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RECENT NEWS ARCHIVES

Fri./Sat., May 31 - June1

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  May 31, 2013
Previous
bullet point An Opportunity for Nephrologists To Step Up
Opinion piece from Nephrology News & Issues.

"The Renal Physicians Association 2012 Benchmarking Survey, which drew from 111 nephrology practices around the country showed the average compensation per FTE nephrologist rose from $660,000 a year in the 2009 survey to $717,000 in 2011. "

Editor's note: Financial empires built on iatrogenesis.

If you would not accept for yourself the dialysis treatments that 90% of your patients receive, can you deny that you consider those treatments iatrogenic?
bullet point Mortality Rate Higher Than Expected for Women on Dialysis
(Registration required, but free.) Report from ERA-EDTA by Medscape Medical News.
bullet point Unemployment Tied to Shortened Lifespans for Less-Educated Women
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Free Online Access To Latest Issue of Blood Purification
12 full-text articles including: Personal Daily Dialysis: The Evolution of the Artificial Kidney.
bullet point

Issue in Progress Abstracts from Kidney and Blood Pressure Research:
bullet point Ultrafiltration Therapy for Heart Failure: Trials and Tribulations
CJASN Express abstract.
bullet point Article in Press Abstracts from American Journal of Kidney Diseases:
bullet point Vascular Calcification
Published Ahead-of-Print abstract from Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension.
bullet point Inflammatory Factors for Hypoalbuminemia in Japanese Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Accepted Article abstract from Nephrology.
bullet point Transfusions With Heart Surgery and Infection Risk
bullet point 3 Amgen Biologics (Aranesp, Epogen, Neupogen) Facing Generic Competition
bullet point Fresenius to Import TPN Drug Components from Norway to Cut US Shortage
bullet point Addressing the Human Factors Behind Readmissions
Article from Hospitals & Health Networks.
bullet point New Rule Allows Employers To Increase The Use Of Wellness Incentives
News summary from Kaiser Health News.
bullet point States Say ObamaCare Exchanges Will Be Ready on Time
bullet point CMS: Hospital Readmission Rates Decline in 2012


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Thursday, May 30

An Opportunity for Nephrologists To Step Up
Opinion piece from Nephrology News & Issues.

"The Renal Physicians Association 2012 Benchmarking Survey, which drew from 111 nephrology practices around the country showed the average compensation per FTE nephrologist rose from $660,000 a year in the 2009 survey to $717,000 in 2011. "

Editor's note: Financial empires built on iatrogenesis.

If you would not accept for yourself the dialysis treatments that 90% of your patients receive, can you deny that you consider those treatments iatrogenic?
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  May 30, 2013
Previous
bullet point Cinacalcet Analysis Puts New Spin on Parathyroid Trial
(Registration required, but free.) ERA-EDTA conference news report from Medscape Medical News.

"...sometimes we try to squeeze datasets to find a positive result to please us because the randomized controlled trial, at least EVOLVE, was negative with respect to the primary end point."
bullet point 'Good Things Happen' to Engaged Patients, AHA Chair Says
News item from AHANews.com.
bullet point Soap, Ointment for All ICU Patients Best for Fighting MRSA: Study
Article from HealthDay. Full-Text, Online First article from The New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point The Shortage of Organ Donors
KidneyTalk podcast from Renal Support Network.
bullet point Impact of Advanced Dialysis Technology on the Prevalence of Dialysis Related Amyloidosis in Long-Term Maintenance Dialysis Patients
Early View abstract from Hemodialysis International.
bullet point Advance Online Abstracts from Kidney International:
bullet point Vascular Access Graft and Native Arterial Branch Fistulous Formation
Early View abstract from Journal of Renal Care.
bullet point Recall - Glass Particles in Vials: Magnesium Sulfate Injection by Fresenius Kabi USA
bullet point Rockwell Medical Announces SFP Phase 3 Efficacy Study CRUISE-1 Completes Patient Dosing
bullet point Sunlight as Disinfectant — New Rules on Disclosure of Industry Payments to Physicians
Free, full-text perspective piece from The New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point The Sunshine Act — Effects on Physicians
Free, full-text perspective piece from The New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point Most Patient Education Materials Suffer from Lack of Readability, Study Says
Article from Medical Economics.
bullet point Common Painkillers 'Pose Heart Risk'
bullet point Health Reform Saving Young Adults Millions for ER Care: Study
bullet point Hospitals Cracking Down On Those Who Don't Wash Their Hands
bullet point Study: Immigrants Give More to Medicare Than They Get
Article from Kaiser Health News. Abstract from Health Affairs.


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Wednesday, May 29

Rockwell Medical Announces SFP Phase 3 Efficacy Study CRUISE-1 Completes Patient Dosing
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  May 29, 2013
Previous
bullet point Simple 'Frailty' Test Predicts Death, Hospitalization for Kidney Dialysis Patient
Press release from Johns Hopkins Medicine. Early View abstract from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
bullet point Cardiovascular Toxicity of Epoetin-Alfa in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Issue in Progress abstract from American Journal of Nephrology.

"Conclusions: In the CHOIR trial, average epoetin-alfa doses >10,095 units/week were associated with increased risks for cardiovascular events irrespective of the Hb achieved within the first 4 months of treatment. These data suggest the weekly epoetin-alfa dose and not the Hb achieved was a principal determinant in the primary outcome observed implicating a cardiovascular toxicity of this erythrocyte-stimulating agent."
bullet point Higher Doses of Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agents and Hyporesponsiveness to Their Effects Are Associated with Increased Mortality among Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients
Issue-in-Progress abstract from Blood Purification.
bullet point ERA-EDTA Conference News: Iron Reduces Need for Erythropoiesis in Dialysis
(Registration required, but free.) Article from Medscape Medical News.
bullet point Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis – A Video
A former dialysis patient and his wife share their experiences. Video posted on Home Dialyzors United.

"If doctors have a financial interest in it (hemodialysis), they have no interest in changing." (at 14:35)
bullet point Personal Daily Dialysis: The Evolution of the Artificial Kidney
Issue-in-Progress abstract from Blood Purification.
bullet point Issue in Progress Abstracts from American Journal of Nephrology:
bullet point Comparison of Urea Clearance in Low Efficiency Low Flux Versus High-Efficiency High Flux Dialyzer Membrane with Reduced Blood and Dialysate Flow: an In Vitro Analysis
Early View abstract from Hemodialysis International.

"Our data suggest that use of HEF (high eff./flux) dialyzers are not as safe as LEF in high-risk acute dialysis patients since these are associated with more rapid removal of urea despite reduction in blood and dialysate flow as compared to LEF."
bullet point Predialysis Vascular Access Surgery in Patients With Failing Kidney Transplants
Free, full-text, Article in Press correspondence from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
bullet point Provisional Abstracts and Full-Text PDFs from BMC Nephrology:
bullet point Early Online Abstracts from Renal Failure:
bullet point Rational Use of Antihypertensive Medications in Children
Free, full-text, Online First educational review from Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point Hedge Funds Are Buying DaVita
Posting from Insider Monkey.
bullet point Amgen To Make Move into Japan, Takes on Astellas as Partner
bullet point New Virus Called a Global Threat
Articles from CNN, the BBC, and Reuters.
bullet point Talk Therapy Can Ease Depression, But No Single Type Deemed 'Best'
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Medicare Spending Variations Mostly Due To Health Differences, Study Concludes
Article from Kaiser Health News. Abstract from Medical Care Research and Review.


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Tuesday, May 28

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  May 28, 2013
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bullet point Relationship Between the Prognostic Expectations of Seriously ill Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis and Their Nephrologists
Press release and Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.

Editor's note: It is good to see JAMA taking on ethical and patient issues that are too often ignored in U.S. nephrology journals.
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care Presents Lunch Symposium on High-Volume Hemodiafiltration at ERA-EDTA
Press release.

Editor's note: There are many statements and statistics in this press release that need to be questioned. Here are a few.

FMC's Prof. Bernard Canaud states, “HighVolumeHDF significantly improves patient survival and quality of life versus standard hemodialysis and should therefore be the standard in cardioprotective hemodialysis for all patients.”

However, the JASN article quoted in the press release states that:

"The analysis of the distinct causes of cardiovascular mortality showed no significant differences between groups in the number of deaths due to heart failure, ischemic heart disease, mesenteric thrombosis, arrhythmia, or peripheral arteriopathy."

