Category Archives: Dialysis Center

Dialysis and “Extra Help” with Meds


Most experienced Social Workers know this and will get you set up with this program as soon as you go on Medicare. However, many don’t which means you need to find this yourself. I hope I saved you some hunting … Continue reading

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Insurance, Medicare, Medications, New Patient, Social Work, Transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dialysis and Kidney Transplant


Okay ya’ll.  I’m going for the transplant. I signed up for the Transplant list with Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.  So, if you readers with two kidneys happen to be there….  LOL I’ll keep you informed as I venture … Continue reading

Posted in A/V Fistula, Access, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Discharge Planning, ESRD, kidney, Medicare, Modalities, Modality, New Patient, Patient Responsibilities, planning, thankful, thoughts, Transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dialysis and Suriving Washington, DC


April 26, 2016: I survived! I’m at Reagan National Airport awaiting my flight home. There’s some question about the landing part as there are severe thunderstorms expected over Dallas tonight. We’ll see. I just want to get home. We got … Continue reading

Posted in activism, Davita, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, patient care, Patient-Centered Care, World Kidney Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Bone Disease


From the DPC Education Center comes a conference call on Bone and Mineral Disease. Why is this important or relevant to dialysis patients?  Well, that pesky phosphorus (See Dialysis and Phosphorus Control) leaches calcium from your bones and replaces it with … Continue reading

Posted in Bicarbonate, bones, calcium, dialysis, Dialysis Center, dietary restictions, ESRD, fluid control, New Patient, patient care, Patient Responsibilities, phosphorus, potassium, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Treatment Options


Recently a fellow patient asked me what treatment options were available to dialysis patients.  I stuttered a bit and named the ones that came to mind: In-center dialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Home Hemodialysis, and NxStage.  These may be correct but that’s about … Continue reading

Posted in dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Dialysis Treatment Options, Home dialysis, kidney, Modalities, Modality, patient care, Transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dialysis and Blog Talk Radio


Here are some interesting spoken blogs on BlogTalk Radio from Dialysis Advocates… This particular episode deals with How to Ask For What You Want as a dialysis patient.  John Rider, the guest speaker, has decades of experience in this matter. … Continue reading

Posted in dialysis, Dialysis Center, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, New Patient, patient care, Patient-Centered Care, politics, Social Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and “Doc Fix”


Finally, after SEVENTEEN years, Congress has passed the “doc fix” bill to fill a hole they created in 1997. Read about it here…  From the DPC website, here’s the impact on dialysis patients based on the House version of the … Continue reading

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, politics, Social Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Rebirth


I recently made some profound changes in my life.  I didn’t mention anything previously because I didn’t want to jinx it.  But, now that I am a bit down the road, I’m comfortable to write about it. Confession time.  I’ve not … Continue reading

Posted in bones, calcium, constipation, cooking. cookbook, dialysis, Dialysis Center, diarrhea, diet, dietary restictions, ESRD, exercise, kidney, layoff, personal, phosphorus, potassium, recipes | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dialysis and the 5-star @CMS Rating


Dialysis Patient Citizens recently reported on their efforts to respond to the CMS 5-star Rating System.  Under this system, the Mayo Clinic, for example, got a 1-star rating.  Obviously this is not a good measure of patient feelings or experience. … Continue reading

Posted in CMS, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, ratings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NKF Responds to Medicare’s Proposed Changes to Payment and Quality Programs for Dialysis Facilities


Originally posted on Advocacy in Action:
Back in July we shared the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s (CMS) proposed changes to dialysis payment and quality incentive program.  After gathering input from kidney patients and professionals we issued formal comments to CMS, which…

Posted in AKF, CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, National Kidney Foundation. NKF | Leave a comment