Renal Patient Safety Resources
Conditions for Coverage Resources
Keeping Kidney Patients Safe has gathered online resources helpful to nephrology professionals working to comply with the newly adopted Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions for Coverage, specifically those aspects of the new regulations pertaining to patient safety. The web site will continue to expand this list and other content pertaining to compliance for use by medical directors and other nephrology professionals.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities; Final Rule
Part II, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR Parts 405, 410, 413 et al. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities; Final Rule.
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End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Program Interpretive Guidance Version 1.1
published October 3, 2008
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CMS ESRD Conditions for Coverage Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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RPA and Other Resources to Meet Specific Conditions within the Conditions for Coverage.
View in Excel
Measures Assessment Tool
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End Stage Renal Disease Facilities V-Tags & Identifiers
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Correlation Grid for Patient Assessment & Plan of Care
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Bibliography Updates
Chronic Kidney Disease Heightens Medical-Error Risk
As reported in MedPage Today
Primary source: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Source reference:
Seliger S, et al "Chronic kidney disease adversely influences patient safety" J Am Soc Nephrol 2008; DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2008010022.
Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia Is More Severe Than Community-Acquired Pneumonia
As reported in Medscape Today
Primary source: Annals of Internal Medicine reference:
Venditti, M et al "Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired, Health Care-Associated, and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia." Ann Intern Med 2009; 150: 19-26.
Hepatitis Risk Growing Due to Lax Infection Control
As reported in Renal Business Today
Primary source: Annals of Internal Medicine reference:
Thompson et al. "Nonhospital Health Care-Associated Hepatitis B and C Virus Transmission: United States, 1998-2008." Ann Intern Med 2009; 150: 33-39
Other Renal Patient Safety Resources
In an effort to provide nephrology professionals with the widest possible array of relevant information on renal patient safety, links to other helpful web sites are listed below. Please contact the ESRD Patient Safety Initiative through the Contact Us page of this site to submit additional links for possible inclusion.
American Association of Kidney Patients
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is a national non-profit organization founded by kidney patients for kidney patients. We strive to educate and improve the health and well-being of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, those on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplant recipients.
"Behaviors That Undermine a Culture of Safety," The Joint Commission
To assure quality and to promote a culture of safety, health care organizations must address the problem of behaviors that threaten the performance of the health care team.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings - 2002
The hand hygiene guidelines were developed by the CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), in collaboration with the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guide to Infection Prevention in Outpatient Settings - 2011
The guide provides basic infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings; and reaffirms Standard Precautions as the foundation for preventing transmission of infectious agents during patient care in all healthcare settings. It also provides links to full guidelines and source documents, which readers can reference for more detailed background and recommendations.
5-Diamond Patient Safety Program
To help promote patient safety values, the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition and the Network of New England are implementing the 5-Diamond Patient Safety Program. The goal of this program is to help dialysis facilities better implement patient safety principles among both staff and patients.
Heartland Kidney Network
Promoting and facilitating high quality care standards for dialysis and kidney transplant patients in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization helping to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world.
Hand Hygiene Factors and Solutions, Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare
Provides step-by-step processes to measure performance, identify barriers to excellent performance, and implement proven solutions to improve hand hygiene.
Kidney and Urology Foundation of America
Kidney & Urology Foundation of America (KUFA) is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people with kidney and urologic diseases and individuals waiting for organ and tissue transplants.
"Making Strides in Safety," American Medical Association
Encourages physician leadership and involvement in improving patient care and aims to improve patient safety by providing model programs and tools.
Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors is a public-private partnership whose mission is to improve patient safety and eliminate medical errors in Massachusetts.
Medication Tracking Tool in Spanish, AHRQ
Newly revised Spanish language medication tracking tool, Su medicamento: Infórmese. Evite riesgos. (Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe.), can help Spanish-speaking patients learn more about how to take medicines safely.
National Patient Safety Goals: The official, approved goals and helpful solutions for meeting them, AHRQ
This special issue presents the 2009 set of Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and summarizes changes from the previous year's requirements.
National Renal Administrators Association
The National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) is a nonprofit organization representing professional managers of dialysis facilities and centers throughout the United States.
The Physicians Guide to Patient Safety Organizations
The AMA produced this guide to further your knowledge of the Patient Safety Act and to optimize physician participation in PSOs.
Safe Kidney Care
Developed by the University of Maryland School of Medicine to serve as a resource for people with chronic kidney disease.