News & Events
Discover new information and educational offerings that we provide. Explore our newsletters, blogs and upcoming webinars/conference calls.
Contents:
Positive Psychology Exercises May Help Dialysis Patients Combat Depression
Dialysis patients that participated in technology-based positive psychology exercises reported “significantly” lower symptoms of depression and saw improvements in “quality of life, emotional well-being, physical vigor and social interactions,” as published by one study. The exercises focused on building on the patient’s “personal strengths, cultivating gratitude and using positive reappraisal to reinterpret events.” The findings may provide alternatives for dialysis patients who are looking for ways to manage their depression. Depression is the most common psychiatric illness among individuals with kidney failure, with occurrence ranging from 22.8 to 39.3 percent as reported by a group of researchers. Patients in the study spent 20-30 minutes more than three times a week doing positive psychology exercises on [...]
Taking Statins Before and After Kidney Failure May Lead to Better Outcomes for Dialysis Patients
Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that took statins at least six months before and after kidney failure had a 28 percent lower risk of death than patients who stopped taking statins after kidney failure, as found in one study. In addition, these individuals had an 18 percent lower risk of cardiovascular-related death when compared to the statin discontinuers. The better cardiovascular outcomes were not observed in studies where individuals with CKD started taking statins after kidney failure, pointing to the importance of early CKD detection and taking statins before and after kidney failure. Statins are drugs taken to lower the risk for cardiovascular disease (e.g., coronary heart disease, stroke, congenital heart defects, peripheral artery [...]
Over $2 Million to be Awarded to Innovative Dialysis Solutions
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) are awarding monetary prizes to people that come up with innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat kidney failure. Anyone is welcome to enter the competition, which is called Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), and it is broken up into two phases. The hope is that the contest will generate and expedite new technologies, concepts, or expertise that have not been introduced in the realm of chronic kidney disease. Contest Deadlines and Prize Details Submissions will be accepted from October 2018 until February 2019 for phase one and should focus on innovations that imitate kidney functions, enhance patient wellbeing, improve [...]
Communicating with your Healthcare Team: Top Tips to Partner with Professionals!
By Edward Leigh, MA and Steve Wilson, MA If you missed this month’s webinar on How to Talk Effectively with your Health Care Team, the recording is now available! In addition, below is a handout to accompany the presentation. Medical Resume This is a 1 - 2-page document summarizing all your pertinent medical information, including all the items listed below. Have this resume in an electronic file so you can easily update the document. List of all your medications, including names, dosages, and how often they are taken. Be sure to include vitamins / herbs, ear / eye drops, medications put directly on the skin and nasal medications. Many medical offices request you bring the [...]
An Important Conversation: How to Talk Effectively with your Health Care Team – Recording and Slides
If you were unable to attend this week's education seminar, the recording is now available! Please see the video and presentation links below for details. We want to keep getting better. Please help us by sharing your comments and suggestions here:Webinar Review View the Recording: Download the slides. Download the 2-page summary handout.
Would You Accept a Kidney from Someone Who Died of a Drug Overdose?
The opioid crisis in the US has increased the availability of organs for people looking for a transplant due to drug overdose deaths. As a result, someone in need of a kidney transplant might face a dilemma on whether to accept a kidney in this type of circumstance. One of the potential concerns relates to the organ donor being labeled as having an “increased risk” for contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, which may not be able to be detected if contracted a week before his/her death. However, the risk is relatively small (less than a 1-in-1,000 chance), and a recent analysis found that standard-risk kidneys tend to perform worse on average than the [...]
RSVP for Thursday’s Webinar – An Important Conversation: How to Talk Effectively with your Health Care Team
Join Steve Wilson, psychologist, as he talks to Edward Leigh, a health educator and the founder and director of The Center for Healthcare Communication. Steve will ask Edward important questions that will help you as you partner with your healthcare team for quality care and quality of life. Through an engaging and energetic conversation, learn how to: Build a positive relationship Communicate clearly Ask helpful questions Prepare effectively for each visit Develop your own “medical resume” Find helpful health web sites When: September 27, 2018 at 2:00 PM What: DPC Ed Center Webinar Register: www.dpcedcenter.org/education-call-rsvp About the Presenters: Edward Leigh is the Founder & Director of The Center for Healthcare Communication. He helps patients communicate with healthcare professionals [...]
