Thread by @Wagner_Nephro

Now: “Dialyzing the Undocumented: Driving Policy with Data”
by Dr. Lilia Cervantes, M.D.
Denver Health Medical Center and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Group
@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

“Patients sometimes consumed foods [knowingly] high in potassium,” in order to gain admission — @Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

“So, you are asking me to keep a patient sicker so you can make more money? I am sorry, that is not why I became a physician,” @Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

“I would like to see them be treated similarly to any patient needing dialysis. It would be a really strong message to staff about what we stand for.. do the right thing,” @Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Association of Emergency-Only vs Standard Hemodialysis With Mortality and Health Care Use Among Undocumented Immigrants With End-stage Renal Disease
Cited by
@Cervantes_Lily1 UNM Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamai…

Association of Scheduled vs Emergency-Only Dialysis With Health Outcomes and Costs in Undocumented Immigrants With End-stage Renal Disease

@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamai…

Circumstances of Death among Undocumented Immigrants Who Rely on Emergency-Only Hemodialysis

@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/13/9/1…

“One year ago this month, we received an email from the Colorado State Medicaid agency... saying because of your research, policy, advocacy we have decided to include ESRD in the emergency Medicaid definition,”

@Cervantes_Lily1 UNM HSC Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Undocumented immigrants on dialysis forced to cheat death every week.
cnn.com/2018/08/02/hea…
@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Keys to success: Research and advocacy to change health policy.

“Stakeholder and media engagement are things we do not learn in traditional medical education... these are of tremendous value,” @Cervantes_Lily1 UNM Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

“These patients only come in [for dialysis] once per week,” ... about as close to death as you can get—
@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds #nephrology

“The third ingredient to success is the story... It’s easier for the public to understand that piece,”
@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

The Office of the Inspector General defers to each state in defining the emergency Medicaid definition.

Colorado Medicaid did their own internal analysis. Emergency dialysis was $20,000 per capita per month—
@Cervantes_Lily1 UNM HSC Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Colorado Medicaid covers vascular access creation.

“What I’ve accomplished was very daunting to me... it was definitely a tough journey.”

Identify what is important to you. @Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

“Fuel your passion. Stay focused. Don’t doubt yourself. Spread passion. Share your discoveries. Collaborate,”
@Cervantes_Lily1 University of New Mexico Health Science Center Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Questions for @Cervantes_Lily1 :“We dealt with the same issues you described [emergency hemodialysis in the undocumented]... How UNM dealt with this is one thing that kept me here,” i.e., a level of commitment to end-stage renal disease patients. UNM Medicine Grand Rounds