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US Department of Labor Protects Living Organ Donors

2024-03-28T21:00:08-04:00September 5th, 2018|Categories: Employment, eNews, Kidney Transplant, News & Events, Treatment|

The US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division published an opinion letter last week stating that surgery for people who donate an organ qualifies as a “serious health condition” under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The letter may provide reassurance to individuals that are considering donating a kidney, but are concerned about losing their jobs due to being away for surgery or post-surgery care. About the Family and Medical Leave Act The FMLA allows “eligible employees of covered employers” the ability to take 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for certain family and medical conditions. [...]

Home Dialysis: Is It Your Best Treatment Option? – Recording and Slides

2024-03-28T21:00:09-04:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: eNews, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis|

If you were unable to attend last week's education seminar, the recording is now available! Please see the video below for details. In addition, download the slides. We want to keep getting better. Please help us by sharing your comments and suggestions here: Webinar Review This program helps you: Learn about treatment options Weigh the benefits of more frequent dialysis Develop questions to ask your doctor when choosing your treatment choice Understand the patient's perspective by hearing a patient's dialysis story

RSVP for Thursday’s Webinar – Home Dialysis: Is It Your Best Treatment Option?

2024-03-28T21:00:13-04:00August 10th, 2018|Categories: eNews, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Webinar|

Join us on Thursday, August 16 at 2:00PM Eastern to learn if home dialysis would be an appropriate treatment option for you or your family. This program will help you: Learn about treatment options Weigh the benefits of more frequent dialysis Develop questions to ask your doctor when choosing your treatment choice Understand the patient's perspective by hearing a patient's dialysis story RSVP to attend. This webinar will be presented by: Dr. Michael Kraus, MD, FACP Nephrologist,  Indiana University School of Medicine Associate Chief Medical Officer, NxStage Medical, Inc. Vanessa Evans, Dialysis Patient Patient Advocate Manager, NxStage Medical, Inc. Dialysis patient for 20 [...]

The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming a Transplant Patient Recording and Slides

2024-03-28T21:00:14-04:00July 31st, 2018|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant, Treatment, Webinar|

If you were unable to attend last week's education seminar, the recording is now available! Please see the video below for details. In addition, download the slides. We want to keep getting better. Please help us by sharing your comments and suggestions here: Webinar Review Topics include: Learning what it means to be on the transplant list Understanding the transplant process from start to finish Dispelling the myths of what is or is not involved Learning tips for to help you succeed in the process and more

RSVP for Thursday’s Webinar: The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming a Transplant Patient

2024-03-28T21:00:17-04:00July 24th, 2018|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant, Treatment, Webinar|

Join us Thursday, July 26 at 2:00PM Eastern to learn the basics of what is involved with being a transplant patient. Topics include: Learning what it means to be on the transplant list Understanding the transplant process from start to finish Dispelling the myths of what is or is not involved Learning tips for to help you succeed in the process and more This webinar will be presented by Dr. Keith Melancon, Director of the George Washington Transplant Institute. About Dr. Melancon: Dr. Melancon is currently the Director of the George Washington Transplant Institute and the Medical Director of The Ron [...]

Researchers and Journalists Call Out Poorly Performing Organ Procurement Organizations

2024-03-28T21:00:21-04:00July 16th, 2018|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant, Treatment|

Recent research and journalism has highlighted significant variations in the ability of regional Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to obtain donor organs for transplants. An analysis by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania rated 35 of 58 OPOs, and identified the best performers among them the OPOs serving Utah and Southern Idaho; Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware; the Finger Lakes region of New York; Wisconsin; and Nebraska. The poorest performing were those serving the New York City region; Southern California; Kentucky; and North Carolina. The New York City OPO’s poor performance was highlighted in a New York Times article last week. Three [...]

The Waiting Game: How to Endure the Transplant Wait List

2024-03-28T21:01:08-04:00September 1st, 2017|Categories: Fact Sheet, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health, Stress Management, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

By Kirsten Weir If you are on the organ transplant waiting list (or hoping to be listed soon), you have probably experienced all kinds of emotions: Excitement, nervousness, anxiety, fear, joy, guilt. Maybe all in one day! The average time spent on the waiting list for a kidney varies from region to region. But for most patients, that wait is measured in years, not months. As the years go by, some people go about their daily lives and forget they are waiting for a life-changing call. Others feel mounting anxiety and hopelessness. All of those feelings are completely normal, says Heather [...]

Researchers Think They’ve Found the Cause of Organ Rejection

2024-03-28T21:01:13-04:00June 29th, 2017|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant, Medication|

Receiving a kidney transplant is the preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, wait times to receive a transplant can be long, and the cost of medication to maintain the transplant is very high. Transplanted organs typically last around 10 years, if taken care of well. However, researchers at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh may have found the answer to prevent organ rejection. Fadi Lakkis, the scientific director at the transplantation institute, believed ideally, an organ transplant would last the rest of the patient’s life. Not only this, but the drugs that suppress the [...]

Additional Factors Play Part in Kidney Transplant Success

2024-03-28T21:01:20-04:00April 17th, 2017|Categories: eNews, Kidney Transplant|

The process of receiving a kidney transplant is rooted in finding a compatible donor, whether living or deceased. Compatibility is determined by both blood type and the matching of Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).  HLA’s are what stimulate the production of antibodies, which are produced by the immune system in response to a foreign body.  HLA make-up is inherited from your parents, which typically makes immediate family members the best match for donation.  However, it is possible for individuals to develop sensitivities to HLA antigens because of pregnancies, blood transfusions or viral/bacterial infections. These sensitivities are also tested to determine overall compatibility [...]

Preparing for National Kidney Month

2024-03-28T21:01:27-04:00February 28th, 2017|Categories: eNews, Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant|Tags: , |

As Black History month comes to a close, and national kidney month is about to begin, it’s important to think about the relationship between kidney health and African Americans. Kidney disease can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. However, African Americans are disproportionately affected by kidney disease for a variety of reasons including genetics and socio-economics. Compared to other ethnic groups, African Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure which are the two leading causes of kidney disease. While most patients may be aware of their diabetes or high blood pressure, many don’t know these conditions [...]

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