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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 564 blog entries.

Are You Getting Enough High-Quality Sleep?

2024-03-28T21:06:14-04:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nutrition, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, What Causes Kidney Disease|

We all know that sleep is important, yet many of us never seem to get enough of it. The journal Sleep Review recently found that 67% of end-stage renal disease patients said they were impacted by sleep disorders that prevented them from getting enough sleep. These sleep disorders include periodic leg movement syndrome (PLMS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), insomnia and sleep apnea. Researchers from Monash University reported in the journal Renal Failure that lack of sleep, especially when coupled with chronic kidney disease, leads to hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, lower quality of life and shorter life expectancy. This leaves many kidney patients [...]

Bone and Mineral Disease Patient Education Call on June 16

2024-03-28T21:06:15-04:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Uncategorized, Webinar|Tags: , |

The DPC Education Center will hold an educational conference call on bone and mineral metabolism (BMM) disease on Tuesday, June 16 at 3pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Chronic kidney disease patients sometimes experience BMM problems, and many dialysis patients also have some form of BMM disorder. If BMM disease is left untreated, you may suffer severe bone pain, joint pain and fractures. In addition, lack of control over minerals in your vascular system increases the risk of heart disease. Dr. Mehul Raval will provide tips on what you can do to help control your phosphorus, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels to [...]

Recording of Previous Conference Call on Emergency Preparedness Now Available

2024-03-28T21:06:16-04:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Webinar|Tags: |

We recently hosted an educational conference call/webinar on emergency preparedness with Joan Thomas, executive director of the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (KCER).  Thomas discussed tips and tactics for dialysis patients when severe weather and natural disasters strike.  Being prepared in such circumstances is important so patients do not miss dialysis.  Click here to listen to a recording of the call and view the accompanying Powerpoint slides.

Education Manager & Nephrology Nurse Joanne Smith Provides Education on Treatment Options for Kidney Patients

2024-03-28T21:06:17-04:00April 29th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, News & Events, Peritoneal Dialysis, Webinar|

On April 9, Education Manager Joanne Smith hosted an educational conference call and webinar on treatment options for kidney patients. Smith has been a nephrology nurse for 32 years, and provides in-home training to patients on peritoneal and hemodialysis. Click here to listen to a recording of the call and view the accompanying Powerpoint slides.

The Importance of Scheduling Dialysis Treatments Before Natural Disasters Strike

2024-03-28T21:06:17-04:00April 29th, 2015|Categories: Dialysis|Tags: |

Since dialysis is necessary to sustain life for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, it is imperative that both facilities and patients plan ahead when it comes to scheduling dialysis. It is particularly important to plan for any facility closures, which are bound to happen during natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, approximately 40% of dialysis patients in the regions most affected by Hurricane Sandy - New York and New Jersey - failed to schedule dialysis in the days before the hurricane struck. As researchers pointed out in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, scheduling dialysis early would have been a good idea [...]

Celebrate World Kidney Month

2024-03-28T21:06:18-04:00March 30th, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Symptoms, What Causes Kidney Disease|Tags: |

The 10th anniversary of World Kidney Month is drawing to a close! The goal of World Kidney Month is to prevent kidney disease and related diseases from happening, since one adult out of 10 across the world currently has kidney disease. World Kidney Month aims to prevent kidney disease by educating people on the importance of their kidneys. It also aims to raise awareness of high blood pressure and diabetes, the most common causes of kidney disease. Because there are little to no symptoms of kidney disease, most people are not even aware that they have it until it reaches the later stages, [...]

Join Us for Our Kidney Health Seminar in New York!

2024-03-28T21:06:19-04:00March 19th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, News & Events, Treatment|Tags: |

On Saturday, March 21 from 2-5pm, the DPC Education Center will partner with the Rogosin Institute for an event that is free and open to the general public. It will cover education and training on topics such as mental health, advocacy and treatment options for kidney disease. It will take place at the Campbell Dome at Queens College – CUNY, located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367. If you would like to attend this event, you are required to RSVP by March 17 so we can plan for the event according to the number of expected attendees. To RSVP, call [...]

Progress on Bloodstream-Associated Infections

2024-03-28T21:06:20-04:00January 27th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Treatment|Tags: , |

With recent changes in dialysis payment, dialysis providers will now be held accountable for reducing bloodstream-associated infections. Research shows that when health care professionals are educated and evaluated on infection control requirements and they follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bloodstream-associated infections can be reduced dramatically. This is why our affiliate, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), continues to remain active with the CDC Bloodstream Infection Collaborative, including organizing patient focus groups to identify how patients can help. The CDC recently announced a 46% decrease in central-line associated bloodstream infections. Bloodstream infections are often preventable, which is why we [...]

Education Center Develops New Patient Education Classroom on Bone & Mineral Disease

2024-03-28T21:06:21-04:00January 27th, 2015|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Nutrition, Staying Healthy|Tags: , |

The DPC Education Center recently developed an online classroom on bone & mineral disease for dialysis patients. One topic the classroom focuses on is Vitamin D and its many benefits. Vitamin D balances calcium and phosphorus, regulates parathyroid hormone (PTH) production, helps build strong bones, and prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Receptors in the kidney turn Vitamin D into its active form, calciferol, but the kidneys of dialysis patients are unable to perform this function. This helps explain why almost all dialysis patients are Vitamin D-deficient. Unfortunately, dialysis patients are often unable to turn Vitamin D from natural [...]

Proper Disinfection Practices Can Eliminate The Spread of Ebola

2024-03-28T21:06:23-04:00December 2nd, 2014|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Lifestyle|Tags: |

Dialysis facilities have infection control policies and procedures in place to protect their patients and staff from coming in contact with any blood borne diseases, but diligence in following those policies and procedures is imperative to protect us all. Dialysis staff are instructed to treat all patients with standard precautions. These include gloves, masks over the nose and mouth, shields or goggles for eye protection and waterproof gowns whenever there is risk for exposure. Staff should wash their hands and change gloves between every patient to reduce the risk of transmission of any infectious material, in particular blood.  You should always [...]

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