Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety

This page was last updated on April 14, 2020

NTDS Project Mission Statement

To enhance the quality of life for people with kidney failure by engaging nephrologists as team leaders in transformational change that continuously improves the safety of life sustaining dialysis.

NEW ONLINE LEARNING MODULE. In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NTDS is pleased to present this online resource, which presents core infection prevention and patient safety concepts in a case-based format. To view the Module, click here.

NTDS is pleased to present the Annual Report for Year 3 of the NTDS Project! To view the Report, click here.

Download the "Days Since Infection" Poster here.

Standardization of Blood Culture Collection for Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis

In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Standardization of Blood Culture Collection for Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis was developed by an NTDS workgroup in response to requests from healthcare professionals engaged in outpatient hemodialysis care. The document seeks to provide an accessible summary of information from published guidelines, reports and studies. Sample protocols for obtaining blood cultures and communication tools are provided. Collectively the information is intended to provide a reference for dialysis facilities as they develop facility-specific procedures, policies and protocols.

View the Standardization of Blood Culture Collection for Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis resource here.

Flu season has arrived.

CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, influenza vaccine that is appropriate for the recipient's age and health status, (IIV, RIV4, or LAIV4) with no preference expressed for any one vaccine over another.

The CDC website offers many influenza-related resources:

• Recommendations: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2019–20 Influenza Season
• #Fight Flu: CDC Digital Media Toolkit: 2019-20 Flu Season
• Communication resources: Includes print materials, factsheets, and videos and podcasts




View these and other influenza-related CDC resources here.





Promising Practice: CDC Video- Speak Up: Making Dialysis Safer for Patients

The Coalition and the American Association of Kidney Patients have released a new video for patients on dialysis and dialysis staff about the importance of speaking up to prevent infections and improve patient safety. Infections are serious and sometimes life-threatening, but together we can do something to stop them. The video follows the journey of two patients on dialysis who feel empowered to speak up and share concerns about their treatment, in order to prevent infections. The video also highlights ways dialysis staff can create an environment where patients feel safe speaking up. This video is open access. You are free to use it in any communication channels. Patients are encouraged to post the video on social media and share with family and friends. Clinics are encouraged to show the video during dialysis treatments, play it in waiting rooms, and post links within patient and staff educational materials.

Click here to view Speak Up: Making Dialysis Safer for Patients.