Special Information (News)

WARNING

CDC Issues Warning Regarding Fraudulent E-mails
CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program.
The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site.

CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov. Users that click on the e-mail are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

∙Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
∙Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.
∙Use caution when entering personal information online.

Please note that the CDC Office of General Council (OGC) has requested this information be posted to the 'CDC Hoaxes and Rumors' website located at: 
http://www.cdc.gov/hoaxes_rumors.html
Posted 12/02/2009

Excessive Heat Warnings
June 25 - June 30, 2009

Get a copy of TIPS for Preventing Heat Related Illness
CDC Web site: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/

The Federal Emergency Management Agency national situation report made a point to mention the extreme temperatures experience this week and over the weekend.  The states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois will have prolonged temperatures of 105-110, categorized as “dangerously hot.”

Posted 6/25/2009

ON THIS PAGE YOU FIND:

1. Press Release/Announcements (Last Updated 5/20/2009)

2. Emergency Preparedness (Last Updated 1/10/2008)

3. Magazines/Articles and Newsletters for ESRD Patients and Professionals (Last Updated 6/26/2007)

4. Flu Season/Immunization/Pandamic Flu (Last Updated 5/20/2009)

5. Are you Looking for a Dialysis Facility? (Link)

6. Educational Resources for Professionals (Link)

7. Patient Education Materials (Link)

8. FDA - MEDWATCH (Link)

9. Recall/Warning/Drug Information (Link)

10. OTHER Information (Last Updated 2/4/2008)

11. Medicare Part D Web Page (Link) Posted 11/12/2007

12. Guide to the "Dialysis Facility Reports" (Posted 7/24/2008)

Press Release / Announcements/

UPDATE:  H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

We have now received the “Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed, Probable, or Suspected Novel Influenza (H1N1) Virus Infection in Outpatient Hemodialysis Settings”.  Links are provided here for guidance specific to dialysis providers, as well supplemental information for general healthcare providers.

CDC: Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed, Probable, or Suspected Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in Outpatient Hemodialysis Settings
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/hemodialysis_centers.htm
Posted 5/11/2009

In an effort to facilitate any of your state-specific questions on H1N1 Influenza (diagnosis, treatment, confirmation issues), we are providing the designated state-specific health department contact information hotlines for your use as necessary in your units or offices.  The state health departments are coordinating their efforts with CDC in regards to confirmatory issues.  These hotlines are currently being manned during normal business hours with the potential of going to 24 hours as needs arise.  To date, there are no known cases of H1N1 Influenza within our service area. 

ARKANSAS:                        1.800.651.3493

LOUISIANA:                         1.877.611.6883

OKLAHOMA:                        1.866.278.7134   

Note that the CDC is continually updating and posting H1N1 Influenza information at the following Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Please make sure that you and your staffs are following your internal infection control procedures, as well as your communicable disease policies for any other required notifications.  In the event that H1N1 Influenza is confirmed in any of your patients and/or staff members, the Network is requesting notification at that time. 

If there are difficulties in getting answers to questions, please let the Network know and we’ll try to facilitate issues and/or provide resources as possible.  Share this information within your organizations as deemed necessary.  THANKS for your time and ongoing efforts. 

Additional Resources:

H1N1 Flu Assesment Criteria

2009  H1N1 Influenza Resources (As of 4:00 PM, 05/01/2009)

Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (KCER)
www.kcercoalition.com   

Network 13 = www.network13.org #009900

Network 13 FDA Notices to Facilities:
Icodextrin (EXTRANEAL) and point of care glucose monitoring - A Dangerous Drug-Device Interaction POSTED 9/22/2008

“A contamination of Morton Salt Pellets used by dialysis units to regenerate their water softener has been identified.  This contamination occurred at the Morton plant.  A number of dialysis units use Morton salt pellets in regenerating their water softener as part of their water treatment. One of the lot numbers for the Morton Salt that has been identified as contaminated is May19AHD.  The Morton Salt Representative said he was unaware of any other lot numbers that were contaminated.  The contamination manifests itself as blue flecks in the white salt.  The blue can range in color from sky blue to royal blue.  The actual combination is called YPS or Yellow Prussiate of Soda.  Morton Salt recommends that all dialysis facilities utilizing Morton Salt Pellets, check each lot for contaminates prior to use.  Any lot containing evidence of contamination (blue flecks) need to be discarded.  The effect of YPS on water safety is unknown at this time.  Please contact the Morton Salt Representatives listed here for any questions or concerns.”

ESRD Conditions for Coverage
We are pleased to announce that The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) that will modernize the Medicare conditions for coverage for the nation’s dialysis centers and promote higher quality of care for patients receiving dialysis.
The final regulation will enhance the quality of care available to more than 336,000 Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD who receive dialysis treatment from more than 4,700 Medicare-approved renal dialysis facilities across the U.S.  The regulation reflects important clinical and scientific advances in dialysis technology and standards of care practices.  The regulation also updates the current requirements that were first published in 1976. 
The final regulation went on display April 3, 2008 at the Office of the Federal Register and will be published April 15, 2008.  However, because the regulations are changing from a process-oriented (1976 version of the ESRD CfCs) to patient-centered approach (new ESRD CFCs), CMS believes that ESRD facility providers will need additional time to come into full compliance with the requirements in this final regulation.  Therefore, we are giving dialysis facilities 180 days from the publication date, to comply with the requirements in this regulation. 
The final rule is displayed at:
www.cms.gov/CFCsAndCoPs/downloads/ESRDdisplayfinalrule.pdf
CMS will provide additional details on its plans to educate and train the ESRD Networks on these new ESRD Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) in the next several weeks.
Clarification - Water System Alert – The End Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas – Morton Salt Pellets
Updated 7/11/2008

Magazines/Articles and Newsletters for ESRD Patients and Professionals

Network 13 - Kidney Koncerns - Patients Newsletter
Network 13 - News You Can Use - Professional Newsletter