Quality Priorities

November 29, 2005

MINUTES 
Kidney Care Quality Initiative Steering Committee 
November 29, 2005 
Conference Call

Attendees: 
David Warnock, National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Mike Lazarus, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMC)
Gail Wick, American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA)
Bill Henrich, American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
Sandy Watkins, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology ASPN)
Alan Kliger, Renal Physicians Association (RPA)
Kent Thiry, DaVita
Linda Keegan, Kidney Care Partners (KCP)
Karen Thiel, Patton Boggs
Kathy Lester, Patton Boggs and Kidney Care Partners

Summary 
The Kidney Care Quality Initiative (KCQI) Steering Committee discussed finalizing the Pediatric Work Group, deciding to extend the time for nominations and to finalize the group through email correspondence. The Steering Committee decided to provide additional guidance to Dr. Bill Haley and the Clinical Measures Work Group. The Steering Committee approved minutes from the November 22, 2005, Work Group Joint meeting call.

Discussion of Pediatric Work Group 
Concerns were expressed regarding the lack of a nurse and a parent-patient among those on the slate of nominees. Mr. Thiry and Ms. Watkins will solicit names of people who meet the work group criteria and are either nurses or parent-patients. Ms. Lester will send via email an updated slate to be voted upon via email.

Administrative Issues 
Due to constraints stemming from the Congressional schedule and deliberations on the Budget Reconciliation Bill, the next Work Group Joint meeting will be held December 12, in Washington, DC. The group agreed that the meeting should be held from 9:30-3:00. Ms. Lester noted that the meeting will likely be held at The Westin Grand. Ms. Lester will send an email with details on hotel accommodations.

Pooling money to offset the cost of travel for Work Group facilitator/leaders will be examined. Steering Committee members will look to their parent organizations for travel reimbursement. Ms. Lester shared with the committee the schedule of upcoming Work Group calls.

Miscellaneous 
The committee discussed the direction of the Clinical Measures Work Group. The Steering Committee decided that it will not limit the Work Group to discussing ESRD measures only.

However, if the Work Group does not reach consensus on CKD measures, these will be discussed in Phase II. The term “evidence-based medicine” shall be defined as adequately supported in the current literature. The Steering Committee encourages the Work Group to incorporate the KDOQI guidelines, which will be available in the coming months, into its work. A draft statement will be circulated for Steering Committee approval before being sent to the Clinical Measures Work Group.

Next Steps 
Ms. Lester will follow up with the Steering Committee to provide an updated slate for the Pediatric Work Group, a draft statement on the scope of the project and evidence-based medicine to be approved by the committee for the Clinical Measures Work Group, and information on hotel accommodations for the December 12 meeting.