KCER: Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition

About KCER

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), The ESRD Network Coordinating Center (NCC) serves as the administrative support lead for the Coalition. Contract Number HHSM-500-2013-NW002C .

Mailing Address:

ESRD Network Coordinating Center
1979 Marcus Avenue, Suite 105
Lake Sucess, NY 11042

(516)209-5603
kcer@ncc.esrd.net

KCER Staff

Susan Caponi,BSN, RN - Executive Director
Michele Spillane - Project Director
Joan Thomas, MPA, CEM, ABCP, MEP - KCER Emergency Management Coordinator
David J. Miller, Jr., B.S., EMT-B - KCER Emergency Management Specialist

KCER Core Administrative Group

Jefferson Rowland,CMS Contracting Officer's Representative
Kathleen Egan,RN, MSN, CMS Government Task Leader

Summit Presentations

Previous Summit Reports, Final Reports and other reports:

Site Map

Information for:

Contact Us: