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End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 13

Consisting of Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, has a combined estimated population of 10,745,317 as of July 2007. Due to widespread rural communities within the Network, access to health care continues to be an ongoing problem for many ESRD patients. Cultural diversity from state to state and between regions within states adds to the challenges of education, patient compliance and cooperation with treatment regiments.

Network Goals and Objectives

1. Encouraging, consistent with sound medical practice, the use of those treatment settings most compatible with the successful rehabilitation of the patient and the participation of patients, providers of services, and renal disease facilities in vocational rehabilitation programs;
   
   
2. Ongoing development, implementation, and evaluation of goals, criteria, and standards relating to the quality and appropriateness of patient care with respect to working with patients, facilities, and providers by encouraging and evaluating participation in Network standards;
   
   
3. Implementing and monitoring policies and procedures for evaluating and resolving patient grievances;
   
   
4. Conducting onsite reviews of facilities and providers, as necessary (as determined by the Medical Review Board or the Secretary), utilizing standards of care established by the Network organization and referencing applicable professional renal organizations’ standards to assure proper medical care;
   
   
5. Collecting, validating, and analyzing data for the preparation of reports and assuring the maintenance of the Renal Registry;
   
   
6. Identifying facilities and providers that are not meeting Network goals (standards), assisting such facilities and providers in developing, implementing, and evaluating appropriate improvement plans, and reporting to the Secretary on facilities and providers that are not providing appropriate medical care;
   
   
7. Submitting an annual report to the Secretary on June 30 of each year which will include Network goals and performance data on comparative performance of facilities with respect to patients in self-care settings, transplantation, and vocational rehabilitation programs, identification of those facilities that have consistently failed to cooperate with Network goals and recommendations with respect to the need for additional or alternative ESRD services for facilities in the Network; and
   
   
8. Ongoing establishment and maintenance of a Network Council of renal dialysis and transplant facilities located in the Network area and a Medical Review Board (MRB), which has a membership inclusive of at least one patient, physicians, nurses, and social workers engaged in the clinical practice relative to end stage renal disease.

Patient Services and Outreach

Patient Services has several functions. The Network is responsible to evaluate and resolve complaints and grievances involving patient care. Utilizing the standards of medical care assures proper care is provided to patients. This is done through our Grievance Policy under the guidance of our Grievance Subcommittee. This Committee is made up of renal professionals and patient representatives. A patient representative is assigned to each case to allow for patient perspective. The Patient Services Director provides assistance and referrals for informational needs of patients and family members.

Patient Services coordinates the ESRD Network 13 clearinghouse. The clearinghouse contains educational materials for patients, family members and professionals.

The Patient Advisory Committee (PAC), through Patient Services, publishes the patient newsletter, Kidney Koncerns, quarterly. The newsletter provides educational and informational materials to assist patients in improving their outcomes. At least one PAC member serves on the Network Board of Directors, Medical Review Board and Grievance Committee. The PAC accepted a mission statement to add to the goals it formulated at its inception.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) is to express the opinions of the ESRD patient population of Network 13 serving the states of Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.  PAC members represent the ESRD patient population by actively participating in Network duties designed to promote quality care.

The Patient Services and Quality Improvement Departments publish a professional newsletter, The Vision. Future editions will be published on this Web site.

The Patient Services and Quality Improvement Departments offer the ESRD Mentoring Workshop Series twice a year in the Spring and Fall, in all three states of Network 13. These workshops focus on educational topics to improve the quality of care for patients provided by the professionals of ESRD Network 13. Quality Improvement One responsibility that the Networks are charged with is

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (QI).

What is quality improvement? Quality improvement is a process to move all patients towards improved levels of care. In this process, measures of performance or outcome are monitored and trends are described. Clinical care changes are sought to improve the trend for performance or outcome measures. This process is continuous quality improvement.

Our QI activities are built on the theory and practice of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). Network 13 activities will continue to center on our mission of partnering with facilities in the development, implementation and evaluation of CQI projects for analysis of outcomes and trends in renal patient care.

MISSION STATEMENT:

"Our goal is to form a dynamic partnership designed to foster an environment of continuous quality improvement and mentoring in ESRD Network 13 facilities. TOGETHER, we will be our best and do our best in the interest of quality patient care."
Current CQI activities:

1. National ESRD Clinical Performance Measures: This is an annual Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) directed activity focusing on a random sample of patients specific to areas of adequacy of dialysis, anemia management, vascular access and nutrition.
   
2. Network 13 Quality Performance Measures: This is an annual Network 13-directed activity with all of our ESRD providers focusing on adequacy of dialysis, anemia management, vascular access, nutrition, foot exams, immunizations and infection control.

Information Systems

The Information Systems Department of Network 13 is responsible for the collection and management of patient information collected from dialysis and transplant providers within our Network. The information is collected from both types of facilities by various methods and is used for patient tracking and studies aimed at aiding ESRD patients. The Network is responsible for ensuring that patient information is reported in a timely and accurate manner from ESRD providers. This department works extremely close with patient services and QI to generate special projects and to ensure the continuation of benefits and better quality of service for patients.

For additional information about the ESRD Networks, please link to: www.esrdnetworks.org