What's New in the ESRD Community in 2010
March
11, 2010 |
World Kidney Day (WKD) | ||||||
Almost 400,000 Americans have kidney disease requiring dialysis treatments. Many more have the disease and don’t even know it. The 2010 campaign will focus on Diabetes, the leading cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. Together, we can stop this disease from claiming so many lives. For
more information about kidney disease, visit www.kidney.org
or World Kidney Day, visit www.worldkidneyday.org |
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March
7 - 13, 2010 |
National Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) | ||||||
PSAW (March 7-13, 2010) is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level. Healthcare organizations across the country are encouraged to plan events to promote patient safety within their own organizations. Educational activities are centered on educating patients on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working to build partnerships with their patient community. For mor information, and useful tools and resources, go to: http://www.npsf.org/hp/psaw/ |
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March
2, 2010 |
FDA Classifies Baxter's January HomeChoice Peritoneal Dialysis Cycler Field Corrective Action as a Class I Recall | ||||||
| Baxter is Deploying Revised Labeling,
Training and Upcoming Software Revisions to Further Assist Clinicians
and Patients Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified Baxter’s recent Urgent Product Recall regarding Increased Intraperitoneal Volume (IIPV), or overfill of the abdominal cavity, associated with HomeChoice and HomeChoice Pro peritoneal dialysis cyclers as a Class I recall. This action has been classified as a Class I recall because of the risk of serious injury or patient death that could be associated with the use of this device. Over the last two years, Baxter has received serious injury reports and at least one patient death report associated with this issue. |
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March
1, 2010 |
March is National Kidney Month! | ||||||
| Kidneys filter your blood.
They remove wastes and extra water. When the kidneys are diseased, they
stop doing these jobs and wastes build up, damaging the body. If not
treated, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. But you can prevent
kidney failure.
Early kidney disease has no symptoms. Most people don't know something is wrong until their kidneys are about to fail. The only way to tell if you have kidney disease is to get tested. Simple blood and urine tests are used to detect kidney disease. For more information, including patient videos & education and provider tools & resources, visit: http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/kidneymonth/ NKDEP is an initiative of the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health
(NIH), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). |
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February
22, 2010 |
Join AAKP at its 37th Annual Convention | ||||||
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is pleased to announce the date and location of the 2010 Annual Convention in sunny Tampa, FL, September 2 - 4, 2010. AAKP created its Annual Convention to provide kidney disease patients, as well as their friends and family members with the opportunity to discuss their concerns and share their experiences while learning about important issues affecting their health care. In addition to exciting social events, it is the largest national convention where kidney patients can interact on a person-to-person basis with fellow patients and health care professionals. During this three-day event, attendees participate in educational topics for those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to long-term dialysis and transplant recipients. Participants also learn about various treatments for each stage. For more information, visit http://www.aakp.org/events/convention/2010/ |
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February
17, 2010 |
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs): Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp: Drug Safety Communication | ||||||
| FDA and Amgen notified healthcare professionals
and patients that all ESAs must be used under a REMS risk management
program. As part of the risk management program, a Medication Guide
explaining the risks and benefits of ESAs must be provided to all patients
receiving an ESA. Under the ESA APPRISE Oncology program, Amgen will
ensure that only those hospitals and healthcare professionals who have
enrolled and completed training in the program will prescribe and dispense
ESAs to patients with cancer.
Amgen is also required to oversee and monitor the program to ensure that hospitals and healthcare professionals are fully compliant with all aspects of the program. FDA is requiring a REMS because studies show that ESAs can increase the risk of tumor growth and shorten survival in patients with cancer who use these products. Studies also show that ESAs can increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke or blood clots in patients who use these drugs for other conditions. Patients with chronic kidney failure (includes patients on
dialysis and those not on dialysis) using ESAs should: Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary including links to
the Drug Safety Communication and current Prescribing Information
for these products, at: |
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February
9, 2010 |
National Kidney Foundation 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM10) | ||||||
The National Kidney Foundation 2010 Spring Clinical Meetings will be taking place in Orlando, Florida from April 13 - 17, 2010. SCM 10 presents a unique opportunity for busy renal health care providers to learn new developments related to all aspects of nephrology. It is designed for kidney doctors in the private sector and academia, fellows and residents with a special interest in kidney disease, general internists, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and technicians, social workers, and renal and clinical dietitians. To register, simply visit http://www.kidney.org/news/meetings/clinical/index.cfm |
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January
29, 2010 |
Medicare Claims Data Will Have a New Required Quality Measure | ||||||
Effective July 1, 2010, the Medicare (dialysis) in-facility claims billing submission will require the reporting of KT/V, vascular access type and infection. The URR will no longer be required. The hemoglobin lab value will continue to be reported. To view the CMS Pub 100-04 Medicare Claims Processing notice addresing these changes, click here. |
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January
29, 2010 |
Bruit Audio Clips Available for Patient and Staff Education | ||||||
