News & Events
Discover new information and educational offerings that we provide. Explore our newsletters, blogs and upcoming webinars/conference calls.
Contents:
DPC Raises Alarm on Health Workforce Shortages
Jackson Williams, DPC Vice President of Public Policy Fifteen years ago, the Institute of Medicine report, “Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce,” warned of looming health workforce shortages due to demographic changes. Has the era foreseen by that report arrived? Media reports indicate numerous instances of hospitals declaring “contingency standards of care” or ordering ambulance diversions due to staffing shortages. Average emergency department visit times have risen to 160 minutes, up from 143 minutes in 2020, according to government statistics. Medicare beneficiaries who are intermittent users of health care facilities will probably not know when care is not timely or delivered to standards. But patients with ESRD, who [...]
Recipe of the Month: Peach Cobbler
May’s featured recipe, Peach Cobbler, is the perfect summer dessert!
DPC’s 2023 Advocacy Day
Megan Hashbarger, DPC Vice President of Government Relations In October 2023, DPC held its’ annual Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. This year, we were able to bring over 50 patients to D.C. from 23 different states. Unfortunately, due to Covid complications and for the best safety of our patients, we did end up having to make their Hill meetings virtual. Despite this, we were still able to meet with almost 60 Congressional offices about issues facing dialysis patients such as the need for access to Medigap and private insurance. We were also able to host a day of advocacy training for our patient ambassadors, bringing in stakeholders from various sectors, including Chris [...]
How Transplant Changed My Life Forever
Adrian Ropp, DPC Patient Ambassador It was Christmas and I was home to visit my parents for the holidays. It was the first time I had traveled there in a year without my dialysis equipment or a schedule to visit a clinic. A brave police officer named Albert had recently lost his life, but he had registered as an organ donor. Because of this, I was celebrating a Christmas I had not expected. It happened (and believe me, it is a story that would take this whole article) that my savior’s family - his wife Lori and their three children, lived in my parents’ hometown. We had made plans to meet for [...]
Ask the Doctor April 2024
Velma Scantlebury, MD, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant 1. Will a transplanted patient who receives a kidney from a diabetic individual become diabetic? Diabetes results from a lack of the ability of your body to produce/and or use insulin effectively. If a kidney is used from a deceased donor who is diabetic, it is often biopsied to make sure that the kidney is not damaged from diabetes. Some transplant patients are at risk of becoming diabetic due to the anti-rejection medications used, including the use of steroids to treat rejection episodes. Therefore, your risk of becoming diabetic is related to your underlying family history, weight gain, and medications used after the [...]
Merida Bourjolly: Taking Control of Her Care and Finding Meaning Through Advocacy
Merida Bourjolly, President of DPC Education Center Board of Directors Merida Bourjolly had a kidney removed when she was just three weeks old, though it wouldn’t be until much later that her experience with dialysis would begin. By then, she already owned her own business and had both a teenage daughter and her mother to take care of at home, which meant starting dialysis came with big adjustments. She did her best to continue working five to six days a week like she had before, but found she was increasingly tired while styling her clients’ hair. Eventually, she had to scale back and only work on the days she did not do [...]
For Gene Blankenship, Family is Everything
Eugene Blankenship, DPC Board of Directors Gene has had a front row seat to life with kidney disease for as long as he can remember. His entire family has been affected by kidney disease, and he was diagnosed himself in 2003. While it has come with challenges, Gene has continuously pushed forward, bolstered by the loving support of his family and those in the dialysis community he’s met along the way. After three years on dialysis, Gene was finally able to receive a kidney transplant this year. Persevering through dialysis treatments can take a toll, but Gene learned firsthand his ability to overcome obstacles with the help of his support system. After [...]
Knowledge to Empowerment
Nancy L. Scott, DPC Education Center Project Manager As I sat on the side of my hospital bed on a cold night in March of 2004, my heart was broken and it felt as though my time on the planet was almost over. I had just been diagnosed with END STAGE RENAL DISEASE. The word “end” means a final part of something, and I thought that something meant me. I had just retired and planned to enjoy life and travel as much as possible. These dreams had come to an end! (Little did I know at the time, the dreams were just beginning!) The nephrologist had just left the hospital room and [...]
