysis patient left the country or is imprisoned.
Recovered Function of Original Kidney: The ESRD patient no longer needs dialysis and has regained the function of their original kidney.
Transplant in U.S.: The ESRD patient received a kidney transplant in the United States.
Transplant Outside the U.S.: The ESRD patient received a kidney transplant outside the United States.
Transfer (and subcategories)
Dialysis Facility: An ESRD patient has been permanently transferred to another outpatient dialysis facility.
Hospice: An ESRD patient has chosen to stop dialysis and is now receiving hospice.
Hospital: An ESRD patient is admitted to the hospital and the patient is expected to remain hospitalized for 30 days or more.
Long-Term Care Facility: An ESRD patient is admitted to a Long-Term Care facility and is expected to remain there for 30 days or more.
Nursing Home: An ESRD patient has permanently transferred to a nursing home and will no longer be coming to his/her outpatient dialysis facility for treatment.
Rehab Center: An ESRD patient is admitted to a rehab center and is expected to remain there for 30 days or more.
Patients must be followed for 30 days unless they are admitted to another outpatient dialysis, and a CMS 2746 form must be completed if the patient dies within that 30-day period.
Resource: December 2024 EQRS News
EQRS Contacts:
robert.bain@allianthealth.org, mary.dearman@allianthealth.org or lenard.justice@allianthealth.org
robert.bain@allianthealth.org, mary.dearman@allianthealth.org or lenard.justice@allianthealth.org
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Our mailing address is:
ESRD Networks 8 & 14
P.O. Box 105337
Atlanta, GA 30348