| A failing arteriovenous (AV) fistula places
patients at risk for inadequate dialysis, which can lead to numerous
complications and increased morbidity and mortality. Established AV
fistulas require frequent routine monitoring to ensure continued patency
and part of monitoring requires listening for the “bruit”
-- the term for the unusual sound of blood flowing through the AV fistula
from a high pressure (artery) to a low pressure (vein) channel. Thanks to Tushar Vachharajani, MD, FACP, FASN, Associate Professor Internal Medicine/Nephrology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www.wfubmc.edu/kidney), Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Fistula First website now has audio clips of normal bruits, bruits with stenosis (narrowing in blood vessels) and bruits with whistles. Dr. Vachharajani describes, “A normal bruit is soft and continuous, and a high pitched bruit is due to the presence of stenosis and increased turbulence. A ‘whistle’ suggests a critical stenosis and should be evaluated immediately, I generally describe it as ‘wind blowing through a crack in a door’ and most patients and staff relate to the sound immediately.” These sounds can teach hemodialysis patients and healthcare providers what to listen for when monitoring AV fistulas and AV grafts. Physical examinations should be performed at each dialysis treatment, using a stethoscope to assure the vascular access has blood flow. Dr. Vachharajani uses the audio clips in the initial training for patient care technicians and nurses, as well as during a refresher course for all dialysis staff members. His patients are encouraged to perform a daily physical examination of their dialysis access and these sounds are used to teach them the difference between a normal and abnormal bruit. Dr. Vachharajani says, “I use these sounds to teach my fellows the nitty-gritty of nephrology practice,” and “these sounds are included in a one-day course for charge nurses.” To listen to the bruit audio clips visit the FFBI website at www.fistulafirst.org
under What’s New. |
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January
29, 2010 |
RECALL: Edwards Lifesciences Aquarius Hemodialysis System | ||||||
| FDA and Edwards Lifesciences notified healthcare
professionals of a Class I recall of the Aquarius Hemodialysis System
due to reports of clinically significant fluid imbalance and the potential
for users to repeatedly override the fluid imbalance alarm. This could
result in a decrease or increase in the volume of the circulating blood,
which may result in serious injuries or death.
The recall includes model numbers: GEF08200, GEF09500, GEF09600, GEF09700, and GEF09800, using Software version 6.00.04. The product was distributed from July 12, 2007 through March 18, 2009. Baxter International, Inc. is the U.S. distributor of the Aquarius. |
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January
25, 2010 |
RECALL: GlucoPro Insulin Syringes | ||||||
| Nipro Medical Corporation, Miami FL, is initiating
a nationwide recall of all GlucoPro Insulin Syringes (This does not
include the GlucoPro syringe specific for use with the Amigo Insulin
pump).
These syringes may have needles that detach from the syringe. If the needle becomes detached from the syringe during use, it can become stuck in the insulin vial, push back into the syringe, or remain in the skin after injection. Consumers who have GlucoPro Insulin Syringes should stop using and return them to point of sale for reimbursement. |
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January
13, 2010 |
New OSHA Videos Feature Guidance on Respirators | ||||||
| The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has developed two new videos for healthcare workers that feature
training and guidance on respirator safety.
OSHA's "Respirator Safety" video demonstrates how to correctly put on and take off common types of respirators, such as N95s. "The Difference between Respirators and Surgical Masks" video explains how they prevent exposure to infectious diseases. "Respirators play an important role in protecting many workers from exposure to chemical and biological hazards in the workplace," says Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "At a time when pandemic influenza has highlighted the risk to healthcare workers, these videos will prepare and protect workers from the very illnesses they are responsible for treating." The videos also explain how workers can perform a user seal check to test whether a respirator is worn properly and will provide the expected level of protection. Viewers may watch both English and Spanish versions by visiting OSHA's Respiratory Protection page or the Department of Labor's YouTube site. According to OSHA's respiratory protection standard 29 CFR 1910.134, respirators must be used as part of a comprehensive respiratory protection plan. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html#trainingvideos |
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January
13, 2010 |
RECALL: HomeChoice Automated PD System and HomeChoice PRO Automated PD System (Product Codes 5C4471, 5C4471R, 5C8310, 5C8310R) | ||||||
Baxter recently sent an Urgent Device Correction letter to peritoneal dialysis clinician to help reduce or eliminate overfill, also referred to as Increased Intraperitonal Volume (IIPV), associated with HomeChoice/HomeChoice PRO cyclers. IIPV can result in serious injury or death from conditions including, but not limited to, hydrothorax, heart failure, pulmonary edema or pericardial effusion. Baxter has received complaints of IIPV, which resulted from patient use errors and/or prescription errors. |
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January
5, 2010 |
CROWNWeb Six-Part WebEx Series | ||||||
Start off the New Year with some answers to your CROWNWeb-related questions! What is independent facilities’ perspective of the CROWNWeb
system? Larry Emerson, President of the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA), will kick-off this six-part WebEx series by discussing independent facilities’ overall perspective of the CROWNWeb system. CROWNWeb six-part WebEx Series Schedule Register for these WebEx sessions today! http://www.projectcrownweb.org/crown/presentations.php |
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January
4, 2010 |
WebeX Presentation: CQI and QAPI: What are They & Why Do We Need Them? | ||||||
| January 26, 2010 Teleconference: 1-888-273-3658 Speaker: Karen Robbins, MS, RN, CNN - Educator Hartford Hospital Dialysis & Transplant Programs Program Objectives:
Please follow these instructions to join the event: If you have any questions or problems accessing the meeting, please call the IFMC WebEx Helpline at 515-440-8555. For information about participating in this WebEx, please call 203-387-9332 or email Peggy Lynch. |
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