Innovative Dialysis Systems, Inc. was formed to offer quality-oriented, cost efficient health care management to the dialysis community. Innovative has a reputation, achieved and maintained through the integrity and ethical standards of our officers and employees, for conducting ourselves in compliance with applicable laws. Because the health care environment is evolving at a rapid pace, Innovative is committed to maintaining this reputation by monitoring the system-wide standards of ethics, efficiency, and conduct.
In order to promote these standards throughout Innovative operations, Innovative has put several categories of quality improvement processes in place. These processes are described below and are integrated into facility operations.
Clinical Continuous Quality Improvement
Innovative employs a Quality Improvement Coordinator whose responsibility is to track improvement activities at the facility level and offer support. Innovative provides a Quality Improvement Plan for use at the facilities that has its clinical basis in the National Kidney Foundation’s Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (K-DOQI) guidelines. In a continuous effort to improve care, data from patient and clinical outcomes are collected on a monthly basis, evaluated and compared with other Innovative facilities. The results are available to all facilities so that best practices may be shared and implemented among them, enhancing patient care and providing support within each clinic. As another important measure of quality, patient and staff satisfaction measures are collected at least annually and implementation plans are generated based on the results.
Regulatory Review
Complying with the regulations that govern the End Stage Renal Disease (“ESRD”) program is essential to the successful operation of a dialysis facility. To this end, Innovative employs a Regulatory Affairs Coordinator to be responsible for remaining informed of the many changes in policy affecting the ESRD community. These changes are communicated regularly to the facilities. Facility surveys are conducted by the Innovative Regulatory Affairs Department to assist dialysis clinics in remaining compliant with complex and ever-changing regulations.
Technical Support
IDS provides technical assistance and support to the facility to ensure a strong and well organized technical department.
Networking
Innovative encourages the facilities it manages to network with one another. Innovative publishes a newsletter tri-annually to communicate changes in the ESRD community and within the company. Additionally, to promote communication throughout the year, Innovative organizes annual meetings for Administrative Nursing Directors and for Chief Technicians to discuss topics of current interest and to provide opportunities for colleagues from different facilities to interact with one another.
Corporate Compliance
The Innovative Corporate Compliance Plan was developed in accordance with applicable law, reviewing guidance from federal and state authorities. The procedures and standards of conduct in this plan are intended to generally define the scope of conduct expected of Innovative employees and the facilities. Annually, an external audit of company medical and billing records is conducted. Additionally, an internal review is conducted by the Innovative Corporate Compliance Team. Meetings are then held to review findings and to develop plans for improvement. The process provides an opportunity for the governing body of the dialysis facility to identify and prevent violations of policy and standards of conduct. The Corporate Compliance Plan is integral to the business of Innovative.
Innovative Dialysis Systems Education
Mandatory Staff Education - Innovative Dialysis utilizes a computer-based education program which offers standardized content and testing modules to all employees. Each employee is assigned mandatory education courses according to their job title in order to meet CMS, OSHA and Innovative Dialysis requirements. The program offers a comprehensive administrative reporting tool where education courses are electronically scored and stored. Facility supervisors can easily access employee education files.
Clinical Staff Training Program - An eleven module Power Point staff training program has been developed for educators to utilize in the classroom to prepare nurses and technicians for the clinical setting. Modules include photos, videos, and illustrations. The program includes module exams as well as a comprehensive final exam.
Technical Department Training Program - An education training program was created to be utilized for educating staff in the bio-med technical department. The eight module Power Point program was designed to meet AAMI standards, CMS regulations and Innovative Dialysis policies and procedures. Module exams and a comprehensive final are included in the program. Modules are designed to use as stand-alone in-services, or to be used as part of an entire training program.
Water Certification Program - CMS mandates that all staff entering the water room to perform any duty must be certified. Innovative Dialysis developed a Water Treatment Certification program to comply with CMS requirements.
In-Services - Staff in-service presentations are available on various topics for managers to use in their facilities throughout the year. Presentations may be accessed on the Innovative Dialysis Systems intranet education site. Some in-services are available on request for staff enrollment in the online program.
National Technician Certification Review Course – In preparation for the mandatory certification of Dialysis Technicians, a review program has been designed which may be presented as an all day seminar, or may be studied by candidates on an individual basis. Eleven review modules with exams are available.
Patient Education - Tri-fold color brochures and flyers covering forty six topics are available on the Innovative Dialysis intranet site. Materials provided may be used as monthly patient education topics or on an individual basis as needed. Topics include patients’ frequently asked questions.
Pre-ESRD - An educational Power Point program is available for staff to present to those who have not yet started dialysis. The program includes information on treatment options, vascular access, psychosocial issues, and diet. Materials may be printed as patient hand-outs. The program includes sample forms for patient assessment, invitations, RSVPs, referrals and thank you notes.