Quality Improvement (QI)

Dialysis Facility Scorecard

Contact your HSAG ESRD Network to obtain your facility's Scorecard. Have questions about the measures? See the Scorecard Measure Specifications.

• Scorecard Measure Specifications
• Facility Scorecard Orientation PowerPoint Presentation
• Facility Scorecard Orientation Recording

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.

The Roles of Network 7 and the State Survey Agency (SA) in Monitoring Dialysis Care for Florida

This document explains the roles of the Network and the Sate Survey Agency in monitoring care for Florida kidney disease patients.

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.

Fistula First, Catheter Last

The Fistula First Catheter Last Workgroup Coalition focuses on increasing the use of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas and decreasing the use of tunneled dialysis catheters.

5-Diamond Patient Safety Program

This program is an automated, online, national educational resource, consisting of 14 modules that include the tools and resources necessary to implement each patient safety concept. Modules may be completed for recognition or viewed as a resource. Technicians can earn continuing education (CE) credits for participation!

Healthcare-Associated Infections

The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) is leading an initiative to support the 18 ESRD Networks in the elimination of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in the ESRD population. This page will provide access to the national educational offerings that are being developed and offered by this team as well as access to tools and resources for your use in the field to eliminate healthcare associated infections.

Reduce Avoidable Readmissions

Evidence suggests that the rate of avoidable rehospitalizations can be reduced by improving core discharge planning and transition processes out of the hospital; improving transitions and care coordination at the interfaces between care settings; and enhancing coaching, education, and support for patient self-management. This site contains recommended resources for reducing readmissions.

Managing Anemia When You Have Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure

This brochure, produced by the National Kidney Foundation, discusses how to manage anemia when you have kidney disease or kidney failure.

Clinical Performance Guidlines

This document covers the clinical performance guidelines and standards of care for Florida dialysis facilities.

Always Use Teach Back!

The Always Use Teach Back! tools can be used to confirm patient understanding of care instructions by asking patients to repeat the instructions using their own words. An extensive suite of tools is available for download.

Quality Improvement Toolkits

The Medical Advisory Council (MAC) of the Forum of ESRD Networks has developed six toolkits to assist facilities in meeting the Conditions for Coverage. The toolkits address the following topics: medication reconciliation, vaccination, catheter reduction, assurance of diabetes care coordination, Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and medical director leadership. They are available for free download.

Ask Me 3

Ask Me 3 is a patient education program designed to improve communication between patients and health care providers, encourage patients to become active members of their health care team, and promote improved health outcomes.

Kidney School

A comprehensive, online learning center for people with kidney disease and those that care for them. Includes learning modules, audio books, and free postcards.

Patient Care Technician Certification

The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician examination measures technical proficiency in certain skills and general areas of knowledge. This website includes exam locations and schedules, applications, sample tests, and reading and study guides.

IHI: Sustaining Improvement White Paper

This white paper presents a framework that healthcare organizations can use to sustain improvements in the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of patient care. The key to sustaining improvement is to focus on the daily work of frontline managers, supported by a high-performance management system that prescribes standard tasks and responsibilities for managers at all levels of the organization.

Virtual Training: Leading Quality Improvemen - Essentials for Manager

The online program Leading Quality Improvement: Essentials for Managers, which starts on January 24, 2017, allows you to take your managerial skills to the next level while earning 9 continuing education credits​. 

IHI Quality Improvement Essentials Toolkit

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s QI Essentials Toolkit, includes tools and templates that may be used to launch and manage a successful improvement project. Each of the ten tools in the toolkit includes a short description, instructions, an example, and a blank template.

Care Transitions 201: CMS Webinar

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a webinar, “Care Transitions 201,” featuring a presentation from Dr. Jamie Dwyer of Premier, Inc., the Medical Director of both inpatient and outpatient dialysis services at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Dr. Dwyer presented...

Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries

This Guide is designed to assist hospital leaders and stakeholders focused on quality, safety, and care redesign in identifying root causes and solutions for preventing avoidable readmissions among racially and ethnically diverse Medicare beneficiaries.

DOPPS Practice Monitor Event Materials (5/18/17)

DPM investigators host a public web conference to discuss the latest data included in each major update. The following materials are from the most recent web conference on May 18, 2017.