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

Aksys receives another Nasdaq extension

LINCOLNSHIRE--A Nasdaq listing qualification panel has granted Aksys Ltd. another extension in order for the home dialysis company to meet minimum listing requirements or face delisting, according to a news release. ...More
November 6, 2006
Posted in News, Business, Practice Management
CMS to pay ASCs for fistula, graft surgery

WASHINGTON--Medicare will allow payments to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in 2007 for vascular access surgery used to maintain fistulas and grafts in hemodialysis patients, the government announced yesterday. ...More
November 2, 2006
Posted in News, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
MRSA vaccine shows promise in mouse study

CHICAGO--By combining the four bacterial surface proteins that generate the strongest immune response in mice, researchers at the University of Chicago have created a vaccine that significantly protects immunized animals from multiple disease-causing, drug-resistant strains ...More
November 2, 2006
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma
Gambro to split into three companies

STOCKHOLM--The Gambro Group said it will split into three separate companies in an effort to increase efficiency and transparency. ...More
November 2, 2006
Posted in News, Business
Spotlight: Kidney Center of Thousand Oaks

“Put your mother in the chair.” It’s a statement Sandra Wilson, BSN, CNN, will often tell her staff to remind them of the weight each of their actions will have on the patients they care for at the Kidney Center of Thousand Oaks, located in California. The statement is also ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
No Problem with AKF Part D Assistance Program, HHS says

ROCKVILLE, Md.—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the American Kidney Fund’s proposed Medicare Part D assistance program would not violate federal law, thus paving the way for the nonprofit group to build the program. The Medicare Part D Assistance ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
Just Do It

If 80 percent of life is showing up, then what is the 20 percent consist of? I’d say that 80 percent chunk fosters routine, which is the pillar of stability and consistency. But routine can be a real Catch-22 because it has the ability to stifle innovation and change— ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
What’s the Big Deal?

In a perfect world, the only factor in a medical facility’s purchase decision would be improved patient care in the form of better patient outcomes and better patient safety. In reality, the primary factors that often influence purchase decisions are increased revenue, ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
DaVita, Gambro Agree to Amended Supply Contract

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — DaVita Inc. and Gambro AB have agreed to an amended supply agreement that retracts the dialysis provider’s earlier termination notice and reduces DaVita’s obligation to buy Gambro’s products. In May, DaVita Inc. sent Gambro a termination notice that ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Business, Clinical & Pharma, Practice Management
How To Use Legal Entities in Acquisitions

Nephrology practices are often have the opportunity to purchase commercial real estate that is either owned or occupied, strategic partner occupied or a straight investment property. How to structure these purchases can have a strengthening or weakening effect on your ...More
November 1, 2006
Posted in Articles, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation