Category: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

2020 NHSN Dialysis Event Updates

The NHSN Dialysis Team will host a webinar on December 4th and December 5th at 3pm EDT that will provide updates to the NHSN Dialysis Component for 2020. These webinars are identical, but are offered on two days to reach the maximum number of NHSN users. We will only be accepting questions and comments via the webinar chat box, and will answer as many questions during the webinar as time allows. Please e-mail the NHSN helpdesk at nhsn@cdc.gov with “Dialysis” in the subject line following the webinar if we do not address your questions, and we will follow up with you directly.

Please pre-register via one of the links below:

Title: NHSN Dialysis Surveillance Call
Date: 12/4/2019
Time: 3:00 PM EST
Duration: 1 hour
Audience Listen By Phone: 706-418-5005(United States)
Passcode: 77572898#
Conference URL: https://globalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1272194&tp_key=38d01fc74f

Title: NHSN Dialysis Surveillance Call
Date: 12/5/2019
Time: 3:00 PM EST
Duration: 1 hour
Audience Listen By Phone: 706-418-5005
Passcode: 47347711#
Conference URL: https://globalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1272202&tp_key=d2a3e8f9bf

NHSN Training

Required Annual Training: The Dialysis Event Module annual training has been updated and moved to a new platform called CDC TRAIN. Self-paced training and post-assessment will remain the same as the previous version, but the CDC TRAIN platform requires you to register with the site, and allows you to save your training certificates after completion. NHSN recommends that all users take this training, but at least one user per facility is required to take and pass this training annually. Find the training course and instruction guide at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/dialysis/event/index.html. Email NHSN@cdc.gov with “Dialysis” in the subject line with any questions.

Training Needs Assessment: In taking the NHSN Dialysis Event Module Training Needs Assessment, some users experienced a system error which only permitted them to complete the Demographics section of the survey. If you experienced this, please retake the Assessment, at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DialysisEventTNA. NHSN apologizes for the inconvenience and truly values your input. If you have not taken the Assessment yet, please do, to help NHSN better understand training needs for the Dialysis Event Module. The Assessment will remain open until May 31, 2019.

NHSN Dialysis Event Module Annual Training Update

The Dialysis Event Module annual training has been updated and moved to a new platform called CDC TRAIN. The content of the self-paced training and post-assessment will remain the same as the previous version; however, the CDC TRAIN platform requires each user to register with the site, and allows each user to save their training certificates after completion.

As a reminder, we recommend all users take this training, but at least one user per facility is required to take and pass the training annually. Users can access the training course and our instruction guide on our website under “Training” tab at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/dialysis/event/index.html

Please contact NHSN@cdc.gov with “Dialysis” in the subject line with any questions.

QIP News: PSSRs, NHSN Deadline, Pain Assessment

PSSRs: CMS has announced that PY2019 Performance Score Summary Reports or PSSRs are now available. The PSSR is a spreadsheet containing the performance values of each facility for PY2019. It provides information about facility performance on each ESRD QIP measure as well as the Total Performance Score. Find the PSSRs at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/Downloads/PY2019-Performance-Score-Summary-Report-.XLSX. It’s a 12+ megabyte file, so it may take several minutes to download and open.

NHSN: CMS has also announced an extension to the NHSN data entry deadline for the ESRD QIP fourth reporting quarter of 2018 (data for October 1 – December 31, 2018) from March 31, 2019 to April 1, 2019.

Assistance regarding PSSRs or the NHSN deadline can be obtained by contacting the ESRD QIP Support Team using the ESRD QIP Q&A Tool at https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com/app/homeesrdqip/p/960. For questions or concerns regarding use of the ESRD QIP system, contact the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 866-288-8912 between 5am and 7pm PT Monday-Friday.

Pain Assessment data submission into CROWNWeb will no longer be required by CMS starting March 1, 2019. The Pain Assessment screen will remain active for facilities to review previously reported data. For details see http://mycrownweb.org/2019/02/pain-assessment-submission/.

NHSN Trainings

NHSN will present four training sessions in March, all at 3-4pm EST. Join any of the four by telephone only at 303.248.0285, Access Code 6393927. To join via computer (including audio):

  • Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol: NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance reporting is required for the CMS ESRD QIP. Complete introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event reporting requirements and surveillance definitions necessary to complete accurate monthly reporting. Both sessions will be held 3-4pm EST.
    o  March 5, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/nv7i0guhmafn&eom.
    o  Repeated March 6, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/is7rdbd8gnym&eom.
  •  Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports: Applying NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance definitions via case studies that address common reporting questions. Includes introduction to running and interpreting popular NHSN reports to review your facility’s data, including BSI rates. Both sessions will be held 3-4pm EST.
    o  March 12, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/avggcki49p0g&eom.
    o  Repeated March 13, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yzbfurn4zfm2&eom.

NHSN Data Deadline for PY2020 QIP

NHSN has advised that NHSN data for July 1-September 30, 2018 must be submitted and corrected by December 31, 2018 in order to be applied to PY2020 QIP scores. NHSN recommends:

Contact the NHSN Helpdesk at nhsn@cdc.gov with subject line “Dialysis” if you have any questions.