What is the basis of Prof. Canaud's "cardioprotective" statement? Only a "trend toward lower risk" was noted in the paper. However, the discussion section of the paper mentions that "convective techniques are associated with a higher removal of several mediators involved in inflammation regulation, cytokine production, and accelerated atherosclerosis."

The paper also states: "These results provide evidence of the need to deliver high convection volumes to reduce all-cause mortality. To achieve this goal, high blood flow rates and long dialysis times are required."

There is also no mention of "quality of life" in the JASN article. Too often this phrase simply meets a spokeperson's definition, rather than representing the patients' actual experiences.

FMC provided both investigators and financial backing for this study and has invested heavily in HDF technology. While high-volume HDF may proven differently, two other recent, prospective, randomized studies failed to demonstrate a survival advantage of OL-HDF over hemodialysis (1, 2).
bullet point Association of Dialysate Bicarbonate Concentration With Mortality in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)
Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Editor's note: It is un clear how the investigators dealt with the large number of errors made in U.S. clinics that utilize Granuflo. Many provided total buffer levels of 45 mEq/L or greater for years.
bullet point Patient Participation in Decision Making Associated with Increased Costs, Services
Press release and Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.
bullet point Early-Life Overweight Trajectory and CKD in the 1946 British Birth Cohort Study
Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
bullet point Pretreatment of Formula or Expressed Breast Milk With Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate®) as a Treatment for Hyperkalemia in Infants With Acute or Chronic Renal Insufficiency
Article in Press abstract from Journal of Renal Nutrition.
bullet point Personalized Medicine vs Guideline-Based Medicine
Free, full-text, Online First article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point How Patient Centered Are Medical Decisions?
Press release and Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine. Article from Reuters.
bullet point Obamacare Insurance Won’t Cover Weight-Loss Surgery In Many States
Article from Kaiser Health News.
bullet point Nurse Practitioners Playing Doctor More Often
Article from The Daily Beast.
bullet point The Transparency Imperative
Free, Onlife First opinion piece from Annals of Internal Medicine.
bullet point  


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Monday, May 27

Relationship Between the Prognostic Expectations of Seriously ill Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis and Their Nephrologists
Press release and Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.
How Patient Centered Are Medical Decisions?
Press release and Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.
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  May 27, 2013
Previous
bullet point Berkshire’s Weschler Holds Almost $150 Million of DaVita
Article from Bloomberg.
bullet point Youth with Type II Diabetes at Much Higher Risk for Heart, Kidney Disease
Press release from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
bullet point

FDA Allows Marketing of First HbA1c Test Labeled for Diagnosing Diabetes
Press release.
bullet point THC Locks May Offer Edge to Dialysis Patients
Article from Renal & Urology News.
bullet point Retroperitoneal Leak in PD Patient
Posting from Renal Fellow Network.
bullet point Growth and Maturation Improvement in Children on Renal Replacement Therapy over the Past 20 Years
Online First abstract from Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point The Prognostic Value of Kidney Transplant Center Report Cards
Early View abstract from American Journal of Transplantation.
bullet point Provisional Abstracts and Full-Text PDFs from BMC Nephrology:
bullet point Common Supplement Found To Be First Drug in over a Decade That Improves Heart Failure Mortality
Press release from the European Society of Cardiology. Article from HealthDay.
bullet point American Kidney Fund Activates Disaster Relief Program
Press release.
bullet point WHO To Help Investigate Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia
Article from Reuters via Health24.com.
bullet point Articles from American Medical News:
bullet point  


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Fri./Sat., May 24-25

American Kidney Fund Activates Disaster Relief Program
Press release.

Editor's note: This is disturbing in that the patients cannot directly apply for aid, but instead the dialysis unit must do so. The dialysis unit then distributes the money as they see fit.

This creates obvious opportunities for abuse. Clinic administrators may choose to give far more money in assistance and for transportation to those patients with private health insurance, ensuring their continued presence, as well as the high profits associated with private insurance.

The Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) coalition does not publically broadcast useful information about open clinics and chair availability during disasters. This prevents private insurance patients from obtaining information from outside sources. The patients must contact their current dialysis provider.

What do people want most during disasters? Information. Unfortunately, disaster management for dialysis patients has become more and more about profit management.
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  May 24, 2013
Previous
bullet point CEO Pay Rises in 2012
AP article via The Denver Post.

"Kent Thiry, DaVita Healthcare CEO, was paid $26.8 million in 2012, a 53 percent increase from the previous year."
bullet point The Suicide Epidemic
Article from Newsweek.

"When people see themselves as effective—as providers for their families, resources for their friends, contributors to the world—they maintain the will to live. When they lose that view of themselves, when it curdles into a feeling of liability, the desire to die takes root."
bullet point NIH Scientists Discover Molecule Triggers Sensation of Itch
News release from the National Institutes of Health. Related article from HealthDay.
bullet point Screening for Transient Ischemic Attacks in Hemodialysis Patients
Article in Press abstract from Journal of Nephrology.
bullet point

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in CKD Associate with Both ESRD and Mortality
JASN Express abstract.
bullet point CJASN Express Abstracts:
bullet point Effect of Anastomosis Angle on the Localization of Disturbed Flow in 'Side-to-End' Fistulae for Haemodialysis Access
(Registration required, but free.) Free, full-text article from NDT via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with Refractory Congestive Heart Failure: Potential Prognostic Factors
Issue in Progress abstract from Blood Purification.
bullet point

Online First Abstracts from International Urology and Nephrology:
bullet point Abstracts from Journal of Renal Care:
bullet point Effects of Obesity and Race on Left Ventricular Geometry in Hypertensive Children
Online First abstract Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point Phoxilium vs Hemosol-B0 for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury
Article in Press abstract from Journal of Critical Care.
bullet point Death Rates Decline for Advanced Heart Failure Patients, but Outcomes Are Still Not Ideal
Press release from UCLA Health Sciences.
bullet point Poster for Patients: Support Your Local Microbes
bullet point Report Recommends Ways to Gain More from Healthcare Performance Measures
News item from HFMA. Report (31-page pdf) from the Urban Institute.
bullet point Type 2 Diabetes Progresses Faster in Kids, Study Finds
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Deaths Associated with Hurricane Sandy — October–November 2012
Report from the CDC's MMWR.
bullet point Diet Soda Habit as Bad for Teeth as Meth Addiction, Study Claims
bullet point  


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Thursday, May 23

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  May 23, 2013
Previous
bullet point More Kids Getting Donor Organs, But Gaps Persist, Study Finds
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Individualized Quality-Assured Dialysis (IQD) - Every Patient is Different, Every Session is Different
(Registration required, but free.) Resources for dialysis professionals from Gambro.
bullet point Clinical Potentials of Adsorptive Dialysis Membranes
Free, full-text editorial comment from supplemental issue of Blood Purification.
bullet point Depression and Its Associated Factors in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
Online First abstract from Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point Advance Online Abstracts from Kidney International:
bullet point Doctors Use 3-D Printer to Create Lifesaving Airway Device for Infant
Articles from HealthDay and AP.
bullet point Clinical Findings in 111 Cases of Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection
Free, full-text, Online First article from the New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point CMS Updates Manual to Reflect Ambulance Fee Schedule Reduction for Non-Emergency BLS Transports of Patients With ESRD
News item from JD Supra. Program Transmittal (12-page pdf) from CMS.
bullet point Medicare Program; Medical Loss Ratio Requirements for the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs
Notice from The Federal Register.
bullet point Medicaid Expansion Popular In Southern States, Despite Govs' Opposition


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Wednesday, May 22

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  May 22, 2013
Previous
bullet point U.S. Renal Care Pays $7.3 Million To Settle Billing Fraud Case Brought by Nurse-Whistleblower
Press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Press release from Phillips & Cohen LLP. News item from The Dallas Morning News.

"The False Claims Act allows private citizens to sue companies that are defrauding the government as a way to recover funds on the government's behalf. The law rewards whistleblowers with 15 percent to 25 percent of the recovery when the government joins the whistleblower lawsuit."
bullet point After Telling CMS To Cut Dialysis Pay, Senators Urge CMS Not To Cut Too Deeply
See "Latest News" column on the InsideHealthPolicy.com home page. Annoucement and letter via Afro.com.

"A bipartisan group of 17 senators on Tuesday (May 21) urged CMS to avoid deep payment cuts to dialysis facilities, even though the fiscal-cliff deal directs CMS to scale back dialysis pay."
bullet point Overruns Forcing Lower Payments to Some Providers in Stopgap Health Program
Article from The New York Times.

