The proposed 2019 Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Guidelines are now open for review with comments accepted through June 7, 2019. Transonic hopes hemodialysis stakeholders who have pre-registered to review the proposed Guidelines will submit their comments by the June 7th deadline.
Topics: KDOQI
A vascular access is required in order to have hemodialysis. The three most common types of vascular access are: an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created by joining a vein and an artery, usually in the arm; an arteriovenous graft (AVG) formed by connecting an artery to a vein with a tube, or a central venous catheter (CVC). Optimally, a fistula or graft will be surgically created several months before dialysis starts, in order to ensure it is ready when it is needed.
Topics: CABG Surgery, Hemodialysis
Dr. Nikolai Krivitski, hemodialysis pioneer, responds to the debate about vascular access surveillance that recently appeared in NDT in the article “Vascular Access Surveillance in Mature Fistulas: Is It Worthwhile?” Read his feedback to learn more about the history behind the publications and how some basic errors in scientific conclusions may impact your patient care.
If you’re feeling burned out by the arduous, time-consuming requirements set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) governing physician payments, you’ll be happy to know the agency has made several changes to simplify and improve the Quality Payment Program (QPP) process.After considering extensive feedback from the medical community, CMS released its final rule for its Medicare Quality Payment Program in 2019, under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
You can read the full CY 2019 Quality Payment Program final rule text here, but we’ve broken down five key MACRA 2019 changes physicians need to know:
From shrinking attention spans to lost sleep, there’s no shortage of claims spending too much time in front of screens can negatively impact our health. But a professor of surgery at Imperial College in London warns of another unexpected implication, specifically for surgery students: loss of the dexterity to stitch.
While today’s surgical students may score high grades, they’re spending too much time interacting with computers and mobile devices, and too little time using their hands, according to Professor Kneebone. Which means sewing up patients (something once considered routine) has become much more challenging.
So why are screens the culprit, and what can surgical students do to regain this critical skill?
Which factors have the greatest impact on patient outcomes? If you’re like most physicians, you’d probably answer this question by listing things like care team efficiency, access to advanced technology and equipment and a physician’s experience and education.
But there’s one more important element you may have overlooked: a doctor’s personality.
As it turns out, your bedside manner and ability to connect with patients may have a more significant impact on health care outcomes than you might assume.
Here’s some background about why friendly, empathetic doctors perform better and a few tips on how you can improve your outcomes by showing greater empathy.
A Central Venous Catheter (CVC) is a soft flexible tube that is placed into a large vein, usually in the chest. It has two openings or ports. During hemodialysis, the ports are connected to the hemodialysis machine; one to take blood from your body to be cleaned, and the other to return blood cleaned of its impurities back to the body. A CVC is often used while a patient is awaiting surgery to have an arteriovenous fistula or graft placed to be used as a permanent vascular access. Although not optimal, a CVC can also be used as a permanent vascular access.
Topics: Hemodialysis
The National Dialysis Accreditation Commission (NDAC) has been approved by CMS to conduct dialysis facility surveys. It is the first independent company approved by CMS to do so. According to Nephrology News & Issues, “Dialysis providers successfully completing NDAC’s accreditation process may now be awarded Medicare certification from CMS based on their accreditation with recommendation for deemed status by NDAC.” Accreditation services will be offered in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Source: Nephrology News & Issues
Home hemodialysis has several benefits for patients. Despite this, the modality remains underused among patients receiving hemodialysis. Here’s a look at some of the latest stats on home hemodialysis.
