ESRD NETWORK 6 2011 ANNUAL REPORT

Impact of the Southeastern Kidney Council’s Goal 2 Accomplishmentson Improving the independence, quality of life, and rehabilitation (toextent possible) of individuals with ESRD in Network 6Through 2011, Network 6 provided educational materials, technical assistance and conductededucational outreach activities to empower ESRD patients and their families to make informeddecisions about their rehabilitation, treatment and ways to improve their quality of life. Network6 Activities for 2011 included:• 8,531 New ESRD Patients in Network 6 received New Patient OrientationPackets (NEPOP), which provided patients with resources on ESRD Patientrelated Care topics such as Treatment options, Information on the Network’sgrievance procedure and contacts for State Survey Agencies.• The Consumer Committee developed and disseminated over 42,000 copies oftheir annual Patient Education Calendar:”Your Health A Family Affair” whichprovided all ESRD patients in Network 6 educational materials on multiple ESRDrelated topics such as: Treatment options, Vocational Rehabilitation, ImprovingQuality of life.• More than 50% of surveyed calendar recipients were able to identify servicesoffered by the Southeastern Kidney Council. (Figure 29)• More than half of the 2011 surveyed calendar respondents found that the layout,the activities, educational materials and the overall calendar were useful. (Figure30)• Conducted a Vocational Rehabilitation study among those facilities with lowreferral rates and identified root causes to be patients disinterest in VR due tomedical inability or fear of losing benefits.• SKC continued its activities to increase the kidney transplantation rate in Network6 by supporting the activities of the Southeastern Kidney Transplant Coalition.• In 2011, Network 6 continued the activities of the pilot Patient AmbassadorProgram., where “Ambassadors” provide peer-to-peer interaction with patientsthat focused on barriers to quality patient care and how to improve the patients’experience of care.• In 2011, Network 6 collaborated with many renal community organizations tohost over 30 meetings and trainings.P a g e | 65