"The government will not set payment rates for prescription drugs, organ transplants or kidney dialysis. Officials did not say why those items and services had been exempted."
bullet point Coverage of the ERA-EDTA 2013
Articles from Renal & Urology News.
bullet point The Joint Commission Launches Educational Campaign on Adult Depression
Press release and materials from The Joint Commission.
bullet point Study Links Chemicals (Phthalates) Widely Found in Plastics and Processed Food to Elevated Blood Pressure in Children and Teens
Press release from NYU School of Medicine.
bullet point Amag Investigates Anemia Drug After Report of Death in Switzerland
Article from Reuters.
bullet point The Uremic Toxin Acrolein Promotes Suicidal Erythrocyte Death
Free, full-text, Issue-in-Progress article from Kidney & Blood Pressure Research.
bullet point Urinary Biomarkers and Acute Kidney Injury in Children: The Long Road to Clinical Application
Free, full-text, Online First editorial commentary from Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point Socioeconomic, Demographic and Policy Comparisons of Living and Deceased Kidney Transplantation Rates Across 53 Countries
Accepted Article abstract from Nephrology.
bullet point Tennessee Pharmacist Admits Misbranding Dialysis Drugs
bullet point NxStage Announces New Agreements with DaVita
bullet point DaVita Announces Secret Algorithm To Predict Transfusion Risk
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care Sues Illinois Health Board to Reverse Decision on Dialysis Facility Approval
bullet point WEBEX: May 28, 2013 Patient Engagement from the Patient Perspective
bullet point Better Care Not Always Better Business
Article from Healthcare IT News.

"A provider generally functions as a profit-driven business, and if the consumer remains unable to compare hospital prices and outcomes, the chances of crafting effective incentives to improve quality and reduce costs are effectively nearing zilch."
bullet point Podcast: Why We All Need a Patient Advocate
"Take 5" audio (mp3) recording from The Joint Commission.
bullet point Accuracy of Blood Glucose Meters Draws Scrutiny
Posting from the KHN blog.
bullet point Heart Disease Death Not as Pervasive as Reported
Article from MedPage Today. Press release and full-text article from BMJ.
bullet point Antidepressants May Be Helpful for Some Heart Patients
bullet point Overruns Forcing Lower Payments to Some Providers in Stopgap Health Program
Article from The New York Times.

"The government will not set payment rates for prescription drugs, organ transplants or kidney dialysis. Officials did not say why those items and services had been exempted."


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Tuesday, May 21

U.S. Renal Care Pays $7.3 Million To Settle Billing Fraud Case Brought by Nurse-Whistleblower
Press release from Phillips & Cohen LLP.  Press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

"The False Claims Act allows private citizens to sue companies that are defrauding the government as a way to recover funds on the government's behalf. The law rewards whistleblowers with 15 percent to 25 percent of the recovery when the government joins the whistleblower lawsuit."
Tennessee Pharmacist Admits Misbranding Dialysis Drugs
NxStage Announces New Agreements with DaVita
DaVita Announces Secret Algorithm To Predict Transfusion Risk
Fresenius Medical Care Sues Illinois Health Board to Reverse Decision on Dialysis Facility Approval
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  May 21, 2013
Previous
bullet point

Dialysis Patient Shot in the Middle of Treatment in Orlando
Report from KFTV.

bullet point Australian Dialysis Clinic To Close Due to Increasing Number of Transplants
Article from Herald Sun.
bullet point Study Suggests New Source of Kidneys for Transplant
Press release from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
bullet point Coverage of the American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting
Articles from Renal & Urology News.
bullet point ERA-EDTA Congress 2013: Late Breaking Clinical Trials
Press release.
bullet point Americans' Use of Dietary Supplements That Are Potentially Harmful in CKD
(Registration required, but free.) Full text article from American Journal of Kidney Diseases via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Articles in Press Abstracts from the International Journal of Artificial Organs:
bullet point To Treat or Not to Treat? Cost-Effectiveness of Ace Inhibitors in Non-Diabetic Advanced Renal Disease - a Dutch Perspective
Free, full-text, Issue-in-Progress article from Kidney & Blood Pressure Research.
bullet point Peritoneal Dialysis-Current Status and Future Challenges
Advance Online abstract from Nature Reviews Nephrology.
bullet point Effect of Fluid and Sodium Restrictions on Weight Loss among Patients with Heart Failure
Press release and free, full-text, Online First article and commentary from JAMA Internal Medicine.

"Conclusions and Relevance:  Aggressive fluid and sodium restriction has no effect on weight loss or clinical stability at 3 days and is associated with a significant increase in perceived thirst. We conclude that sodium and water restriction in patients admitted for ADHF are unnecessary."
bullet point Automated BP Device Not Cutting It
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point Sterilized Honey Combats Infections in PD Catheters
bullet point Rockwell Medical Closes $40.3 Million Public Offering of Common Stock
bullet point Health Sites Too Complex, Full of Cliches
Article from Reuters.Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.
bullet point Healthcare Workers Set To Strike California Public Hospitals
Article from Reuters.
bullet point Favorite Music May Ease Anxiety in ICU Patients
Article from HealthDay. Press release and free, full-text, Online First article and editorial from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point Early Nutrition in Critically ill Patients
Press release and free, full-text, Online First editorial and article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point 9 'Cs' Lead to Accountable Care
Article from Healthcare IT News.
bullet point Metabolic Biomarkers Can Predict Mortality in the ICU
bullet point CMS Provides ICD-10-PCS Code Set Updates
News item from HFMA. Related article from Medical Economics.
bullet point HHS/CMS Release Final Rule on Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
29-page pdf from The Federal Register.
bullet point Recorded Webinar on How To Use the Data.Medicare.Gov Websites


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Monday, May 20

Rockwell Medical Closes $40.3 Million Public Offering of Common Stock

Dialysis Patient Shot in the Middle of Treatment in Orlando
Sterilized Honey Combats Infections in PD Catheters
Recorded Webinar on How To Use the Data.Medicare.Gov Websites
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  May 20, 2013
Previous
bullet point Clinical Support for Patient Self-Management is Rhetoric Rather than Reality
Full-text article from British Medical Journal.

"The processes to allow people to self-manage their own illness are not being used appropriately by health professionals to the benefit of their patients, new research suggests."
bullet point FMC To Launch First Ever Share Buyback on May 20
News item from Reuters.
bullet point ERA-EDTA 50th Congress
May 18-21 in Instanbul, Turkey.
bullet point Bessemer (AL) Dialysis Center Shut Down After Two Patients Deaths
bullet point Fewer Kids Die While Waiting for New Organs
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point National Agenda for Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Dialysis Centers
Early View abstract from Seminars in Dialysis.
bullet point Free, Full-Text Editorials from American Journal of Kidney Diseases:
bullet point Articles in Press Abstracts from American Journal Of Kidney Diseases:
bullet point Combined Liver and Kidney Transplantation in Children
Free, full-text, Online First Educational Review article from Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point Long Island NY Dialysis Center Reopens after Superstorm Sandy
bullet point China Eliminating Reliance on Executed Prisoners for Organs
bullet point Organ Donor Cards Hard to Implement in China, Official Says
bullet point

Depression Doubles Risk of Death in Cancer Survivors
bullet point Dear American Consumers: Please Don T Start Eating Healthfully. Sincerely, the Food Industry
Article from Scientific American.
bullet point VA Tries Quality Improvement Approach to Medical Ethics
Article from American Medical News.
bullet point How Does Medicare Work?

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Fri./Sat., May 17-18

Clinical Support for Patient Self-Management is Rhetoric Rather than Reality
Full-text article from British Medical Journal.