The Kidney Citizen Issue 18
Welcome to the Empowerment issue of the Kidney Citizen! The DPC Education Center is excited to share with you articles that embody patient empowerment, provide knowledge, and help you to live your best life with kidney disease.
DPC E-Newsletter – April 2024: DPC Mourns the Passing of Rep. Donald Payne Jr., Patients’ Experience with Itching, DPC 20th Anniversary & PA Spotlight
Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
DPC Ed Center E-Newsletter April 2024 : Resources for Dialysis Patients, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
NephU Provides Resources for Dialysis Patients
Learn more about the Education Center's collaboration with NephU, a community of health care professionals and advocates collaborating to improve kidney health.
Recipe of the Month: Broccoli Salad
April’s featured recipe, Broccoli Salad, is a great summer side and pairs well with a meal outside!
DPC Ed Center E-Newsletter March 2024 : Healthy Eating Habits, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
Establishing Healthy Eating Habits
This information was originally posted on the U.S Renal website: https://www.usrenalcare.com/living-with-kidney-disease/nutrition.html People on dialysis can enjoy many different foods. Limiting certain foods can help ensure you stay healthy. Your meal plan is designed to meet your needs while controlling the buildup of harmful waste products. It is an important part of your treatment plan. Seeking support from your healthcare team, friends and family can help you be more successful. Eating well will help you feel better and improve your quality of life. Five Meal Planning Tips for People on Dialysis Meet with a registered dietitian nutritionist that specializes in dialysis nutrition. Meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist is a great way to personalize a healthful [...]
Recipe of the Month: Chicken Salad
Get a brand new, kidney-friendly recipe* delivered to your inbox each month! March’s featured recipe, Chicken Salad, would make a nice addition to a spring picnic spread as the weather warms up! This recipe was submitted by Archilene Lauderdale for the DCI Kidney Cookbook. Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 25 min Total time: 40 min Ingredients Makes 4 servings 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast 1 c. seedless red grapes (cut in half) 1/4 c. finely chopped red onion 1/4 c. chopped celery 3/4 c. Duke’s mayonnaise 1/8 tsp. black pepper (add more if desired) 1/4 tsp. salt (to reduce sodium, omit salt) Instructions Place chicken in a pot; add water. (Water should cover [...]
DPC Ed Center E-Newsletter February 2024 : Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
Enjoy Your Life!
Dialysis does not mean the end of your life! You are still able to perform many of the tasks that you did prior to dialysis but patience and planning are necessary. Please read the following tips provided by Fresenius Medical Care (www.freseniusmedicalcare.com). Talking to the staff at the dialysis centers. Writing down questions ahead of time and inform family members about changes in treatment. Finding out as much as possible about the illness through a National Kidney Association or Society, local or national support groups, written materials, and educational classes. Staying involved in the pleasures, activities, and responsibilities of daily living. Finding time to exercise at a level that suits your individual limits and to [...]
DPC Ed Center E-Newsletter January 12, 2024
Enjoy Your Life!, Kidney Chat at 2pm ET, Recipe of the Month, LIVE Events & Recordings
DPC Education Center 2023 Review and 2024 Preview
GREETINGS! This past year was an exciting one for the Education Center. We ramped up our social media platforms, allowing more direct exposure and interaction with our audience, including monthly LIVEs on Instagram and Facebook. Dr. Velma Scantlebury, our medical consultant, was available on Instagram every first Wednesday and on Facebook every third Wednesday—both occurred at 12:30 pm. Our support group, the Kidney Chat, was the second Tuesday of each month by telephone. Nephrologists, nutritionists, and social workers (just to name a few) were guests on the call, and shared important information and resources with patients. We also published an informative issue of the Kidney Citizen (our own publication!), which I encourage you to check [...]
