COVID-19
The following resources are great places to find more information about how the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting your area, and the measures that are being taken to contain it. As we all work together to be safe during this pandemic, please contact the Network if you are a dialysis facility in need of technical assistance or you are a dialysis patient or a family member of a patient and need assistance.
Network 7 Helpline: 800.826.3773
Email: NW7info@hsag.com
Here are some important numbers to use in the event of an emergency:
- DaVita: 800.400.8331
- Fresenius: 800.626.1297
- ARA: 888.880.6867
- Satellite: 800.367.8292
- SAMHSA - Disaster Distress Helpline: 800.985.5990
- US Renal Care: 866.671.8772
- Veteran Disaster Relief Hotline: 800.507.4571
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 website:
- https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/
- COVID-19 dashboard
- Call Center is available Monday 24 hours per day: 1.866.779.6121; Email: COVID-19@flhealth.gov
Florida Hospital Association:
Florida Healthcare Association (FHCA) - Nursing Home Health Updates:
Florida Health Care Coalitions:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dialysis-related guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities
- New National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) COVID-19 Module
- Preparing Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities for COVID-19
- Special Considerations for Patients on Home Dialysis
- COVID-19 Outpatient Dialysis Facility Preparedness Assessment Tool
- Factsheet for Patients―Keeping Patients on Dialysis Safe
- Factsheet for Facilities―How Our Facility Is Keeping Patients Safe From COVID-19
- Presentation for Facilities―Preparing Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities for COVID-19
- COVID-19 Outpatient Dialysis Cleaning and Disinfection Webpage
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance: https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page
ESRD Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/esrd-provider-telehealth-telemedicine-toolkit.pdf
For other COVID-19-related patient and provider resources, you can visit the following websites:
- Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition website: https://www.kcercoalition.com/
- ESRD National Coordinating Center: https://esrdncc.org/
Patient Resources
- Re-Opening America: What Patients Should Know About Seeking Healthcare (English/Spanish)
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions by ESRD Patients
- Where Patients Can Find Creditable Information
- Multiple Ways to Connect With Others
- COVID-19 and ESRD Tele- and Online-Support Groups
- 4 Ways to Empower Yourself to Cope with COVID-19
- 4 Ways to Empower Yourself to Cope with COVID-19 (Spanish, courtesy ESRD Network of Texas)
- ESRD NCC Patient Web Tool
Mental Health Resources
- Managing Stress and Coping
CDC information and tips on dealing with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html - SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Disaster Distress Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national multilingual hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Call 1.800.985.5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. - 10 Mental Health Tips for Nurses During the COVID-19 Outbreak: https://nurse.org/articles/nurse-mental-health-selfcare-covid19/
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Mental Health Coronavirus Resources: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/COVID19/mental-behavioral-health/Pages/default.aspx
- Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients: https://www.kidneysupportivecare.org/
Covid-19 resources for patients and providers, including a weekly, open discussion call for professionals to encourage and support one another during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Find a Dialysis Unit
Dialysis Facility Compare
Find and compare Medicare-certified dialysis facilities and get information about chronic kidney disease, dialysis and transplants.
Dialysis Units in the USA
Users have the ability to find contact information, as well as open and close information, on dialysis units in the USA.
Patient Resources
SPECIAL EDITION: Hurricane Preparedness Newsletter 2020
This Special Edition Hurricane issue highlights how to prepare and practice an emergency plan, the importance of making alternative arrangements for dialysis treatments before an emergency, preparing a 3-day meal plan, and more.
SPECIAL EDITION: Hurricane Preparedness Newsletter 2020 (Spanish)
This Special Edition Hurricane (Spanish) issue highlights how to prepare and practice an emergency plan, the importance of making alternative arrangements for dialysis treatments before an emergency, preparing a 3-day meal plan, and more.
Provider Resources
CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule
KCER has helpful tools and resources to help you understand the new CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule and to help you implement by the November 2017 deadline.
Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition Website
The Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition website provides education, tools, and resources for providers related to emergency planning, including mental health resources and information about, and for, community partners.
General Resources
National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities
The National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities (“Diversity Preparedness”) is a virtual center that houses a library of resources on emergency preparedness in diverse and at-risk communities.
Florida Emergency Operations Center Contact Information
A website providing all Florida county emergency management websites, including contact information.
Zika Virus
FL DOH: Zika
Zika fever is a mild febrile illness caused by a mosquito-borne virus similar to those that cause dengue and West Nile virus infection. It has been identified in several countries in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean since 2015. Outbreaks have previously been reported in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Local transmission has also been reported in Puerto Rico. Cases of Zika fever have been reported in travelers returning to the United States.
Florida has confirmed local transmissions of the Zika virus in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
HHS: Zika Virus - What You Need to Know
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site provides helpful information on Zika Virus.
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