"The processes to allow people to self-manage their own illness are not being used appropriately by health professionals to the benefit of their patients, new research suggests."
FMC To Launch First Ever Share Buyback on May 20
News item from Reuters.
ERA-EDTA 50th Congress
May 18-21 in Instanbul, Turkey.
Bessemer (AL) Dialysis Center Shut Down After Two Patients Deaths
Long Island NY Dialysis Center Reopens after Superstorm Sandy
China Eliminating Reliance on Executed Prisoners for Organs
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  May 17, 2013
Previous
bullet point Fitness Before Dialysis for 69-Year-Old Joan
Article from Sunshine Coast Daily (Australia).
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care Shareholders Approve Simplification of Capital Structure and 16th Consecutive Dividend Increase
Press release.
bullet point Why Warren Buffett Loves DaVita...And You Should, Too
Article from The Motley Fool.
bullet point LDL Won't Help Spot MI in Renal Patients
Article from MedPage Today. JASN Express abstract.
bullet point Multipass Hemodialysis: a Novel Dialysis Modality
Free, full-text article from NDT.
bullet point Clinical Assessment of Phosphorus Status, Balance and Renal Handling in Normal Individuals and in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Published Ahead-of-Print abstract from Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension.
bullet point KDOQI US Commentary on the 2012 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Blood Pressure in CKD
Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
bullet point Low Iron: Does She Drink Tea?
Posting from Renal Fellow Network.
bullet point Rockwell Medical Announces the Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
bullet point

Pentec Health Announces Limited Voluntary Recall of Certain Compounded Prescription Therapies for Renal Patients
bullet point VA Wants DaVita's Dialysis Underpayment Suit Trimmed
bullet point Transmission of HBV Among Assisted-Living–Facility Residents — Virginia, 2012
bullet point Articles from Hospitals & Health Networks:
bullet point Saudi Health Workers Sickened by SARS-Like Virus
bullet point RNs to Begin Strike Friday at 5 East Bay Sutter Hospitals
bullet point  


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Thursday, May 16

Rockwell Medical Announces the Exercise of Over-Allotment Option

Pentec Health Announces Limited Voluntary Recall of Certain Compounded Prescription Therapies for Renal Patients
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  May 16, 2013
Previous
bullet point Robotic Transplant an Option for Obese Kidney Patients
Press release from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
bullet point Starting Dialysis; Does the Patient Have to Be Very Sick?
Video posing from Berns on Nephrology via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Embryonic Stem Cells: Advance in Medical Human Cloning
Article from BBC News. Abstract from Cell.
bullet point People With High Blood Pressure May Crave Salt
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point DaVita’s Patient Pathways Wins Award for Discharge Planning; Fresenius Medical Care Wins Two Awards
DaVita press release. 2013 'Case in Point' Awards finalists and winners.

Editor's note:  In the 2013 Dorland Health 'Case in Point' Awards issue, Fresenius Medical Care took out full-page ads on pages 11 and 19. DaVita's Patient Pathway's full-page ad appears on page 5 (although the word 'DaVita' is never mentioned anywhere in the ad or in the issue).

Dorland Health is a media company.
bullet point Advance Online Abstracts from Kidney International:
bullet point Abstracts from The New England Journal of Medicine:
bullet point A New Recombinant MnSOD Prevents the Cyclosporine A-Induced Renal Impairment
Advance Access abstract from NDT.
bullet point April 2013 FDA Safety Labeling Changes
The listing includes 48 products with revisions to Prescribing Information.
bullet point Endovascular AAA Repair Superior for Kidney Disease Patients
bullet point Sugary Sodas, Fruit Punches May Raise Kidney Stone Risk
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care Closes Clinic after Two Dialysis Patients Die, Others Hospitalized after Treatment at Bessemer, AL Clinic
bullet point Obama Administration Announces $1 Billion Initiative to Launch Healthcare Innovation Awards
HHS press release. Article from The Hill.
bullet point Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Opens Second Year of Research Funding with $81 Million in New Round of Announcements
Press release.
bullet point Docs, Nurses Disagree Over Expanded Nurse Roles
Posting from the KHN blog. Article from HealthDay. Free, full-text article and abstract from The New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point Changes and Alternatives for Dialysis Facilities under the Bundled Payment Plan
Article from Nephrology News and Issues.
bullet point Senate Confirms Tavenner To Head CMS
Articles from Kaiser Health News and Reuters.


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Wednesday, May 15

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  May 15, 2013
Previous
bullet point Never a Dull Moment at DaVita
Posting from the 5280 The Denver Magazine blog.
bullet point For-Profit Dialysis Centers Used More of Expensive, Dangerous Drugs (ESAs)
Articles from Reuters Health and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Online First extract from JAMA Internal Medicine.

Editor's note: While this news report covers ESA usage in 2007-2008, it doesn't account for new profit motives related to ESA usage created by the Medicare "bundle" in 2011. Unfortunately for DaVita patients, the pattern continues.
bullet point Comments on the Comprehensive End-Stage Renal Disease Care Model
Letter (4-page pdf) from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to CMS.

"In setting the historical spending baseline, CMS should exclude some or all of the expenditures for nonemergency ambulance use by dialysis beneficiaries particularly in areas that have high per capita expenditures (e.g., greater than the 75th percentile). This comment is based on the Commission's finding that nonemergency dialysis-related transports appear to be excessive in some states and potentially fraudulent."
bullet point Following CDC Protocols Cuts Dialysis Bloodstream Infections in Half
Press release. Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Bloodstream Infection Rates in Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities Participating in a Collaborative Prevention Effort: A Quality Improvement Report
Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
bullet point BMJ  Calls for New and Stronger Patient Partnerships to Improve Healthcare
Press release from British Medical Journal.

"It's about a fundamental shift in the power structure in healthcare and a renewed focus on the core mission of health systems."

"The healthcare industrial complex stands accused of losing its moral purpose."
bullet point Apollo Medical Holdings and Fresenius Medical Care Partner
Press release.
bullet point IOM: Cut Daily Sodium, but Not Below 2300 mg
Articles from Internal Medicine News, HealthDay, Reuters, and MedPage Today.  Press release from the Institute of Medicine.

"People ages 51 or older, African Americans, and people with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease – groups that together make up more than 50 percent of the U.S. population – are advised to follow an even stricter limit of 1,500 mg per day."
bullet point Medicare Benefits for Transplant Medications: When Do They End?
KidneyTalk podcast from Renal Support Network.
bullet point NKF Posts Total Dreck on Alcohol and the Kidney
Posting from Precious Bodily Fluids.
bullet point Role of Components of Frailty on Quality of Life in Dialysis Patients: a Cross-Sectional Study
Early View abstract from Journal of Renal Care.
bullet point Outcome of Individualized Dialysate Sodium Concentration for Hemodialysis Patients
Free, fullt-ext article from Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.
bullet point Issue in Progress Abstracts from American Journal Of Nephrology:
bullet point Latex Related Allergy in Hemodialysis Patients
Early Online abstract from Renal Failure.
bullet point Efficacy and Safety of SBR759, a Novel Calcium Free, Iron (III)-Based Phosphate Binder, Versus Placebo in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage V Japanese Patients on (Dialysis)
Online First abstract from Clinical and Experimental Nephrology.
bullet point Zapping Renal Artery Reaps Future Rewards
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point Massachusetts Short on Inspectors for Healthcare Facilitites
bullet point Rockwell Medical Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock
bullet point Fresenius Medical Announces Annual Dividend of $0.49 (FMS)
bullet point Affymax CEO Steps Down As Restructuring Firm Steps In
bullet point US Charges 89 People with Healthcare Fraud
Articles from Reuters and The Hill.
bullet point Hospital Safety Scores Reveal Slow Improvements
News item from HFMA.
bullet point If Soda Study Is Favorable, Look for Industry $$$
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point Meeting the Challenge of a Dual-Eligible Population
Article from Hospitals & Health Networks.
bullet point Moving Forward from the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) System
Testimony (39-page pdf) from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).


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Tuesday, May 14

Following CDC Protocols Cuts Dialysis Bloodstream Infections in Half
Press release.

