The mission of Network 17 includes helping dialysis and transplant facilities to improve the level of care provided to patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). We accomplish this through providing:
- Education
- Resources
- Technical assistance
We are also involved in the collection and validation of information about persons with ESRD. This information is collected through a variety of means including:
- CROWNWeb
- The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
Please review the topics provided on this website for more in-depth information. If you cannot find the resources you seek online, please contact our office.
Patient and Family Engagement (PFE)
Tools for Implementing Change
Techniques for Root Cause Analysis—Article from the National Institutes of Health Continuing Education Courses Understanding Rapid Cycle Improvement QI: A Culture of Change
Improving Patient Participation at the Facility Level
These resources will be helpful in helping facility staff to engage patients in their care and in the facility:
- Tips to Improve Patient Engagement at the Facility Level—Video
- Patient and Family Engagement
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) ESRD Toolkit
- Person-and Family-Centered Care
- This web page from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is dedicated to putting the patient and family at the heart of every healthcare decision and empowering them to be genuine partners in their care.
Lines of Communication
Dialysis Schedules: Tips for Patients and Staff
Scheduling issues are a common source of frustration for dialysis patients and staff.This document addresses what you can do to help keep your dialysis schedule running as on time as possible.
Blood Stream Infection (BSI) Toolkit
Toolkit Introduction and Instructions
This is the introduction and instruction section of the BSI Toolkit.
Patient Safety
Environmental Surface Disinfection in Dialysis Facilities: Notes for Clinical Managers
This resource provide notes in a checklist format for clinical managers to utilize for environmental surface disinfection.
Infection Prevention and Monitoring in the Dialysis Setting
This presentation outlines infection prevention best practices and tools for dialysis patients.
End of Life Care
Curriculum Guide for Advance Care Planning
This curriculum is designed to assist facility staff in having advance care planning discussions with patients.
Planning Today for Tomorrow's Healthcare: A Guide for People with Chronic Kidney Disease
This brochure will provide details on how to have control over your healthcare in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.
ICH CAHPS
Patients Decide QIA
This page contains English and Spanish language resources about peritoneal dialysis shared by facilities, Network PACs, and other key players in our ICH CAHPS Quality Improvement Activity.
CROWNWeb
My CROWNWeb Website
MyCROWNWeb.org is a website managed for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer help and technical support to users of the CROWNWeb system.
Conditions for Coverage
V-Tags & Interpretive Guidance Regarding Patient Transplant
This document is an excerpt from the CMS ESRD Surveyor Training Interpretive Guidance (version 1.1) that highlights information regarding transplant.
V-Tags & Interpretive Guidance Regarding Patient Involuntary Discharge
This document is an excerpt from the CMS ESRD Surveyor Training Interpretive Guidance (version 1.1) that highlights information regarding involuntary discharge.
Tools to Improve the Facility Grievance Process and Patient Satisfaction
Unbranded Templates for Facility Use
These materials and templates may be used by facilities for:
- Reaching out to grievants both in acknowledgement of a concern and with the outcome of an investigation.
- For engaging and training peer mentors who can assist other patients in navigating the grievance process.
QAPI and the Grievance Process
The QAPI Toolkit, developed by the Forum of ESRD Networks, is designed to assist facilities in designing a facility based QAPI program, with the ultimate goal of improving quality of care. Click below to access the toolkit, as well as a PowerPoint on using QAPI to improve care.
Provider Newsletters
Quarter 4 2018 Provider Newsletter
This Quarter 4 Provider Newsletter highlights the importance of heart health and ultrafiltration rates (UFRs), how to help ESRD patients actively pursue a better quality of life, the National Healthcare Safety Network Internal Validation Tool, and more.
Quarter 3 2018 Provider Newsletter
This Q3 Provider eNewsletter highlights the roles of the Network Council and Medical Review Board, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) 2018 vaccination schedules, what we can do to improve patient and family engagement/reduce involuntary discharges, progress toward our quality improvement activity goals, and more.
Involuntary Discharge
Involuntary Discharge Process and Checklist
This document provides an overview of the guidelines for involuntary discharges (IVDs) and a checklist to ensure proper documentation of an IVD to the Network.
Conflict Resolution Tip Sheet
This Conflict Resolution Tip Sheet provides useful suggestions for dealing with conflict rather than avoiding it.
News from the Dialysis NHSN Helpdesk
Dialysis NHSN Helpdesk: Newsblast Archive
Newsblasts are simple and short articles that address important issues currently trending in the Dialysis Helpdesk inbox. In February 2015, the Dialysis Helpdesk began disseminating newsblasts on a monthly basis, towards the end of each month. Refer to the newsblast archive for answers to frequently asked questions, deadline reminders, and breaking news that you may have missed.
Reducing Adverse Drug Events (ADEs)
Reducing ADE Tip Sheet - California
This one-pager provides an overview of the occurrence of ADEs in California and provides tips for providers to better assess risk and prevent ADEs.
Prescriber Quick Tips: Anticoagulants
This tool provides tips to reduce adverse drug events with anticoagulant use.
Stakeholder Organizations
American Kidney Fund
The American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. The site offers patient programs, kidney disease education, and professional education.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC works to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, the CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.
ESRD Quality Incentive Program
CMS Memo: Clarifying PY 2020 Performance Period for ESRD QIP NHSN Personnel Influenza Vaccination Reporting Measure
As a part of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) PPS proposed rule released in May 2017, CMS proposes to correct the performance period for the NHSN Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination Reporting Measure for Payment Year (PY) 2020.
ESRD Quality Incentive Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) to promote high-quality services in outpatient dialysis facilities treating patients with ESRD. This page includes FAQs, milestones, and program details.
Quality Improvement
Conditions for Coverage
The Survey and Certification Program certifies ESRD facilities for inclusion in the Medicare Program. This page includes links to applicable laws and regulations, and provides resources to support and assess compliance with Federal regulations.
Model for Improvement
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) uses the Model for Improvement as the framework to guide improvement work. It is a simple, yet powerful tool for accelerating improvement. This site will help you learn about the fundamentals of the Model for Improvement and testing changes on a small scale using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.
Vascular Access/LTC Reduction Tools
Vascular Access Monthly Reporting Tool
This tool is designed to help facilities track their progress at reducing long-term catheters and improving vascular access use in their patients.
Long-Term Catheter Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Tool
This tool helps facilities evaluate their long-term catheter use and analyze how they can reduce their use and encourage permanent accesses.
Infection Prevention
Let's Talk: Starting the Conversation to Prevent HAIs
Preventing infections is important for patient safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants dialysis patients and dialysis centers to start a conversation about preventing infections. Family members can also start the conversation. We hope this guide can be a starting point to improve awareness about patient safety issues.
HAIs and Antibiotic Resistance: Communication Tools for Health Departments
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with support from with Porter Novelli, are pleased to launch a suite of communications tools designed to help health departments articulate the value of public health in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance. This webinar will orient health departments and key partners on how to use these tools to reach and engage various public health and healthcare audiences, including hospitals, patient care providers, facility support staff, the media, and many others who are critical to raising awareness and taking action to contain and prevent HAIs.
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ESRD Network 17 | 533 Airport Blvd., Suite 400, Burlingame, CA 94010 | 415.897.2400 |