The NHSN software was updated to Version 9.2 on December 8, 2018, with many additions and changes, including analysis updates. Please carefully review pages 1 and 7-8 of the Version 9.2 release notes at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/NHSN/NHSN9.2.pdf for important details about these changes. To use any of the new analysis output options you must first Regenerate Datasets. Send any questions to the NHSN Helpdesk at NHSN@cdc.gov.

The CMS ESRD QIP NHSN Reporting Measure Deadline and Data Quality Checks

Reporting to NHSN for the CMS ESRD QIP rule:

Facilities must follow NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol and Reporting for calendar year 2018 (payment year 2020) for compliance with the ESRD QIP. The quarterly reporting deadline for April – June 2018 data is on or before September 30, 2018.

Data Quality Checks: 

NHSN data should be completely and accurately reported according to the Dialysis Event Protocol. Determining whether or not the data are correct is your facility’s responsibility. Data quality checks should be performed before the data submission deadline for the quarter. For example, for April to June data, quality checks should be performed by September 30. For more information on how to perform data quality checks, please go to https://iproesrdnetwork.freshdesk.com/solution/articles/9000153404-how-to-perform-data-quality-checks- or https://iproesrdnetwork.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/folders/9000169529

CDC Extends Deadline for Submission of NHSN “Agreement to Participate and Consent” form to June 15, 2018

NHSN’s stated purposes have been recently updated with new provisions for sharing data with local and territorial health departments and with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a result all newly enrolled facilities must accept the Agreement to Participate and Consent upon enrollment, and all currently participating facilities must accept or “re-consent” to the Agreement.
  • Currently enrolled facilities are required to accept the new Agreement to Participate and Consent electronically by June 15, 2018.
  • If a facility fails to re-consent by the deadline, its NHSN functionality will be suspended until the consent form is accepted.
  • Newly enrolled facilities must consent within 60 days of enrolling in NHSN.
  • After submitting enrollment forms, the person(s) listed as the Dialysis Component Primary Contact and the Healthcare Personnel Primary Contact must log in to the enrolled facility in NHSN.
  • On the Dialysis component homepage, the primary contact should review the electronic consent form and then check the ‘Accept’ box and click ‘Submit’.
  • For more information contact NHSN@cdc.gov with “consent form” in the subject line or visit https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/about-nhsn/faq-agreement-to-participate.html.

CDC Extends Deadline for NHSN Agreement to Participate and Consent Form to June 15, 2018

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended the deadline for completing the online National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Agreement to Participate and Consent form, referred to as the Consent in this announcement. The new deadline for completing the Consent, June 15, 2018, applies to ALL facilities reporting data to NHSN including those for the following Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) programs:

  • Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program
  • Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program
  • Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program
  • Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program
  • End Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program
  • Long Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program

The Consent is accessible to only the NHSN Facility Administrator or Primary Contact user. The new deadline provides additional time for each facility’s NHSN Facility Administrator or Primary Contact to complete the online Consent and avoid any interruptions in access to the NHSN application, including access for purposes of submitting data to meet local, state, or federal reporting requirements. If the Consent is not completed by the new deadline, access to NHSN will be temporarily suspended. Additionally, users will receive an error message when they attempt to log into NHSN, redirecting them to the Facility Administrator or Primary Contact.

CMS quality reporting deadlines for NHSN measure reporting are not affected by this extension.

NHSN provides assistance to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding the Consent process. For more information on how to complete the NHSN Agreement to Participate and Consent process, please visit, https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/about-nhsn/faq-agreement-to-participate.html. You may also direct questions to NHSN@cdc.gov.

NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Training Webinars

The CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Team will provide live webinars in May for new or experienced NHSN users. CDC subject matter experts will be available to answer your questions about NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance.

Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol: NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance reporting is required for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) rule. This session will provide a complete introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event reporting requirements and the surveillance definitions necessary to complete accurate monthly reporting.

Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports: Learn how to apply NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance definitions through case studies that address common reporting questions. The session also will include an introduction to running and interpreting the most popular NHSN reports so you can review your facility’s data, including Dialysis Event bloodstream infection rates.

 

How Can Dialysis Facilities Benefit from the Health Information Exchange (HIE)?

Information on infections identified in the hospital setting and reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), is not easily obtained by dialysis providers. Access to these data can improve surveillance of bloodstream infections and patient outcomes. Enrollment in the Health Information Exchange (HIE) can overcome this barrier. A recent article published in Nephrology News & Issues, ” Closing the information gap: Health information exchange in dialysis“, gives an overview of the benefits of HIE and how it provides a vehicle for improving the quality and safety of patient care.

For more information on HIE, go to https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/health-information-exchange/ .

For information on HIE in your state, go to https://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/state-health-information-exchange-cooperative-agreement-program-key

Implementation of the CDC CORE Interventions Saves Lives

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports infection is the second most common cause of death and hospitalization among dialysis patients.  Hemodialysis patients have multiple and frequent exposure to healthcare environments undergoing treatment three times per week with direct access to their bloodstream via venipuncture and catheters.  Healthcare expenditures for these infections are staggering. Research has shown that the Implementation of the CDC core interventions reduces infections dramatically, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.  Take a minute to review these interventions, by clicking here, to assure your facility is doing everything possible to be safe and save lives.