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Welcome to the Learning and Action (LAN) Network Series
A LAN is an improvement initiative that brings together healthcare professionals and clinicians, patients, and community stakeholders to achieve rapid, widescale improvement. The LAN model includes collaborative projects, online events, and peer-to-peer education to facilitate shared commitment, energy, and knowledge that allows participants to learn from each other.
LANs focus on a shared idea, opportunity, or challenge to offer and request information and experiences between participants to improve quality. They are mechanisms by which large-scale improvement around a common goal is fostered, studied, adapted, rapidly spread, and sustained regardless of the change methodology, tools, or time-bounded initiative that is used to achieve the goal.
Below, you will find seven LAN topics. Each topic will host a quarterly event that focuses on best and emerging practices taking place in each topic focus. Professionals and clinicians will share strategies and tactics that have contributed to improving the quality of care and quality of life for people with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
September 28, 2023
Overview:
This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving vaccination rates for persons receiving dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Title: Vaccinations (COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza) Learning and Action Network Call
Objectives:
- Discuss processes for educating patients and staff members
- Share emerging and best practices
- Address vaccine hesitancy and communication strategies
Speakers:
- Colin Blackwood, RN, Group Facility Administrator
- Tiffany Reese-Arrington, CCHT, BS, Contract Manager, Healthy Living
- Valerie Henry, R, Clinic Manager
June 22, 2023
Overview:
The vaccination change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The vaccination change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to increase vaccinations.
Title: Developing and Sustaining Processes for Improved Vaccination Acceptance
Objectives:
- Understand and overcome common barriers to vaccination status of dialysis patients.
- Identify processes for tracking, trending, and sustaining improvements across vaccinations.
Presenters:
- Jeannette Shrift, MSN, RN -Quality Improvement Specialist, Network 4
- Christopher Bassler, BS, RN- Regional Director, Dialyze Direct, Network 4
- Paul D. Gordan- Director of Clinical Projects, Dialyze Direct, Network 4
- Aisha Edmondson-Contract Manager (Quality Improvement), Network 6
Title: December 12, 2023, Depression Learning and Action Network (LAN)
This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving follow-up care for depression in persons receiving dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Learn about The Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6)
- Share emerging and best practices
- Discuss methods to build trust through patient and family engagement.
Speakers:
- Lisa Hall, MSSW, LICSW-Patient Services Director, Network 16
- Riquelen Ngumezi, LCSW-Patient Services Manager, Network 17
- Anne Pugh, LCSW-Patient Services Manager, Network 18
Title: September 12, 2023, Depression Learning and Action Network (LAN)
This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving follow-up care for depression in persons receiving dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Discuss barriers to mental health follow-up
- Share emerging and best practices
- Review case studies that resulted in positive outcomes
Speakers:
- Justin Carr, MSW, LCSW
- Mariana Alvarado, LMSW
Title: June 13, 2023, Overcoming Barriers to Effective Depression Screening
The depression change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The depression change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to increase depression screening.
Objectives:
- Identify barriers and solutions to effective depression screening
- Define best practices within dialysis facilities
- Establish systems to sustain processes for screening and follow-up
Presenters:
- Debbie Ulm— Quality Improvement Advisor, Network 10 & 12
- Carri Massau-Ables, LCSW-Social Work Advisory Board Member, Fresenius Kidney Care, Network 10
- Nicholle Hays, LCSW- Facility Administrator, Swope Dialysis, Network 12
- Dee LeDuc – Executive Director, Network 11
- Jessica Zeman, APSW, NSW-C-Mayo Clinic, Network 11
October 5, 2023
Overview
This call series is intended to support dialysis providers and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving care for persons on dialysis who reside in nursing homes. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Discuss logistics and issues specific to dialysis care provided in the nursing home setting
- Share emerging and best practices for patient outcomes
- Answer questions on this nuanced healthcare delivery from attendees
Presenters:
- Brent Wilson, Bridge Dialysis
- Lydia Broussard, DaVita
July 6, 2023
Dialysis Care in the Nursing Home
Overview:
The Dialysis Care in the Nursing Home change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Dialysis Care in the Nursing Home change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to reduce long-term catheter infections, peritonitis, and blood transfusions.
Objectives:
- Implement tools for quality improvement in dialysis care in the nursing home setting.
- Establish processes that reduce patients’ risk of requiring blood transfusions.
Presenters:
- Suresh Samson MD, FASN, Medical Review Board, Network 10
- Candace Kohls RN, Quality Improvement Director, Network 11
October 24, 2023
Overview: This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving health equity for patients receiving dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Describe strategies to address social determinants of health at dialysis facilities
- Identify strategies to address health-related social needs and tackle health literacy to improve kidney transplant equity
Speakers:
- Michelle D. Oswald, MA, BSW
- Andrea Moore, LMSW
- Stacy Jean Claude
October 10, 2023
Addressing Transportation Needs
Objectives:
- Understand transportation needs and their impacts on patients with kidney failure
- Identify strategies to address transportation challenges and needs
August 9, 2023
Improving Health Equity—Addressing Food Insecurity
This session discusses social determinants of health, macro-factors of food insecurity, and provides recommendations for providers and the community.
