Author: IPRO

NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Instructions for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Patients

Beginning January 1, 2018, dialysis facilities should include acute kidney injury (AKI) patients in National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Surveillance.  Reporting AKI patient data to a new, separate NHSN location will enable CDC to exclude AKI patient data from NHSN Bloodstream Infection (BSI) information shared with CMS for purposes of the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).

The “Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Location” should be used to report Dialysis Events, and denominator data for patients who have acute kidney injury and do not have an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) diagnosis at the time of the Event, or at time of denominator data collection.

The “Acute Kidney Injury Location” was released as part of the NHSN version 8.8 update on December 2, 2017.  Please click here for instructions on using the “Acute Kidney Injury Location”.

Of those included in the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance population, the following criteria should be used to identify patients who have acute kidney injury:

1. No diagnosis of “End Stage Renal Disease” or “ESRD” in the patient medical record, or through the ESRD Medical Evidence Form (Form CMS-2728-U3).

AND

2. Physician-diagnosis of “Acute Kidney Injury: or “AKI” listed in the patient medical record (e.g., nephrologist consult or referral form).

AND

3. The event date, or date of denominator data collection, is not more than 6 months after the date the patient initiated outpatient hemodialysis.

For questions, please contact the NHSN helpdesk: nhsn@cdc.gov with “dialysis” in the subject line.

Extension of NHSN Third-Quarter 2017 Deadline for ESRD QIP

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system release on December 2, 2017, analysis reports and select alerts were not accessible to some NHSN Dialysis Component group and facility users. This issue has since been resolved, and users are now able to access their reports and receive alerts.

As a result of this issue, outpatient dialysis facilities and groups were unable to review NHSN data for completion and accuracy from December 2, 2017 through December 21, 2017. To provide facilities with ample time to review their NHSN data and make any corrections, CMS has extended the ESRD QIP deadline for facilities to enter third-quarter 2017 NHSN data to January 31, 2018.

For more information on the ESRD QIP, please visit https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/index.html. For more information about NHSN, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/dialysis/.

Thank you for your attention in this matter and for entering your facility’s data promptly. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the NHSN helpdesk at  mailto:NHSN@cdc.gov or CMS ESRD QIP team at esrdqip@cms.hhs.gov.

Identifying and Addressing Barriers for ESRD Beneficiaries

A 2013 study on the ESRD beneficiary grievance process, The ESRD Beneficiary Grievance Process (OEI-01-11-00550) conducted by the U.S. Health and Human Services, identified deficiencies at facilities across the country.  Because of this study, the following five  recommendations for improvement were made to CMS: 1) define “grievance” for facilities, 2) require that facilities report grievances regularly to their respective networks, 3) provide guidance to facilities on what constitutes a robust process for anonymous grievances, 4) work with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to add a question to the standardized satisfaction survey to assess ESRD beneficiaries’ fear of reprisal, and 5) provide networks with better technical support for their grievance database. Of these recommendations CMS is working to address barriers related to the definition of a grievance, what constitutes a robust process for anonymous grievances, and proving better technical support for the grievance database. It is important for patients to be able to file a grievance without fear of reprisal.  In order to reduce the fear of reprisal, all facilities must develop an anonymous internal grievance process that allows patients, family members, or caregivers to voice their concerns. According to CMS guidelines, in an anonymous grievance, the identity of the person(s) will remain unknown to the facility. Patients should be educated that the facility is unable to contact an anonymous grievant to inform them of the steps taken to investigate the grievance or the outcome of the investigation. In these cases, the grievant should be advised of the following:

  • The grievance will be investigated, but the facility will be unable to report back to them, unless a name and address is provided.
  • Because of the small population in dialysis facilities, the provider involved may be able to identify the grievant, even when anonymity is maintained.
  • The investigation may be limited due to minimal amount of information available to the facility.

 

Facility Involvement in Learning & Action Networks: A 2018 CMS Requirement

All facilities participating in Network QIAs are required to participate in national Learning & Action Networks (LANs) to support QIA activities. LANs provide a forum for bringing together healthcare professionals, patients, and other stakeholders around an evidence-based agenda to achieve rapid, wide-scale improvement.

Staff members at facilities participating in QIAs will be asked to participate in ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) LAN webinars associated with the QIA their facility is working on.  The Network may also select additional facilities that may benefit from an identified LAN topic. Patients and their family/caregivers will also be asked to participate in an effort to advance the work of the QIA.

