Mission
Collaboratively develop, disseminate, implement and maintain
a coordinated preparedness and response framework for the kidney
community in the event of any type of emergency or disaster.
Vision
KCER is the leading authority on emergency preparedness and
response for the kidney community by providing organization
and guidance that seamlessly bridges emergency management stakeholders
and the ESRD community nationwide.
Goals
- Raise
public awareness of the critical needs of individuals with
kidney failure and the providers who serve them, and the
need to plan ahead to ensure that the life-saving dialysis
services are available and obtainable in the event of an
emergency and/or disaster;
-
Promote and disseminate tools and resources so that these
are available to individuals with kidney failure, dialysis
facilities, and Federal, state, and emergency workers;
-
Test and refine the national response strategy that has
been put into place to assist Federal, state, and local
efforts in the event of an emergency and/or disaster; and
-
Plan for a possible flu pandemic.
Activities
KCER
strives to provide resources to save lives, improve outcomes,
empower patients and families, educate healthcare workers, build
partnerships with stakeholders, promote awareness in the community,
and support the ESRD Network Program.
History
The first National Disaster Summit for the kidney community
was held in Washington, D.C. in January 2006. During the Summit,
the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition was
formed in an effort to minimize disruption to life-sustaining
dialysis and transplant services. The KCER is comprised of partners
from the entire kidney community, representing: patient and
professional organizations; practitioners serving the patient
with kidney failure, such as nurses, technicians, dietitians,
social workers, and physicians; providers, including independent
dialysis facilities, large dialysis organizations and transplant
facilities; hospitals; suppliers; ESRD Networks; state emergency
and survey representatives; and federal agencies, including
the FDA, CDC, NIH as well as CMS. The 2007 Summit was held on
March 1 in Baltimore, Maryland. KCER
continues to hold annual Summit meetings to promote emergency
preparedness in the kidney community.
To
read more about the history of the Coalition, read the CMS press
release, "Medicare
Announces Disaster Response Plan for Individuals with Kidney
Failure."
Under contract with CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services),
FMQAI: The Florida ESRD Network serves as the administrative
support lead for the Coalition. Contract Number HHSM-500-2006-NW07C.