Objectives:
- Describes food insecurity and its impact on patients with kidney failure
- Identify strategies to combat food insecurities
July 25, 2023
Overview: This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving health equity for patients receiving dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Define Health Equity
- Hear from experts from Networks 16, 17, 18
- Discuss and share
Presenters:
- Catina O’Leary, PhD, LMSW
- Unini Odama, MD, MPH, MBE
- Rocio Zavala, MSW, ACSW
PowerPoint: The PowerPoint for this event is currently unavailable.
Recording
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Breaking Barriers—Strategies to Advance Health Equity at Dialysis Facilities
Objectives:
- Explain approaches to identify patients with social needs
- Describe methods to address patients’ social needs
- Discuss how to implement strategies to advance health equity in your facilities
November 30, 2023
Presentation Title: Home Dialysis Learning and Action Network (LAN) - November 30, 2023
Overview:
This call series is intended to support dialysis facilities and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks to increase the number of patients choosing a home modality. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Provide an overview of a transitional care unit.
- Share barriers and best practices about home hemodialysis.
- Review case study that resulted in positive outcomes
Speakers:
- Jamie Munter, Clinical Manager, Jill Himes, Kidney Care Advocate-FMC Peoria North
- Terri Stafford RN, VP Great Lakes Dialysis
- Misty Schafer RN, Facility Administrator-DaVita Rolla Dialysis
May 25, 2023
Presentation Title: Overcoming Barriers to Increase and Sustain Home Dialysis
Overview:
The home dialysis change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The home dialysis change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to increase home dialysis use.
Objectives:
Identify barriers to greater home dialysis adoption
Operationalize strategies from NCC Home Dialysis Change Package
Establish support systems to sustain patients on home dialysis
Presenters:
Donna DeBello, RN— Quality Improvement Director, Network 15
Sara Gabor – Group Facility Administrator, Fresenius, Network 15
Sheila McMaster, MSN, RN, CNN, CPHQ— Deputy Director ESRD, Network 14
Stephanie Johnson— Sr. Director of Operations, Fresenius, Network 14
February 20, 2024
Objectives:
- Discuss facility-level strategies for reducing emergency department utilization and hospitalizations.
- Hear about Networks’ progress and facility trends in their Network service areas.
Presenters:
- Amy Carper, LCSW, CCM, NSW-C
- Heidi Ferguson, RN, MSN, MHA
- Katie Chorba, MSN, RN
May 16, 2023
Reducing Hospital Admissions and Emergency Department Visits Learning and Action Network
Overview:
The hospitalization change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The hospitalization change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to decrease the incidence of avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department visits.
Objectives:
- Provide an overview of QI strategies to help reduce hospitalizations.
- Identify primary and secondary drivers from the hospitalization change package to reduce admissions and emergency room visits.
- Identify strategies to empower patients to collaborate with their healthcare team in reducing avoidable hospital admissions and emergency room visits.
Presenters: - Annabelle Perez, BSN, RN -Quality Improvement Director, ESRD Network 3
- Tracey Santora RN BSN, Fresenius Medical Care- Hammonton Clinic
- Amy Carper, LCSW, CCM, NSW-C- Quality Improvement Director, ESRD Network 15
- Mor Kam, MSW, LCSW, DaVita Dialysis
August 15, 2023
Reducing Hospital Admissions and Emergency Department (ED) Visits
Overview:
The hospitalization change package is intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The hospitalization change package was developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This Learning and Action Network (LAN) call focuses on quality improvement strategies and change ideas to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department utilization.
Objectives:
- Identify barriers to prevent avoidable hospitalizations
- Discuss methods to engage facility professionals in quality improvement
- Operationalize strategies from NCC Hospitalization Change Package
Presenters:
- Jassy Custer— Facility Administrator, Network 1
- Caroline Sanner MSN, RN-BC, CPHQ, Quality Improvement, Assistant Director, Network 2
PowerPoint
Recording
January 18, 2024
Overview:
This presentation features an overview of the ESRD Treatment Choices Learning Collaborative (ETCLC)
Objectives:
- Learn about the ETCLC national scope and impact
- Discuss ways that dialysis facilities can enage with their local transplant centers
- Answer dialyisis professionals' questions about the ETCLC
Speaker:
- Tina Dinkel, MA
Project Director, ETCLC
October 19, 2023
Overview:
This call series is intended to support dialysis providers and End State Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving access to transplant for persons on dialysis. This call includes actionable change ideas and perspectives from professionals in the ESRD Network service areas.
Objectives:
- Discuss barriers and solutions for dialysis facility involvement in the transplant process
- Share resources and processes to support transplant referrals
- Hear how facility social workers are championing transplant at their facilities
Speakers:
- Allison Boutwell and Susan Cooper, HSAG
- Celia Beckworth and Taji Valentine, Fresenius
- Victoria Cash, IPRO
March 21, 2023
Overview:
The change packages are intended to support dialysis facilities and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks in improving the performance outcomes set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The change packages were developed from change ideas shared by high-performing facilities. This learning and action network call (LAN) focuses on change ideas to increase the number of patients referred to transplant centers, evaluated, and placed on the transplant waitlist.
Title: Improving Clinical Outcomes: Utilizing the Transplant Change Package
Presenters:
- Meagan Prock, LCSW- Social Work Manager Fresenius Medical Care- Tulsa, OK
- Rachel Simpson, LCSW- Facility Social Worker (Claremore) Fresenius Medical Care- Claremore, OK
Objectives:
- Provide an overview of the change packages.
- Discuss strategies to improve key performance outcomes by utilizing the change package.
- Identify primary and secondary drivers from the transplant change package to improve waitlist outcomes