Comagine Health is launching our Regional Vaccine Consortium, where we work hand in hand with our partners to understand and address barriers in order to increase vaccination rates.
Analysis of the impacts of the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC Classic) and Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) programs on quality, utilization and cost in Oregon primary care practices.
Sara will be moderating the panel discussion “Using Linked Health Data Sets for Population Health Science” at the National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) annual conference, Sept. 28-30, 2021.
Comagine Health ESRD Network 16 is committed to working with our community partners to advance quality improvement and create a better health care system so that people and communities will flourish. Community coalition members play a vital role in this work.
Are you interested in joining us?
Community coalitions function as bodies of stakeholders who collaborate and share knowledge and resources to drive quality improvement. They:
Community coalitions are made up of diverse and engaged people who represent our local communities and are dedicated agents of change.
If you’re interested in joining a community coalition, please complete our ESRD Coalition Interest Form.
Comagine Health’s ESRD program serves end-stage renal disease patients and providers through:
We are committed to improving care and quality of life for people with kidney disease.
Networks 15 and 18 are two of 18 Networks under contract with CMS to work collaboratively with dialysis professionals, providers and patients to improve patient care. Network 15 operates in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Network 18 operates in Southern California.
According to Title XVIII Section 1881 of the Social Security Act, we are responsible for:
New board members of ESRD Network 16 are elected by the Network board of directors through a selection process of the board’s nominating committee. Annual elections are completed no later than January 31 each year. Board members serve staggering terms from one to three years with one-third of the board turning over each year. There is a mandatory rotation of board members after six consecutive years. All board members serve with no compensation other than per diem for in-person board meetings.
If you are interested in serving on the Network 16 board of directors, please contact Stephanie Hutchinson at shutchinson@comagine.org.
Nancy Colobong-Smith MN, ARNP, CNN
Chair
Current term length: 1 year
Initial appointment: 2017
Max board term: 2021
Affiliation: University of Washington
Profession: Nurse
State: Washington
Katrina Russell, RN, CNN
Current term length: 3 years
Initial appointment: 2016
Max board term: 2022
Affiliation: Dialysis Consulting Group
Profession: Nurse
State: Washington
Scott Bieber, DO
Profession: Physician
State: Idaho
John Stivelman, MD
Board Member — Medical Review Board Chair
Current term length: 2 years
Initial appointment: 2016
Max board term: Appointed; no max term
Affiliation: University of Washington/Northwest Kidney Center
Profession: Physician
State: Washington
Roger Gravgaard
Board Member — Patient Advisory Council Representative
Current term length: 3 years
Initial appointment: 2016
Max board term: Appointed; no max term
Affiliation: Business owner
Profession: Patient SME
State: Montana
Christine Logar, MD
Board Member
Current term length: 3 years
Initial appointment: 2019
Max board term: 2025
Affiliation: Swedish
Profession: Physician
State: Washington
Jessie Pavlinac, MS, RD, CSR, LD
Board Member — Medical Review Board Vice Chair
Current term length: 2 years
Initial appointment: 2016
Max board term: Appointed; no max term
Affiliation: OHSU
Profession: Dietician
State: Oregon
Angie West
Board Member
Affiliation: Fresenius
State: Washington
The medical review board (MRB) consists of representatives of professional disciplines in ESRD care, including two patient representatives. The MRB evaluates the quality and appropriateness of care delivered to patients with end-stage renal disease. The board of directors reviews nominations and approves the membership of the MRB. The MRB determines the terms of its membership. Members serve without compensation.
Functions of the MRB include:
If you are interested in serving on the Network 16 medical review board, please contact Stephanie Hutchinson at shutchinson@comagine.org.
The Network council is composed of a representative from each dialysis facility in the Network service area (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington).
The Social Security Act, Section 1881 (C)-(c)(1)(A)(i)-designated “network administrative organizations” which, in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, included establishment of a “network council of renal dialysis and transplant facilities located in the area.” Each Network may have different processes in place regarding who constitutes the council membership as well as their roles, but all Networks must adhere to the basic regulations. The complete Social Security Act, which includes information on Medicare coverage, the patient registry, Networks and providers, is located online.
Each Medicare-certified ESRD treatment facility in the Network area has one representative to the council. In addition, the Network board of directors may approve additional members of the council. When the facility submits their facility roster to the Network, the person listed as the Facility Representative is considered their designated member of the council. The facility must notify the Network if this person has changed. Transplant center representatives are also included in the membership.
This role includes assisting the Network in identifying the ongoing needs of the renal community and making recommendations to the Network on programs, activities and approaches to identified needs and issues. The Facility Representative also is the key person responsible for assuring their facility is participating with Network-directed goals and activities as required by the federal Conditions for Coverage (dialysis facilities) and Conditions for Participation (transplant centers) regulations. If a facility is out of compliance with Network activities, the Facility Representative will be the recipient of Network communications regarding this situation. The Facility Representative also casts the facility vote for the Network board of directors elections.
The Network receives ongoing feedback from council members via their phone and email contacts with Network staff. There is a yearly Network council virtual meeting to provide a Network update and solicit input. An annual environmental scan is also sent to all Network council members to understand priorities and barriers of facilities.
Network staff members are qualified in their respective fields to provide technical and educational assistance to the community on a variety of subjects including clinical, data, social service and administrative areas.
The patient advisory council (PAC) is an active committee of 15 ESRD patients who volunteer their time to inform the Network and its board of directors about the needs of patients.
The Network 16 PAC:
If you are interested in serving on the Network 16 PAC:
PAC members are:
Stephanie Hutchinson, MBA
Executive Director
Barbara Dommert-Breckler, RN, BSN, CNN
Quality Improvement Director
Lisa Hall, LICSW, MSW
Patient Services Director
Leah Skrien
Information Management Director
Index of the Comagine Health Research and Evaluation Department's publications.