Apollo Medical Holdings and Fresenius Medical Care Partner
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  May 14, 2013
Previous
bullet point Living Close to Major Road May Impair Kidney Function
Press release from British Medical Journal. Article from the BBC. Online First abstract from the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
bullet point Hemoglobin Targets in CKD
Posting from Renal Fellow Network.
bullet point Research Letter: Dialysis Facility Profit Status and Compliance with a Black Box Warning
Online First extract from JAMA Internal Medicine. News item from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Editor's note: Only the first page of this letter is viewable for free, but the graph shows that for-profit facilities used higher ESA doses than non-profit facilities in every hematocrit category, both before and after the black box warning in 2007.
bullet point DaVita Optimistic CMS Will Make Changes To Kidney Care ACO
Headline only (See "Latest News" column) from the pay-for-view site InsideHealthPolicy.com.
bullet point Peritoneal Changes in Patients on Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis
Advance Online abstract from Nature Reviews Nephrology.
bullet point Non Contrast-Enhanced MRA versus Ultrasound Blood Vessel Assessment to Determine the Choice of Hemodialysis Vascular Access
Article in Press abstract from the Journal of Vascular Access.
bullet point

Early View Abstracts from American Journal of Transplantation:
bullet point Influence of Hemodialysis on Incretin Hormones and Insulin Secretion in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients
Online First abstract from International Urology and Nephrology.
bullet point Are These 2 Stocks Buffett's Next Takeover Targets?
bullet point How to Quickly Spot Signs of Stroke: Experts
bullet point Typical Restaurant Meal Loaded With Fats, Salt, Calories: Studies
Article from HealthDay. Online First abstract from JAMA Internal Medicine.
bullet point New Guidelines Say Doctors Should Screen All Adults for 'Risky' Drinking
Article from HealthDay. Free, full-text, Online First article from Annals of Internal Medicine.
bullet point Patients' Responsibility to Participate in Decision Making and Research
Free, full-text, Online First viewpoint article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point Hastings Center Calls on Health Care Professionals and Organizations to Meet Standards for Good Care near the End of Life
Press release from The Hastings Center.
bullet point Influenza A(H7N9): From Anxiety to Preparedness
Free, full-text, Online First article from Annals of Internal Medicine.
bullet point  


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Monday, May 13

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  May 13, 2013
Previous
bullet point Medicare Overpaid $529 Million for Anemia Drugs in 2011 - OIG Report
News report from Fox Business.  Summary and full-report (31-page pdf) of audit from the HHS Office of the Inspector General.
bullet point Camp "O" for Kids with Kidney Disease, June 8-14
Press release from (non-profit) DCI.
bullet point You Can Be on Dialysis, and Yet Not Miss Work!
Article from The Times of India.

Editor's note: Admittedly, this Times of India article is just a "puff piece" designed to run Google ads. However, its title is unimaginable in the U.S. marketplace.

No U.S. dialysis provider emphasizes the employment, rehabilitation, and thriving of its dialysis patients. Instead, the U.S. nephrology community has been focused on treatment measurements such as Kt/V, which targets two patient outcomes: NOT DEAD and NOT IN THE HOSPITAL.

While I won't link directly in the headlines to this story due to its inclusion of so many ads, it does help bring to light the long-term failures of the dialysis patient advocacy community in this country.
bullet point DaVita Gives More Than $1.75 Million to Communities Across the US
Press release.

Editor's note: Less than one week after admitting that they will likely have to settle federal anti-kickback allegations with a payment of $300 million, DaVita releases this notice quoting its "chief wisdom officer."

It's basic corporate image control. Who would crticize a corporation if they believe this corporation may give them money in the future? It certainly works on the dialysis patient advocacy organizations.

Ultimately, this is a house of cards. A healthcare company that does not focus on the quality of the lives of its patients will ultimately collapse and fail. It just takes a Rosa Parks...
bullet point Fractures Across the Spectrum of CKD
Presentation from UKidney.
bullet point Articles in Press Abstracts from American Journal Of Kidney Diseases:
bullet point FGF23 and Klotho in Chronic Kidney Disease
Published Ahead-of-Print abstract from Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension.
bullet point Articles in Press Abstracts from The International Journal of Artificial Organs:
bullet point Estrogen Levels Tied to Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death in Study
bullet point Poor Bedside Manner, Service Top Patient Complaints
Artile from Renal & Urology News.
bullet point The President's Impassioned Health Law Speech: 'We're Going To Keep Fighting'
News summary from Kaiser Health News.
bullet point Obama's Health Secretary Seeks Donations from Companies for Healthcare Law
Articles from Reuters and The Hill.
bullet point

Exercise for Patients with Major Depression – What Kind, How Intense, How Often?
Press release from The Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
bullet point CMS: Do EHRs Lead to Upcoding?
Article from American Medical News.


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Fri./Sat., May 10-11

Medicare Overpaid $529 Million for Anemia Drugs in 2011 - OIG Report
News report from Fox Business.  Summary and full-report (31-page pdf) of audit from the HHS Office of the Inspector General.
Camp "O" for Kids with Kidney Disease, June 8-14
Press release from (non-profit) DCI.
FacebookTwitter
  May 10, 2013
Previous
bullet point Denver-Based DaVita Sets Aside $300 Million To Settle Kickback Probes
Article from The Denver Post. DaVita has also filed SEC Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report.

"Federal attorneys "have taken the position that some or all of our joint ventures do not comply with the anti-kickback statute," Thiry said."
bullet point CJASN Express Abstracts:
bullet point

Renal CD133+/CD73+ Progenitors Produce Erythropoietin under Hypoxia and Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibition
JASN Express abstract.
bullet point FDA Product Class II Recall Notices in May 8th Enforcement Report:
bullet point Articles from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report:
bullet point NYC Hospital Removes Wrong Kidney from Patient
bullet point Diabetes: Dirty Air 'May Raise' Insulin Resistance Risk
bullet point CDC: About 1 in 8 Seniors Report Cognitive Decline
Articles from Nurse.com and HealthDay. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article.
bullet point Major Challenges in Providing an Effective and Timely Pandemic Vaccine for Influenza A(H7N9)
Free, full-text, Online First article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point California Weighs Expanded Role For Nurse Practitioners
Article from Kaiser Health News.
bullet point iPads Could Affect Implanted Heart Devices, Early Study Finds
Article from HealthDay. Swimming pools, too.
bullet point Pets a Boon for the Human Heart, Cardiologists Say
bullet point Health Perks Geared To Top Workers Could Trigger Penalties Under Health Law
bullet point GOP Won't Offer Input on Nominees to Controversial ObamaCare Panel (Independent Payment Advisory Board)
News item from The Hill.


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Thursday, May 9

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  May 9, 2013
Previous
bullet point DaVita Gains as Berkshire Pact Seen as Possible Deal Path
Article from Bloomberg.
bullet point Rockwell Medical Announces Long-Term, National Supply Agreement With DaVita
Press release.
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care Wins Modern Healthcare Award
Press release.

Editor's note: This was first announced in the December 15, 2012 issue of Modern Healthcare, a pay-for-view publication. This is the only statistic quoted in the article:

"Over a six-month period of active intervention, 76 percent of those patients who missed and shortened their treatments improved their compliance."
bullet point Cinacalcet for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Dialysis
Full-text correspondence from The New England Journal of Medicine.
bullet point New Potential Drug Targets in ADPKD
Posting from Renal Fellow Network.
bullet point Calcium and Phosphate Impact Cardiovascular Risk
(Registration required, but free.) Free, full-text article from European Heart Journal via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Press Release from Nationwide Laboratory Services (PDF)
bullet point Fish Oil Supplements Don't Protect Against Heart Trouble: Study
Article from HealthDay.
bullet point  


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Wednesday, May 8

Press Release from Nationwide Laboratory Services (PDF)
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  May 8, 2013
Previous
bullet point Berkshire Agrees to Limit Stake in DaVita to 25%
Articles from CNBC and Bloomberg.
bullet point DaVita Q1 Profit Sinks on Legal Set-Aside, But Beats Wall Street Estimates
Article from Denver Business Journal. Press release from DaVita. Earnings call transcript (registration required, but free) from Seeking Alpha.

"DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. on Tuesday posted a sharp decline in first-quarter profit as the Denver-based kidney-care company set aside $300 million to cover potential settlements with federal investigators"
bullet point A Long Unrecognized Syndrome: Failure to Thrive on Dialysis
Article from RenalWEB that includes a history, symptoms, causes, and possible interventions for this obvious, but long unrecognized, syndrome. It's a starting point.

Editor's note: It looks like Kent Thiry will be staying in his position at DaVita for some time. If so, this article provides a completely new way for him to view his dialysis patients. (I promise never to use this link again.)

I first published this article in late March with a different title. However, after seeing this story on misdiagnoses in The Washington Post today, I realized that my article really did describe a syndrome (depression, withdrawal from dialysis, unemployment, loss of life meaning, noncompliance, etc.) with causes that can be effectively addressed by the medical and business community. While the article obviously will need some further editing, I decided to simply republish it with a new title for now. The foundation and much of the structure for defining this syndrome is already there (and the closing quotation is still perfect.)

Making this a recognized medical syndrome/diagnosis would motivate nephrologists to provide the same care to all patients that they would want for themselves and their own family members. I hope Mr. Thiry can take the lead in the business community in addressing this syndrome that affects so many of his patients.
bullet point Docs Should Ask Heart Patients About Quality of Life
Article from HealthDay.

