September 1, 2023
Monthly Observance
September is Hunger Action Month
In an effort to end hunger in your area, consider contacting your local food bank to discuss setting up a “food pharmacy” onsite at your dialysis clinic. Some of the food banks located throughout Network 5 are provided below.
Virginia
Maryland
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Education Opportunities
CMS Webinar: Medicaid Renewals Webinars Focused on Reaching Out to Special Populations
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This webinar series will review strategies that partners can use to reach and share information with diverse communities and audiences about Medicaid and CHIP renewals. Below is the last session in the series. Register today!
- Thursday, September 7: Reaching American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Proactive Assessment Webinar
September 15, 2023 @ 12:00 p.m.
Register Today
Looking to strengthen your infection prevention and control program? Want to make your facility even safer? Join the Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center (VIPTC) for this no-cost webinar to learn about VDH proactive assessments and hear first-hand accounts of on-site visits.
Kidney Transplant: Understanding the Process and Waitlist
September 20 & 21, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m.
Register Now
Note: This is one event with 2 date options. The same presentation will be given on both days.
The National Kidney Foundation invites you to join guest speaker Amit D. Tevar , MD for this engaging webinar. Dr. Tevar is the surgical director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at UPMC and is certified in multi-organ transplantation and hepatobiliary by the American Board of Surgery. This webinar will focus on the following topics:
- Choosing a transplant center
- Getting (and staying) on the waitlist
- Listing at multiple centers
- What it means to be a match
- Patient panelists will share their stories, tips, and strategies, and answer questions
2023 APIC Virginia Annual Education Conference
Registration is open for the 2023 APIC Virginia Annual Education Conference. Preconference will be on October 5, 2023 and the conference will be on October 6, 2023. A variety of topics will be discussed including antimicrobial stewardship, construction and renovation, water management, and infection prevention in dialysis settings. Visit APIC VA’s website to learn more about this educational opportunity.
National Patient and Family Engagement Learning and Action Network Summit
Don't miss the National Patient and Family Engagement Learning and Action Network Summit. During this FREE two-day virtual conference, attendees will hear from patients and professionals on a variety of topics. Registration details can be found on the event flyer.
Modalities
- Transplant Compare Job Aid - This tool walks you through the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) “Transplant Decision Aid.” It allows you to use patient-level information to compare predicted outcomes at different transplant centers
- Gauging Social Media Effectiveness in Finding Living Donors
- "The Flip" Part 2: Helping Patients Switch from PD to HHD - Making the Most of the Lull
- Why Shared Care Was Important to Me
Hospitalizations
September is Sepsis Awareness Month
Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body’s response to an infection is harmful to the patient, which can cause internal organs to malfunction, organ damage, and lead to septic shock. While dialysis is a lifesaving intervention for those with ESRD, it comes with significant risks, one of which is an increased risk of infection which can lead to sepsis. Early and rapid recognition and treatment are crucial to surviving sepsis.In support of Sepsis Awareness Month, the Sepsis Alliance is working to educate the public about some important facts about this condition, including:
- Older adults, especially those who are over 65 years old, are particularly susceptible to sepsis.
- Someone undergoing dialysis is at higher risk for infection because they:
- Have an invasive device, (CVC, PD Catheter, AVG, or AVF)
- Have a chronic illness that lowers their immune system response
- Take medications that can weaken their immune system
- Usually go to a hospital or clinic, where they may be exposed to healthcare-acquired infections
- Sepsis is a medical emergency and its symptoms must be treated rapidly to reduce the risk of death. In honor of Sepsis Awareness Month, the Sepsis Alliance is encouraging people to learn the signs of sepsis.
Vaccination and Infection Control
Free Community Testing for COVID-19
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering free community testing for COVID-19 in early September. Learn more.
Influenza Vaccination Reporting
As a reminder, facilities should begin reporting influenza vaccination data starting with the August reporting data.
Staff influenza data will need to be reported in NHSN for the following weeks in 2023 and 2024:
Health Equity
Patient Resource: Would you like to help improve patient care?
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, want to talk to patients across the country about what their experience has been like when asked questions, regarding things such as food, housing, or transportation, by medical professionals.
Share this SCORE Study flyer with your patients - it is available in both English and Spanish.