|
Meet our New Members
Kathy Dugan, Marketing Specialist for T.M. Green and Associates, LLC, will join Marketing and Media
Denise Martinez, Patient Advocate and Transplant Recipient, will join Community Education. |
|
CONTACT US
For resources or technical  assistance on the Chronic Kidney disease Project, call 1.800.564.7490 and ask for a member of the CKD Team or email CKDTeam@fmqai.com. |
|
RESOURCES
Read about a simple strategy to screen for kidney disease at Renal Business.com
Check out the eGFR Trending Tool on FMQAI's website. Click here. | |
|
Florida Kidney Day
 February 18 marked the celebration of Florida Kidney Day in Tallahassee. Members of the Florida Renal Coalition met with legislators to discuss proposed changes to Medigap insurance. A combination of dialysis providers, advocacy groups, members of the National Kidney foundation, FMQAI CKD team, and patients themselves held a press conference to discuss Senate bill 1022, and House bill 675. These bills showcase the need for entry of ESRD Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 into Medigap plans. If Florida passes this important legislation, people with kidney failure would have access to necessary treatments and services. Fewer people would face the need to spend down prior to qualifying for the Medicaid program. KEEP IT GOING!! Contact your legislator today!
|
|
|
|
First Face to Face Coalition Meeting a Success
 January 22 was the date for the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Coalition meeting in Tampa. The participants heard important overviews on the CKD project from the FMQAI team, as well as some grim statistics from the National Kidney Foundation of Florida. The keynote speaker, Dr. Carmen Ortiz-Butcher, provided the coalition with information and statistics on seriousness of  uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension and how they contribute to the progression of kidney disease. The coalition decided on the following as a systems level change:
“Communicate, Educate and Encourage Providers in Florida on the need to use the eGFR to Screen and Diagnose for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)”
The following workgroups were established to meet this goal: Marketing and Media (formally systems Level Change), Clinical Applications and Community Education |
|
|
|
Coalition Activities
Some of you have to know what the other workgroups are doing... Help is on the way!
Next CKD Statewide Coalition Conference Call will be held Tuesday, March 24 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST to discuss all the workgroup activities. Call in number is 1- 800-294-4202 # 146942
Activities to date:
1. Letters to celebrities asking for announce-ments about World Kidney Day on TV shows
2. Obtaining GFR resources for distribution to communities
3. Identification of tools to include kidney book-marks, quizzes, and pharmacy bag alerts for various channels of distribution.
4. Macy's Charity event to raise monies for NKF KEEP screening
5. Letter to Governor Christ to explore methods for requiring labs to calculate GFR. |
|
|
|
The Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Florida
 FMQAI serves as the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization and End Stage Renal Disease Network (ESRD Network 7) for Florida. With a strong reputation as a leader in facilitating change and collaboration, FMQAI implements projects and conducts case review activities to improve care across all settings, including dialysis and transplant facilities.
| |