Editor's note: Shouldn't we also ask dialysis patients about their quality of life?
bullet point The Impact of Pay for Performance on the Control of Blood Pressure in People with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3-5
Advance Access abstract from NDT.
bullet point Many Medical Guidelines Don't Consider Costs
Article from Reuters Health.

Editor's note: Shouldn't we consider the societal costs of hundreds of thousands of disabled and debilitated dialysis patients due to less than optimal treatments and medical care?
bullet point Effect of Cinacalcet Availability and Formulary Listing on Parathyroidectomy Rate Trends
Provisional abstract and full-text article (17-page pdf) from BMC Nephrology. Related article from Medscape Nephrology News.

"Conclusions: A reduction in rates of parathyroidectomy was found after January 2006, corresponding to cinacalcet availability. However, decreased rates may be due to other factors occurring simultaneously with cinacalcet introduction and further studies are needed to confirm these findings."
bullet point Prognosis of Dialysed Patients after Kidney Transplant Failure
Free, full-text, Issue-in-Progress article from Kidney & Blood Pressure Research.

"In summary, the patient with a failed graft enters no-man's-land where all of the physicians (transplant nephrologists, transplant surgeons, dialysis nephrologists) should be involved in the management."
bullet point Reduced Plasma Zinc Levels, Lipid Peroxidation, and Inflammation Biomarkers Levels in Hemodialysis Patients: Implications for Cardiovascular Mortality
Early Online abstract from Renal Failure.
bullet point Project EuTRiPD (PD Research in Europe)
Notice from the European Training & Research in Peritoneal Dialysis web site.
bullet point The Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) — Country Participation: An Overview for Interested Investigators
(6-page pdf) Document from Arbor Research Collaborative for Health.
bullet point 2012 Researcher's Guide to the USRDS Database
PDF files from the United States Renal Data System.
bullet point KIDney Notes
(10-page pdf) Latest newsletter from the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology.
bullet point RPA News
(20-page pdf) Latest newsletter from the Renal Physicians Association.
bullet point Study Suggests Only Half of Americans with Hepatitis C Receive Complete Testing for the Virus
Press release from the CDC. Article from HealthDay.
bullet point Nutritional and Metabolic Alterations during Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Free, full-text, Issue in Progress, in-depth review article from Blood Purification.
bullet point Articles from Renal & Urology News:
bullet point Who May Not Benefit from Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury?
Early View abstract from Hemodialysis International.
bullet point Opting out of Dialysis-Exploring Patients' Decisions to Forego Dialysis in Favor of Conservative Non-Dialytic Management for End-Stage Renal Disease
Early View abstract from Health Expectations.
bullet point Issue in Progress Abstracts from Blood Purification:
bullet point Comparison of Bioimpedance and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry for Measurement of Fat Mass in Hemodialysis Patients
Issue-in-Progress abstract from Nephron Clinical Practice.
bullet point Competing Risk Analysis of Death and Dialysis Initiation among Elderly (> = 80 Years) Newly Referred to Nephrologists: a French Prospective Study
Provisional abstract from BMC Nephrology.
bullet point Hemodialysis in Patients Requiring 131I Treatment for Thyroid Carcinoma
Article in Press abstract from the International Journal of Artificial Organs.
bullet point South Nassau (NY) Reopens Superstorm Sandy-Damaged Dialysis Center
bullet point Patients Refuse Dialysis after Woman Dies in Upper Egypt Hospital
bullet point Aethlon Medical (AEMD) Note: An Update on the Clinical Status of the Aethlon Hemopurifier® in Hepatitis-C Care
bullet point Baxter Immunoglobulin Fails to Aid Alzheimer’s Patients
bullet point Cholesterol Drugs Might Boost Kidney Cancer Survival
bullet point Hospital Prices No Longer Secret As New Data Reveals Bewildering System, Staggering Cost Differences
Posting from The Huffington Post.  Links to data from CMS. Article from TIME.com.
bullet point Blazing a Path Toward More Sustainable Health Care
Article from Hospitals & Health Networks.
bullet point The U.S. Nursing Workforce: Trends in Supply and Education
Analysis from the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration.
bullet point East SF Bay Sutter Nurses to Hold 7-Day Strike May 17 to 24
bullet point Democrat Says Constitution Implies Right to Healthcare, Education
bullet point 5000 Steps a Day to Avoid Paying Higher Health Insurance Costs? When Money Talks, People Walk
bullet point HHS Takes First Steps In Outreach Effort To Enroll Consumers In Health Exchanges
bullet point Harkin Withdraws Hold On Tavenner; Reid Says Timing For Vote Is Unclear
News item and news summary from Kaiser Health News.
bullet point Medicare Studies: Payment Cuts Don't Mean Insurers Pay More


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Tuesday, May 7

Berkshire Agrees to Limit Stake in DaVita to 25%
News item from CNBC.
A Long Unrecognized Syndrome: Failure to Thrive on Dialysis
Article from RenalWEB that includes its history, symptoms, causes, and possible interventions.

Editor's note: It looks like Kent Thiry will be staying in his position at DaVita for some time. If so, this article provides a completely new way for him to view his dialysis patients.

I first published this article in late March with a different title. However, after seeing this story on misdiagnoses in The Washington Post today, I realized that my article really did describe a syndrome (depression, frequent withdrawal from dialysis, unemployment, etc.) with causes that can be effectively addressed by the medical and business community. While the article obviously will need some further editing, I decided to simply republish it with a new title for now. (The closing quotation is still perfect.)

I hope Mr. Thiry can take the lead in addressing this syndrome.
FacebookTwitter
  May 7, 2013
Previous
bullet point Kidney Disease in Canada: 12.5 percent of Adults Afflicted, Yet Many Unaware
Press release and abstract from the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
bullet point 4 Steps to Move From "Good" to "Great" Patient Experience
Article from Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control.

"The first step in moving to the next level of patient experience improvement is understanding that patient experience is more than "happiness" and being treated like a hotel guest. Rather, patient experience is a multifaceted concept including patients' physical, emotional and mental well-being."

Editor's note: Sitting in a chair for four hours does not capture the dialysis patient experience.
bullet point Understanding a Heart Patients' Quality of Life Can Improve Outcomes
Press release from the American Heart Association. Online first article (18-page pdf) from Circulation. Related article from HealthDay.

"Ultimately, efforts to improve the healthcare system will only be successful if they translate into better patient outcomes — not just longevity, but also how well patients live," said John Rumsfeld, M.D., Ph.D., lead statement author. "This statement recommends increasing the standardized measurement of patient health status — so we can better understand, monitor and minimize the burden of disease on patients' lives."
bullet point The Nocebo Effect
Articles from The New York Times and The New Yorker.

"As the great cardiologist Bernard Lown once said, “Words are the most powerful tool a doctor possesses, but words, like a two-edged sword, can maim as well as heal.”   ?
bullet point Doctors' Diagnostic Errors Are Often Not Mentioned But Can Take A Serious Toll
Article from Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post.

"Diagnoses that are missed, incorrect or delayed are believed to affect 10 to 20 percent of cases, far exceeding drug errors and surgery on the wrong patient or body part, both of which have received considerably more attention."

Editor's note: Perhaps what we need is a new diagnosis — "failing to thrive" for adult dialysis patients. That would force nephrologists to provide the care they would want for themselves and their own family members.
bullet point Long-Term Survival and Repeat Coronary Revascularization in Dialysis Patients After Surgical and Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization With Drug-Eluting and Bare Metal Stents in the United States
Abstract from Circulation.
bullet point Performance of the Framingham Risk Score in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis
Accepted Article abstract from Nephrology.
bullet point The Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Erythropoietin Resistance in Stable Hemodialysis Patients with Adequate Iron Stores
Article in Press abstract from the International Journal of Artificial Organs.
bullet point Rockwell Medical to Present ESA-Sparing PRIME Study Data at 50th ERA-EDTA Congress, Istanbul 2013
bullet point Baxter Raises Dividend Nine Percent
bullet point Medical Devices Fall Short for Children
Article from The New York Times.
bullet point FDA Approves New Lipid Lowering Combination Tablet
bullet point Unified Medicare Benefit Would Save Billions, Study Says
Article from The Hill.


