Quality Improvement Activities
The Renal Network is committed to assisting dialysis clinics improve quality and enhance patient care. One way we do this is through our Quality Improvement Activities. CMS gives the Networks specific selection criteria for each activity. It is our goal that these activities will be an effective addition to your ongoing quality improvement measures and that you will be able to engage both patients and staff in these activities and find ways to sustain your progress.
Studies have shown that infections are the second leading cause of death in ESRD patients. The intent of this Quality Improvement Activity is to decrease bloodstream infection rates by promoting implementation of the CDC Core Interventions for Dialysis BSI Prevention, sharing best practices in the area of HAIs, BSIs, and sepsis, and directing interventions toward patients to allow them the ability to impact their own care.
CMS encourages and expects patients to know their treatment options, including kidney transplant. Here you will find links and information that will assist you with implementation of interventions to support patients through the process of being placed on a kidney transplant waitlist.
CMS recognizes that home dialysis modalities are underutilized in the United States with only 8% dialyzing in a home setting vs 92% choosing in-center.Ā The goal of this Quality Improvement Activity is to promote referral to home dialysis modalities, identify and mitigate barriers to home dialysis, and assist facilities in the implementation of interventions to support patients through the process of training to dialyze at home. Here you will find links and information to assist you with this process.
The Renal Network encourages each facility to establish and define rehabilitation goals for their patients and to work with their local vocational rehabilitation counselors to determine appropriate referrals. Sometimes patients who are employed will need to dialyze on a certain shift to maintain their working hours and at other times they may need to explore other treatment options that will make it easier for them to be a part of the workforce.