Category Archives: Dialysis Patient Citizens

Dialysis and Suriving Washington, DC

Posted on April 27, 2016 by DevonTexas

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

In Washington DC

Posted on April 25, 2016 by DevonTexas

For the fourth or fifth year, I’m in DC to lobby Congress on behalf of Dialysis patients as a member and Patient Ambassador with DPC (Dialysis Patient Citizens). You can help by calling or emailing your Representative and Senators and tell … Continue reading →

Posted in CKD, dialysis, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, politics, Uncategorized, World Kidney Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Treatment Options

Posted on May 24, 2015 by DevonTexas

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 “Doc Fix”

Posted on April 15, 2015 by DevonTexas

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 the 5-star @CMS Rating

Posted on February 13, 2015 by DevonTexas

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

Dialysis Insomnia

Posted on February 11, 2015 by DevonTexas

Hey all! Good News!  I posted an update to my previous article about “Dialysis and Insomnia”.  I want to get this message out to everyone because a large percentage of dialysis patients also have insomnia.  (If there are some researchers … Continue reading →

Posted in dialysis, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, exercise, kidney, lobbying, National Kidney Foundation. NKF | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Bones

Posted on January 31, 2015 by DevonTexas

There’s a very good presentation from the DPC Education Center with audio and slides that describes the relationship of kidney function, calcium, the thyroid gland, and bones.  I found it very help in my understand of bone density and kidney … Continue reading →

Posted in bones, calcium, dialysis, Dialysis Patient Citizens, ESRD, kidney, patient care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

Posted on October 23, 2014 by DevonTexas

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

Dialysis Centers and @CMS 5-star Rating

Posted on September 7, 2014 by DevonTexas

In a previous related post,  I promised I would post more about the Davita position on this when I got it.  So, here it is and it makes some good points.  “What’s Wrong With the 5-Star Rating System for the … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dialysis and Mental Health

Posted on September 6, 2014 by DevonTexas

I am really sorry for the late notice about this webinar and telephone conference but if you can make it tomorrow, this should be worth it.  Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), of which I am a member, has an Education Center … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, CKD, depression, Dialysis Patient Citizens, ESRD, lobbying, New Patient, patient care, Social Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment