Promoting and facilitating high quality care standards for dialysis and kidney transplant patients
in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Main phone (816) 880-9990
Patient toll free (800) 444-9965
Main fax (816) 880-9088
Data fax (816) 880-1775
7505 NW Tiffany Springs Pky. Suite 230 Kansas City, MO 64153
Hot Topics and Heads Up
Spring 2005
Kidney Transplant Referral
There has been interest in the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS in increasing organ donation and transplantation. In fact, a panel of technical experts from the renal community is assisting CMS in developing quality measures to will potentially allow the tracking of steps in the kidney transplant referral process.
Network Comment: Dialysis facilities – do your patient records reflect evaluation for transplantation? If the patient was not a candidate, document why. Be sure that the records are complete and accurate. If the patient is in the process of transplant work-up, review the records for accuracy. The State Agencies will be evaluating transplant referrals during their surveys.
ESRD Bone Disease and Metabolism
Nearly all ESRD patients are affected to some degree with done disease. A panel of technical experts has received funding from CMS to develop quality measures for ESRD patients based on the NKF -KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease published in October 2003. The measures will allow needed information to identify opportunities for improvement to develop intervention approaches and information for consumers.
Network Comment: Dialysis facilities - Now would be a good time to review osteodystrophy and bone disease with your staff members. During your next continuous quality improvement meeting, evaluate your patients’ labs with regard to bone management and document it in the minutes of the meeting. Be sure to re-evaluate regularly and work with the team to formulate intervention plans.