The ESRD NCC LAN will support facilities in more efficiently achieving the goals of the QIAs and sustaining the improvements, by:

  • Creating a diverse forum (patients, organizations, and stakeholders) for addressing problematic issues
  • Using measurable and clear goals with proven effective practices to drive decision making
  • Setting the pace and tone for goal related activities and to create an open sharing of practice and data

Initiating change methodology which rapidly tests small quality improvement changes specific to the area of work

CDC Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition

The Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition is a partnership of organizations and individuals that have joined forces with the common goal of promoting the use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) core interventions and resources to prevent dialysis bloodstream infections. CDC’s core interventions have been proven to reduce the number of infections by half and be sustainable.  The CDC has also developed a set of audit tools, checklists, and other resources to help facilitate adoption of these critical core interventions.

The IPRO ESRD Network Program is pleased to announce that we have now joined the CDC Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition.

To learn more about the Coalition and how to become a partner or member please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/dialysis/coalition/index.html.

Understanding the 2018 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP)

CMS implemented the ESRD QIP in 2012 to help ensure that high quality healthcare is provided to all ESRD patients by incentivizing dialysis facilities through pay-for-performance based on the quality of care they deliver.  There are 16 measurements for the 2018 calendar year (CY), which will reflect in the 2020 payment year (PY). These measures should be reviewed monthly and discussed with the healthcare team at QAPI meetings.  Measures are separated into the following three components:

Clinical:
* ICH CAHPS
* Standardized Readmission Ratio
* Kt/V Dialysis Adequacy (comprehensive)
* Standardized Transfusion Ratio
* VAT Measure Topic (fistula, catheter)
* Hypercalcemia
* Standardized Hospitalization Ratio

Safety:
* NHSN BSI Measure Topic (NHSN BSI clinical, Dialysis Event reporting)

Reporting:
* Serum Phosphorus
* Anemia Management
* Pain Assessment and Follow-Up
* Clinical Depression Screening and Follow-Up
* NHSN Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination
* Ultrafiltration Rate

Additional information about the ESRD QIP:

Network staff members are available to assist facility staff in overcoming  any barriers in achieving these measures.

A Snapshot of the 2018 ESRD Network Statement of Work – What it Means to Your Facility

In October 2017 ESRD Networks received a new statement of work (SOW) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This document outlines the quality improvement activities (QIAs) that each Network is required to implement within its service area during 2018. This new SOW includes many changes to the requirements of the previous SOW. While the number of QIAs reduced from eight to four, the scope of the QIAs expanded significantly:

The number of facilities required to participate in QIAs has increased; this increase, in turn, significantly expands the number of patients that will benefit from the quality improvement activities being conducted. Any facility that is working with the Network on a QIA will be required to participate in national Learning & Action Network (LAN) webinars, hosted by the ESRD National Coordinating Council (NCC) on behalf of CMS (See article in this issue, “Facility Involvement in Learning & Action Networks: A 2018 CMS Requirement”). The QIAs are patient centered, and each participating facility is encouraged to have patients work hand-in-hand with management and the facility’s QAPI teams to ensure the success of the QIA’s goals. A brief description of each QIA, its scope, and the CMS goals follow.

Reduce Rates of Bloodstream Infections (BSI)
Fifty percent of the Network’s facilities, those with the lowest semi-annual pooled mean rates of BSI, will participate in the BSI QIA. Staff at these facilities will receive education and training on implementation of the CDC Core interventions and will be invited to the NCC LAN BSI events. Those facilities selected for participation in this QIA will be subdivided into three intervention cohorts, each of which will have different focused goals, activities, and measures of success.  Network staff will work with each of these cohorts on specific quality improvement measures to achieve the goals of the QIA.

The graphic to the right identifies the three cohorts and the following lists the goal for each cohort:

  • Each facility in the BSI cohort will work to reduce its semi-annual pooled mean rate of BSI by 20%.
  • Facilities in the Long-term Catheter (LTC) cohort will work to reduce the LTC count by two percentage points.
  • Facilities in the Health Information Exchange (HIE) cohort will work to participate in an HIE or in some other evidence-based effective information transfer system.

Improve Transplant Coordination
This year Network staff will work with 30% of the facilities in our service area to increase, by 10 percentage points over baseline, the number of eligible patients on the transplant waitlist.  Network staff will work with transplant centers and in-center facilities to meet this goal. Network staff will work with facilities to monitor patient progress using the Seven Steps to Waitlist Process outlined in the table to the right.

Promote Appropriate Home Dialysis
The Network staff will work with 30% of the facilities in its service area to increase the number of patients trained in a home modality.   The goal is to increase the initiation of home training by 10 percentage points over baseline.  In collaboration with physicians and in-center staff, Network staff will work to create a culture of “home first.”  Network staff will work with facilities to monitor patient progress toward the goal of initiating home training using the Seven Steps to Home Modality Training as outlined in the table to the right.

