Kidney Health Analytics & Responsive Emergency Support (KHARES)
is the national support contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ESRD Network Program. KHARES serves as the central coordination hub for the 18 ESRD Networks, providing leadership, data analytics, emergency preparedness and response coordination, patient and family engagement, educational resources, and national collaboration to improve kidney care across the United States and its territories.
Working in partnership with CMS, ESRD Networks, dialysis and transplant providers, patients, caregivers, and federal, state, and local organizations, KHARES helps strengthen emergency preparedness, improve access to care, support patient safety, and promote quality improvement initiatives throughout the kidney community. KHARES also develops educational resources, facilitates national learning and action networks, coordinates emergency response activities, supports data-driven decision-making, and shares best practices that enhance the quality of care and health outcomes for people living with kidney disease.
Our mission is to support the ESRD Network Program by fostering collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered solutions that ensure continuity of care, strengthen emergency readiness, and improve the lives of individuals with kidney disease nationwide.
Core Responsibilities
- Data analytics
- Emergency preparedness and response coordination
- Patient and family engagement
- Educational resources
- National collaboration efforts
- Coordination hub for 18 ESRD Networks
Key Partners
- CMS
- ESRD Networks
- Dialysis providers
- Transplant providers
- Patients and caregivers
- Federal, state, and local organizations
KHARES TEAM
Susan Caponi, MBA, BSN, RN, CPHQ, CPXP
VP IPRO ESRD Program, KHARES Project Director
Thomas Bradsell, CEM, ABCP, CFI-I
Assistant Director | IPRO KHARES Emergency Lead
Agata Roszkowski, LMSW, CPXP
IPRO Planning and Preparedness Lead, KHARES
Victoria Cash, MBA, CPHQ, RN
KHARES Director Community Engagement /Program Management
Svetlana Lyulkin, MBA, CPHQ
Director | IPRO KHARES ESRD Systems SME
Stephanie Hull, RN, BSN
KHARES Community Engagement and Partnerships Specialist
Patient Focused
Patient Advisory Board
The KHARES Patient Advisory Board brings together patients, caregivers, and family representatives from the kidney community to ensure that their voices and lived experiences help guide KHARES activities. Members provide feedback on educational resources, emergency preparedness efforts, patient engagement activities, and other initiatives designed to support people living with kidney disease.
By working collaboratively with KHARES and the ESRD Networks, Patient Advisory Board members help identify patient needs, barriers, and opportunities for improvement. Their input helps ensure KHARES resources and programs are patient-centered, accessible, practical, and responsive to the needs of kidney patients and families nationwide.
Community Focused
Emergency Management Leadership Committee
The KHARES Emergency Management Leadership Committee is a multidisciplinary advisory group that brings together emergency management and healthcare leaders to strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of care for people who depend on dialysis.
The Committee provides strategic guidance on emerging risks, preparedness priorities, response coordination, training, exercises, communications, and improvement initiatives. Members help identify operational gaps, share effective practices, and promote stronger integration of dialysis needs into healthcare and community emergency management systems.
Through collaboration and subject-matter expertise, the Committee supports KHARES in advancing national kidney care resilience, minimizing treatment disruptions, and improving coordination among dialysis providers, government agencies, healthcare coalitions, and other response partners before, during, and after emergencies.
The KHARES contract is held by IPRO under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service. IPRO is a trusted partner to state and federal agencies working to measure and improve healthcare for all.