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Monday, May 6

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  May 6, 2013
Previous
bullet point Death Rate Dropping for Children on Dialysis: Study
Article from HealthDay. Free, full-text, Online First article from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Summary article from MedPage Today.
bullet point It's Showtime for DaVita HealthCare Partners
Analysts' earnings report estimates from DailyFinance.com.
bullet point Is It Time To Wake Up to Online Hemodiafiltration?
Posting from Renal Fellow Network.
bullet point "Everything You Wanted to Know about Home Dialysis-the Australian Way"
Posting from Home Dialyzors United.
bullet point Trends in Relative Mortality Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Whites Initiating Dialysis: A Retrospective Study of the US Renal Data System
Article in Press abstract from American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
bullet point Association of Frailty With Body Composition Among Patients on Hemodialysis
Article in Press abstract from Journal of Renal Nutrition.
bullet point Diverse Effects of Interdialytic Intervals on Central Wave Augmentation in Hemodialysis Patients
Advance Access abstract from NDT.
bullet point Vascular Access Versus the Effect of Statins on Inflammation and Fibrinolysis in Renal Dialysis Patients
Article in Press abstract from the Journal of Vascular Access.
bullet point Chaos at Home Spells Trouble for Diabetic Kids
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point Obamacare Is on the Horizon, but Will Enough People Sign up?
Article from Reuters.
bullet point Study: Exercise Cuts Kidney Stone Risk in Women
Article from AP.
bullet point Comprehensive ESRD Care Initiative Update
(See third paragraph in "Initiative Details" section.)

CMS has lowered the minimum beneficiary threshold required for eligibility for all applicants from 500 to 350 matched beneficiaries.
bullet point Webinar: Comprehensive ESRD Care Initiative - How to Apply
Scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 3:00–4:00pm ET.
bullet point ED Use Climbs for Sicker, More Complex Medicare Patients
Article from Hospitals & Health Networks.
bullet point Left Boils as Obama Floats Major Change to Medicare Parts A and B
Article from The Hill.

>
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Fri./Sat., May 3-4

Mortality Risk Among Children Initially Treated With Dialysis for End-Stage Kidney Disease, 1990-2010
Free, full-text, Online First article from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Summary article from MedPage Today.

Editor's commentary: (not related to above story)

DaVita CEO Kent Thiry states in this recent video, "When your kidney fails, you die unless you’re one of the fortunate few who get transplanted.”

Doesn't this make a complete mockery of the name "DaVita"? (roughly translated from Italian — "to life")

Shouldn't the CEO of DaVita be the biggest advocate of dialysis patients living their lives to the fullest? Shouldn't he be 'the' champion of dialysis patient employment and rehabilitation?

Or is he shopping a "no-brainer" business proposition with an incredible cash-flow? It would make him a top achiever in the history of healthcare capitalism.

I ask all DaVita physicians and teammates to consider:  Hasn't this finally become a horrific, holocaustal,corporate farce? Like WWII concentration camp prisoners who were kept alive as long as they could work, aren't your dialysis patients — with this business model — valued only as long as they produce extraordinary profits? (during 30 months of non-Medicare reimbursement rates)

Why would anyone admire a man who has made hundreds of millions of dollars by overseeing "dying" men, women, and children?

Gary Peterson, RenalWEB
FacebookTwitter
  May 3, 2013
Previous
bullet point Intensive Dialysis Survival Benefit Challenged
Article from Renal & Urology News.
bullet point Regional Variation in Care at the End of Life: Discontinuation of Dialysis
Provisional abstract and full-text article (18-page pdf) from BMC Geriatrics.

"The deaths of nearly one quarter of chronic dialysis patients followed a decision to discontinue dialysis."

Editor's note: Until patient advocacy groups and physicians emphasize the necessity of maintaining meaning in dialysis patients' lives, this trend will likely only increase. Human-centered care is needed.
bullet point Suicides Soar Among Middle-Aged Americans, CDC Says
Articles from HealthDay and AP.  Article from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"The best we can come up with is maybe this is the group most likely to be affected by the recession and unemployment and [home] foreclosure," Berman said. "It affected suicide rates both nationally and internationally."

Editor's note: This has likely been a contributing factor to the high depression and mortality rates for U.S. dialysis patients for decades. This remains completely unacknowledged by patient advocacy groups and physicians.
bullet point DaVita HealthCare Partners Surpasses 2,000 Clinics
Press release.
bullet point Buffett’s Cash Pile: We Put Forth a Takeover Idea (of DaVita)
Article from YCharts. Warren Buffet's annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting is this weekend.

Editor's note: As he has done in the past, I expect Kent Thiry to cash out soon. And what happened to Vivra? Did he build a great company that lasted? Or does he simply acquire clinics, cut costs, hire lobbyists, make doctors rich, and shamelessly manipulate lower-level employees?
bullet point Amgen Agrees To Pay Medicaid Program Nearly $26 Million To Resolve Two False Claims Cases
Press release from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

Editor's note: Despite Amgen's long-time exploitation of dialysis patients, dialysis patient groups — who depend on Amgen funding — continue to do Amgen's bidding and withhold any criticisms of their pricing or legislative policies. Their names should be Dialysis Puppet Citizens.

Where is a Rosa Parks?
bullet point Large Iron Doses Show Favorable Result in Hemodialysis Patients
Article from Reuters Health via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point NxStage Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results
Press release.
bullet point Risk Factors for Cognitive Dysfunction in CKD and Hypertensive Subjects
Article in Press abstract from International Urology and Nephrology.
bullet point Prevention of Steroid Induced Low Bone Mineral Density in Children with Renal Diseases: a Systematic Review
Advance Access abstract from NDT.
bullet point Eight-Year-Old Ohio Girl Gets Kidney Donation from Teacher
bullet point Louisiana Woman Fighting for Fifth Kidney Transplant
bullet point Rockwell Medical Schedules 1st Quarter 2013 Investor Conference Call
bullet point CKD Risk Lower in Big Water Drinkers
bullet point Emergency Room Care Costs Greatly Underreported, Says Researcher
Article from Science Daily.  Abstract from Annals of Emergency Medicine. Related report from the American Hospital Association.
bullet point Only 1 in 5 Americans Gets Enough Exercise: CDC
Article from HealthDay.  Article and state-specific report from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
bullet point CMS Chief Expresses Optimism About Federal Exchange Enrollment
News summary from Kaiser Health News.


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Thursday, May 2

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  May 2, 2013
Previous
bullet point Ohio Dialysis Patients Will Continue To Get Rides Despite Sequester Cuts
Report from WKYC.
bullet point Will Amgen Lobby for Thermonuclear War?
Related article from Bloomberg.

Editor's note: If Amgen had an immunosuppressant under patent, this legislation would pass through Congress in a heartbeat. Instead, this was passed in January (which has little benefit for patients).
bullet point Effect of Dialysate Sodium Reduction on Body Water Volume, Blood Pressure, and Inflammatory Markers in Hemodialysis Patients — A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Early Online abstract from Renal Failure.

"Dialysate sodium reduction is associated with attenuation of the inflammatory state, without changes in the BP and ECW, suggesting inhibition of a salt-induced inflammatory response."
bullet point Dermatological Manifestations Among Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
(Registration required, but free) Full-text article from Wounds via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Free, Full-Text Articles from Kidney International:
bullet point Advance Online Abstracts from Kidney International:
bullet point PDI in Press Abstracts:
bullet point Treatment Frequency and Efficiency in Hemodiafiltration
Issue in Progress abstract from Blood Purification.
bullet point Plasma Cell Neoplasms in US Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Early View abstract from American Journal of Transplantation.
bullet point Dyslipidemia Is Associated With Tunneled-Cuffed Catheter-Related Central Venous Thrombosis in Hemodialysis Patients: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study
Early View abstract from Artificial Organs.
bullet point Lanthanum Carbonate Delays Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification Compared With Calcium-Based Phosphate Binders in Patients on Hemodialysis
Online First abstract from Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
bullet point May 2013 E-Kidney Newsletter
bullet point Mayo Clinic Finds Experimental Drug Inhibits Growth in All Stages of Common Kidney Cancer
bullet point Safe Upper Limit of Vitamin D Identified for First Time
bullet point New Bird Flu Poses "Serious Threat", Scientists Say
Articles from Reuters and the BBC.
bullet point Free, Full-Text, Perspective Pieces from the New England Journal of Medicine:
bullet point The Boston Marathon Response:  Why Did It Work So Well?
Free, full-text perspective piece from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bullet point Physicians Less Empathetic in Communicating with Heavy Patients
bullet point 42 Percent Of Americans Unsure If Health Law Stands
bullet point Ex-Patient's False Claims Act Suit Against DaVita over Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Is Thrown Out
Article from Denver Business Journal..
bullet point Medicaid Expansion Enhances Financial and Mental Well-Being, Study Says


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Wednesday, May 1

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  May 1, 2013
Previous
bullet point Dialysis Patient Transportation in Ohio County Ends Due to Federal Sequester Budget Cuts
News report from WKYC.
bullet point Routine Cinacalcet (Sensipar®) for End-Stage Kidney Disease Not Warranted
Press release and free, full-text article from PLOS Medicine. Article from MedPage Today.

