End stage renal disease (ESRD) quality improvement activities (QIAs) are designed to assist dialysis facilities and transplant centers to achieve optimal clinical outcomes and experience of care for all dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Network 17’s QIAs are focused on enhancing the quality of service for Medicare beneficiaries by:
- Gathering information systematically to clarify issues or problems.
- Implementing interventions to achieve improvements.
- Measuring quality outcomes.
- Incorporating the patient voice in all activities to maximize learning
and cooperation between providers and patients through shared decision-making. - Supporting the spread of best practices.
To support facilities with identifying barriers, examining solutions and monitoring for rapid cycle improvement, the Network has created the Rapid Cycle Improvement Training Resource (PDF) to guide facilities through the quality improvement process.
For additional information about Network 17’s QIAs for 2020 and access to QIA documents, trackers, toolkits and best practices, read more below.
- NW17 QIA Overview (PDF)
Reducing Rates of Bloodstream Infections QIAs
Reducing Bloodstream Infections (BSIs) Group
The goals of the Network 17 BSI QIA are to:
- Demonstrate a 20% relative reduction in the pooled mean rate of BSIs in the targeted QIA facilities.
- Involve patients in Learning and Action Network (LAN) meetings and activities.
- Engage focus facilities in Heath Information Exchanges (HIEs)
- Partnerships to improve health data communication
- Achieve 100% facility completion rate for National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) training.
Reducing Long-Term Catheter (LTC) Use
Reducing Long-Term Catheter (LTC) Use
The goals of the Network 17 LTC QIA are to:
- Achieve a 2 percentage point improvement facilities with LTC >20%.
- Promote patient, family, and caregiver engagement within the facilities.
- Achieve 100% facility completion rate for National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) training.
- Engage focus facilities in HIEs.
Increasing Rates of Patients on a Transplant Waitlist QIA
Increasing Rates of Patients Dialyzing at Home QIA
Improving Pain Assessment QIA
Supporting Gainful Employment of ESRD Patients QIA
Increasing Vaccination Rates
Protect Yourself Vaccination Flyer (1 pager)
This one-page informational flyer highlights facts about the influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccines and why vaccines offer protection to dialysis patients.
Protect Yourself Vaccination Flyer (2 pager)
This patient two-page flyer provides information about how vaccines help protect dialysis patients from getting sick and provides facts about the influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccines.
Vaccination Best Demonstrated Practices
Review the Vaccination Best Demonstrated Practices with staff and post in an area visible to staff to promote effective vaccination processes in the facility. Implement the best practices as part of the facility’s vaccination plan.
Vaccination Wallet Card
Give this wallet card to your dialysis patients to help them keep track of the important vaccinations they need.
Vaccines for People on Dialysis
This two-page fact sheet uses simple text and pictures to describe the benefits of vaccinations for dialysis patients. There is a brief section for each: influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccinations. Available in six languages.
What Kidney Patients Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine
This is a two-page flyer that provides general informational about how COVID-19 affects dialysis patients, how to prevent it, and available treatments. English Spanish
Why Not Vaccinate Handout
Use this form with patients to identify why patients are choosing not to be vaccinated and develop a plan to address vaccination with patients.
Why Not Vaccinate? (Spanish)
Use this Spanish-language form with patients to identify why patients are choosing not to be vaccinated and develop a plan to address vaccination with patients.
ESRD Network 17
- About Us
- For Patients and Families
- Patient and Family Engagement (PFE)
- For Providers
- Emergency Preparedness
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Quality Improvement Activities
- Reducing Rates of Bloodstream Infections QIAs
- Reducing Long-Term Catheter (LTC) Use
- Increasing Rates of Patients on a Transplant Waitlist QIA
- Increasing Rates of Patients Dialyzing at Home QIA
- Improving Pain Assessment QIA
- Supporting Gainful Employment of ESRD Patients QIA
- Increasing Vaccination Rates
- Learning and Action Networks
- Care Transitions
- Continuing Education
- Contact Us
- Events Calendar
- ESRD Network 17 Agreement
