Renal Business Today - dialysis, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), home dialysis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephrology, Medicare bundle, kidney, dialysis practice management, kidney disease patients

FEATURES

U.S. Renal Care Settles Fraud Case

BALTIMORE—U.S. Renal Care has agreed to pay $7.3 million to the federal government to settle a whistleblower lawsuit brought by a nurse that alleged a company U.S. Renal Care acquired, Dialysis Corporation of America (DCA), ...read more

Travel on Dialysis

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page,” said Augustine of Hippo. For many, travel provides an expanded world view and a great deal of joy. For many hemodialysis patients, travel seems ...read more

2013 RPA Meeting

If you missed the three-day, 2013 Renal Physician Association conference held in New Orleans, Renal Business Today was there and has the highlights available at your fingertips in the latest digital issue. Renal ...read more

Venous Needle Dislodgement

Venous needle dislodgement (VND) occurs when a venous needle dislodges from a patient's vascular access during hemodialysis treatment. This report discusses VND severity and presents best practices and other solutions to ...read more

A Recipe Guide to Lowering Salt Intake

Whether you are a kidney disease patient or a non-kidney patient, it is important to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible by following a low-sodium diet. Did you know that for a healthy individual over the age of 50, a ...read more

Latest Headlines

FDA approves Akorn calcitriol injection

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill.—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Akorn Inc.’s generic version of injectable calcitriol for managing hypocalcemia in dialysis patients. ...More
January 31, 2008
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation
Safety concerns affect anemia management

EXTON, Pa.--Approximately 80 percent of nephrologists said that safety concerns surrounding erythropoiesis-stimulating agents have affected their management of anemia, according to a new report released by BioTrends Research Group. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in News, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation
Portugal introduces bundled dialysis reimbursement

LISBON, Portugal—As dialysis providers and government officials toil with the idea of a bundled dialysis payment in the United States, Portugal recently announced that it implement a bundled dialysis payment system of its own, called the Comprehensive Price Payment, that ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in News, Business, Practice Management
Ambulatory Services of America acquires Innovative Dialysis Systems

NASHVILLE—Ambulatory Services of America has acquired Innovative Dialysis Systems as well as interests in programs that operate 35 dialysis clinics. The acquired clinics are located in California, Ohio, Oregon, Wyoming and Guam. In addition to acquiring these clinics, ASA ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles, Business
The Next Step in Home Hemodialysis

What are the major advantages for Renal Solutions in being acquired by Fresenius?For any start-up company, when you’re venture-backed, you’re always looking for an exit. And the beauty of our merger with Fresenius is that it certainly provided an exit ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
Alcavis, HDC merge

GAITHERSBURG, Md.—Alcavis International Inc. and HDC Medical Inc. merged and formed a new company, Alcavis HDC LLC. The merger became official on February 1. "They’re very compatible to work with," said Hugh Doss, who founded HDC Medical. "Merging with them would be better ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
Internists say pay-for-performance programs must put patients first

PHILADELPHIA— The American College of Physicians (ACP) said pay-for-performance programs that provide incentives for good performance on a few specific elements of a single disease or condition may lead to better healthcare for some patients but can also have unintended ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles
Study questions vitamin D treatment in CKD patients

PHILADELPHIA—Move over EPO, vitamin D is the next renal drug class to be questioned by medical pundits and policy makers. A new study in the Dec. 18, 2007, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine called into question the actual scientific benefits of vitamin D compounds ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation
RPA 2008 Annual Meeting

Renal Physicians Association 2008 Annual MeetingWhat: The Future is Your Business: Preparing for Changes in Nephrology PracticeWhen: March 15-17Where: Renaissance Austin HotelInformation:www.renalmd.org/meeting/index.cfm Join nephrologists, practice managers, nurse ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles, Business, Practice Management
Spotlight: Chattanooga Kidney Centers LLC

Despite the consolidation and absorption of independent and small group dialysis centers by corporate chain providers, independent facilities can still exist. Chattanooga Kidney Centers is one such facility. "The center is not supported by a chain or large organizational ...More
January 29, 2008
Posted in Articles