"Although the evidence in people with CKD stages 3–5 is limited and generally of low quality, this analysis shows that despite the widespread use of cinacalcet and the associated high costs, this drug provides little clinical benefit. Therefore, routine use of cinacalcet therapy in people with CKD does not appear warranted."

"... cinacalcet therapy provides small reductions in the risk of surgical parathyroidectomy but has little or no effect on all-cause mortality and uncertain effects on cardiovascular death for people with chronic kidney disease and is commonly associated with nausea and vomiting."

Editor's note: 26% of U.S. dialysis patients were on cinacalcet as of December 2012 (see next story).

In January of this year, The New York Times reported that Congress included a delay of Medicare price restraints on Sensipar/cinacalcet (made by Amgen) in the 'fiscal cliff' legislation. See articles from NN&I, Ventura County Star, and The Hill.

In response to this criticism, Amgen provided a press release on Feb. 22 stating that a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis released that week showed that keeping oral-only drugs in Medicare Part D would actually achieve significant savings over time for both taxpayers and the Medicare program. However, where is this analysis now? It now does not appear in the Amgen press release, nor in the CBO listing for February, nor in this Huffington Post story based on the CBO analysis.
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DOPPS Practice Monitor Update
Latest update from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS web site) covers data through December 2012. A web conference on new DOPPS Practice Monitor data will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 3 p.m. EDT. Some of the "key messages" of the latest data:

  • Cinacalcet is an oral medication used to lower PTH levels in patients who have high PTH levels. Overall, a gradual, slight rise in the percentage of patients prescribed cinacalcet has been observed (now at 26% of patients).
  • Hemoglobin: The percentage of patients with hemoglobin above 12 g/dL declined from 31.9% 28.7% from June 2011, but declined further to 14.4% by December 2012. The percentage with hemoglobin below 10 g/dL remain stable at 8-10% through July 2011 before increasing to 16-17% by December 2012, and the percentage with hemoglobin below 9 g/dL increase to 4.9% in December 2012.
  • Serum PTH: Between August 2010 and April 2011, the mean serum PTH level increased 27% (from 339 to 432 pg/mL), and the percentage of patients with a high PTH level (greater than 600 pg/mL) increased from 11.3% to 18.6%. Since then, PTH levels have remained stable through December 2012.
  • Prescribed IV Epoetin dose: The percentage of patients prescribed epoetin doses >50,000 units per week has decreased from 10.6% in August 2010 to 3.2% in December 2012.
  • Received IV Epoetin dose: Compared with August 2010, the average received epoetin dose has declined by 14% through June 2011 and by 44% through December 2012.
bullet point FDA Limits Duration and Usage of Samsca (tolvaptan) Due to Possible Liver Injury
An FDA Drug Safety Communication.
bullet point Psychological and Emotional Status, and Caregiver Burden in Caregivers of Patients With Peritoneal Dialysis Compared With Caregivers of Patients With Renal Transplantation
Abstract from Transplant Proceedings.
bullet point NxStage Announces FDA Clearance for New High Flow Capabilities with NxStage System One
Press release.
bullet point Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGAA Management Discusses Q1 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
(Registration required, but free) Feature from Seeking Alpha.
bullet point Amgen Welcomes European Commission Report on EU Biosimilars Uptake
Press release.
bullet point Experts Discuss Ways To Embed Patient Voices and Values in Clinical Research
Press release and full-text article from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
bullet point Superbugs in LIvestock Becoming 'National Health Crisis'
Article from The Hill.
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Health Care's 'Dirty Little Secret': No One May Be Coordinating Care
Articles from The Washington Post and Kaiser Health News.

bullet point Engaging Health Care Users for Better Health and Quality Care
Article from Hospitals & Health Networks.
bullet point 'One Size Fits All' Drug Dosing Gives Suboptimal Results
(Registration required, but free) Article from Medscape Medical News.
bullet point Burnout Rampant in Healthcare
bullet point Study: Providers Predict Major Shift to Outpatient Care in 2013
bullet point Obama Administration Simplifies, Significantly Shortens Application for Health Insurance
Press release.


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Tuesday, April 30

NxStage Announces FDA Clearance for New High Flow Capabilities with NxStage System One
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  Apr. 30, 2013
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bullet point Fresenius Medical Q1 Net Income Down on U.S. Healthcare Cuts
Articles from Reuters and AFP.  News release from Fresenius Medical Care.
bullet point A High Blood Level in the Venous Chamber and a Wet Stored Dialyzer Help to Reduce Exposure for Microemboli during Hemodialysis
Early View abstract from Hemodialysis International.
bullet point Recent Insights Into Life Expectancy With and Without Dialysis
(Registration required, but free) Full-text article from Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension via Medscape Nephrology.
bullet point Five Found Guilty in Human Organ Trafficking in EU-Led Court
Article from the BBC.
bullet point Amgen Agrees to Pay $11 Million for Overcharging Medicaid
Article from WKBW (NY).
bullet point Pregnancy and Kidney Disease in May 2013 Issue of Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease:
bullet point Early View Abstracts from Seminars In Dialysis:
bullet point Positive Association between Plasma Levels of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein and Myeloperoxidase after Hemodialysis in Patients with Diabetic End-Stage Renal Disease
Early View abstract from Hemodialysis International.
bullet point Influence of Trial Sample Size on Treatment Effect Estimates: Meta-Epidemiological Study
Free, full-text article from British Medical Journal.
bullet point New Guidelines Suggest HIV Screening for All Adults
Article from HealthDay. Clinical guidelines and editorial from Annals of Internal Medicine.
bullet point Physician-Owned Hospitals Seize Their Moment
Article from American Medical News.
bullet point Healthcare Experts Propose $1 Trillion in Savings
News item from The Hill.
bullet point Germ-Zapping 'Robots': Hospitals Combat Superbugs
bullet point CMS Plans To Increase Medicare Hospital Payments By 0.8%


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Monday, April 29

Recent Insights Into Life Expectancy With and Without Dialysis
(Registration required, but free) Full-text article from Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension via Medscape Nephrology.
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  Apr. 29, 2013
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bullet point New Urgency Targets Mysterious Kidney Disease in Central America
Articles from the Center for Public Integrity and The Huffington Post.
bullet point New Approaches in Treating Complicated Childhood Polycystic Kidney Disease
Press release from Medical College of Wisconsin.
bullet point Nephrologist Compensation Report 2013
(Registration required, but free) Slideshow from Medscape.
bullet point DaVita Awarded Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation for Inpatient Kidney Care Services by The Joint Commission
Press release.
bullet point Articles in Press Abstracts from American Journal Of Kidney Diseases:
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Articles in Press Abstracts from Journal of Renal Nutrition:
bullet point Removing Salt Sachets from Ward Meal-Trays Does Not Affect Patients Nutritional Intake
Early View abstract from Journal of Renal Care.
bullet point Risk Factors of Short-Term Mortality after Acute Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients on Dialysis: a Population-based Study
Provisional abstract and full-text article (15-page pdf) from BMC Nephrology.
bullet point Perceptive Barriers to Peritoneal Dialysis Implementation: an Opinion Poll among the French-Speaking Belgian Nephrologists
Advance Access abstract from Clinical Kidney Journal.
bullet point Fighting Obesity Long-Term Will Save Money
Article from MedPage Today.
bullet point Hospitals See Surge of Superbug-Fighting Products
Article from AP.
bullet point Doctors Assail Drugmakers For $100K Cancer Medicines
bullet point Most Americans Oppose Soda, Candy Taxes
bullet point CMS Program Transmittal: Reporting End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Drugs Administered Through the Dialysate
(13-page pdf) Implementation date is July 1, 2013.
bullet point NRAA's Comments on the CMS Comprehensive End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Care Model
Letter to CMS Acting Administrator Tavenner from the National Renal Administrators Association.
bullet point ICD-10 Deadline Solid, CMS Says


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