Mindfulness May Help Dialysis Patients Decrease Pain
An article published by Medical News Today reports that mindfulness may be an effective way for some people to decrease chronic pain, and mindfulness meditation may decrease pain more effectively than some standard treatments. The findings may provide alternatives for dialysis patients who are looking for ways to manage their pain. Mindfulness is the state of an individual being present and aware of their actions and surroundings in a way that is not exceedingly reactive or anxious. Some people have a predisposition to being more mindful, and thus report lower levels of pain on average. However, mindfulness can be increased with training. Chronic pain affects over 25 million people in the US, and one study [...]
September is Sepsis Awareness Month
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition in which the body has a severe response to an infection. Sepsis can result in tissue damage, organ failure and death. Sepsis can happen to anyone. People with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney disease, are at a higher risk of getting an infection, which can lead to sepsis. Check out our webinar from earlier this year to learn more about the relationship of sepsis to kidney disease, the warning signs, risks, and ways to prevent sepsis. Additional Resources National Institute on Health page on sepsis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on sepsis
US Department of Labor Protects Living Organ Donors
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. In addition, FMLA ensures eligible employees continue to receive the same health insurance coverage [...]
Home Dialysis: Is It Your Best Treatment Option? – Recording and Slides
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
Grilled Herb Corn – A Kidney Friendly Summer Must-Have
Low Sodium Herbed Grilled Corn By Jessianna Saville Ingredients ½ c butter, unsalted 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced 2 tbsp fresh chives, minced 1 tsp dried thyme ½ tsp cayenne pepper (or per taste) 8 ears sweet corn, husked 1-2 fresh limes (opt but highly recommended!) Instructions In a small bowl, beat the first five ingredients until blended. Spread 1 tablespoon mixture over each ear of corn. Wrap corn individually in heavy-duty foil. Grill corn, covered, over medium heat 10-15 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape. Notes Phos 84 mg | Potassium 237 mg I didn't use all the butter (more like 1-2 tsp/corn) so depending on [...]
Social Security Offers Programs to Help Individuals Who Are Disabled Transition to Employment
Social Security provides work incentives and its Ticket to Work program to help people who receive disability benefits and are interested in working. The employment programs are meant to prepare people for work and ease the transition to employment. For those that get a job and later discover they are unable to work, it is possible to receive disability benefits again. In addition, filing a new application may not be necessary. Work Incentives Benefit Summary Social Security offers work incentives to make the transition to employment easier. Some of the benefits include: Cash benefits - Continuing to receive disability cash benefits for a period of time when you start employment Healthcare - Continuing access to Medicare or Medicaid during [...]
Support the DPC Education Center When Shopping for Back-To-School Supplies
Shopping online for back-to-school supplies this year? Consider supporting DPC Education Center through AmazonSmile. Amazon will donate a portion of your purchases to the DPC Education Center without added cost. The DPC Education Center is dedicated to improving kidney patients' quality of life and reducing the occurrence of ESRD through education and awareness of dialysis and kidney disease issues, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers, and developing favorable public policy solutions.
RSVP for Thursday’s Webinar – Home Dialysis: Is It Your Best Treatment Option?
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 years, the last 13 years on more frequent home hemodialysis with NxStage
The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming a Transplant Patient Recording and Slides
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
Scientists Observe Delayed Progression of Rare Kidney Disease with the Aid of Medication
Researchers are making progress toward developing medications to delay the progression of rare kidney diseases. A study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reported a lower decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) treated with medication, compared to the control group. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measures kidney function effectiveness by documenting how well the kidneys are filtering the blood. Researchers hope this type of medication will prevent or delay the need for an individual to go on dialysis or other kidney replacement therapy. The decline of eGFR was observed among individuals in both early and later states of chronic kidney disease. [...]
RSVP for Thursday’s Webinar: The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming a Transplant Patient
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 and Joy Paul Kidney Center at George Washington University Medical School. Dr. Melancon is [...]
Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain Recording and Slides
If you were unable to attend last month'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 In some studies, over 70% of people with CKD report chronic pain. If you are one of the 70%, or if you take care of them, this program will give you medical and non-medical ways to understand, reduce, and manage chronic pain. You may not eliminate it completely, but you can make pain a much smaller part of your life!
Researchers and Journalists Call Out Poorly Performing Organ Procurement Organizations
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 Main Entities for Successful Organ Transplantation The Penn researchers note that “Aside from the [...]