Population Health Focused Pilot QIA (PHFPQ): Vocational Rehabilitation
For the PHFP QIA, the Network will focus on supporting ESRD patients in attaining gainful employment through vocational rehabilitation. Working with 10% of the dialysis facilities in its service area, the Network will seek to increase referrals to approved vocational rehabilitation programs by 5%, with the ultimate goal of increasing in enrollment in vocational rehabilitation services by 2% from baseline to re-measure. Additionally, Network staff will identify a disparity within the target facilities and work with the targeted population to decrease the gap in services.

Strategies for Preventing Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients

A 2016 article in the International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease evaluates management strategies for preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections, with recognition that many patients begin hemodialysis (HD) with a catheter. The authors conclude that “Early efforts must be directed toward preventative care emphasizing placement of other vascular accesses or initiating an alternative dialysis modality, such as timely peritoneal dialysis (PD) to avert HD catheter placement before it becomes necessary.”

Findings include:

  • “Urgent start PD” programs are a safe alternative to HD in patients without an established AV fistula or graft.
  • Should no options exist outside of catheter placement, proper catheter care and infection control procedures implemented through educating and auditing dialysis unit staff as well as patients, are the first step in preventing infections.
  • In high-risk groups for whom all other conservative measures to prevent infection have failed, the authors recommend consideration of antimicrobial lock (AML) therapy.

“Prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients on hemodialysis: challenges and management strategies,”Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2016; 9: 95-103. Published online 2016 Apr 18. doi: 10.2147/IJNRD.S76826

Posting of Payment Year 2018 Performance Score Certificates

CMS regulations state that each facility’s Payment Year (PY) 2018 Performance Score Certificate (PSC) must be printed and posted in a prominent patient area within 15 business days of its availability. PSCs are expected to be available on or about December 15, 2017.

Click on the link for instructions to download and print the certificate.
http://help.esrd.ipro.org/solution/articles/9000114744-esrd-qip-payment-year-2018-guide.

For information on how ESRD QIP affects patients, please visit:
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/03_PatientImpact.html.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ESRD-QIP team at esrdqip@cms.hhs.gov. If you have any questions for the Network staff, please send an email to support@iproesrdnetwork.freshdesk.com.

News for Your Patients: CMS Announces Improved Access to High-Quality Health Coverage Choices; Decreased Premiums for 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released 2018 benefit and premium information as well as Star Ratings for Medicare health and drug plans. Changes announced represent more health coverage choices, improved access to high-quality health choices, and decreased premiums in 2018. “Medicare’s top priority is to ensure that beneficiaries have choices for affordable, high-quality care that fit their needs,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.

The following resources have been created to assist patients with understanding health coverage options:

For more information about the CMS health coverage announcement, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2017-Press-releases-items/2017-10-11.html

For information on proposed policy changes and updates for Medicare Advantage and the Prescription Drug Benefit Program for 2019, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-11-16.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending

The Grievance Process: Do You Know Your Facility’s Responsibilities?

Dialysis facilities are required to ensure a process has been implemented for patients to express concerns about their care without reprisal or denial of services.

According to CMS, a grievance is defined as “a written or oral communication from an ESRD patient, and/or an individual representing an ESRD patient, and/or another party, alleging that an ESRD service received from a Medicare-certified provider did not meet the grievant’s expectations with respect to safety, civility, patient rights, and/or clinical standards of care.” The grievant is not required to explicitly state that the care did not meet professionally recognized standards.

Federal regulations at 42 CFR §405.2112(g) specify “evaluating and resolving patient grievances” as one of the Network’s functions. The Network’s case review responsibilities include investigating grievances filed with the Network and addressing non-grievance access to care cases. However, some concerns do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Network; in these cases patients would be referred to a more appropriate agency, such as the state health department.

The following resources provided by the Network can help educate staff and patients about grievances:

For more information, or assistance with patient grievances, please contact the Patient Services Director in your Network.

Empower Your Patients: With your help, we can make a difference!

Have any of your patients or their caregivers/family members shared with you their feelings about not being heard?

Has a patient ever shared an idea they felt would be useful for others with ESRD?

If so, we know you’ll understand the value of engaging such individuals in efforts to improve patient care. We need your help!

The Network has convened a group of Patient Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to provide patient perspective and feedback to the Network on educational materials, quality improvement projects and other issues that relate to our work in improving care to ESRD patients. Please consider nominating patients, transplant recipients, and family members/care partners who are interested in sharing their talents and ideas with other SMEs in the Network.

What do SMEs do? Ultimately, they help Network staff understand what is important to patients, share useful ideas and experiences, and foster Network initiatives at their own dialysis facility and transplant center. Their efforts focus on providing feedback on Network quality improvement activities related to infection prevention, transplant referrals, home dialysis training, vocational rehabilitation, and patient engagement.

For more information, please contact your local Network.