Tag Archives: Dialysis Patient Citizens

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

In Washington DC


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 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 Emergencies


Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) hosted a phone conference recently with Joan Thomas, the executive director of the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (KCER).  This is especially important for patients within the Southeast, Tornado Alley, and the Gulf Coast areas.  Please take a … Continue reading

Posted in dialysis, disaster planning, ESRD, kidney, New Patient, patient care, preparedness, Social Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 Insomnia


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


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

Dialysis and Kidney Talk


  The Renal Support Network has a great resource called, “Kidney Talk”.  From their website… KidneyTalk is an online bi-weekly, half-hour radio talk show featuring RSN Founder & President Lori Hartwell. All shows (over 200 of them!) are available 24hrs … Continue reading

Posted in CKD, dialysis, ESRD, kidney donation, patient care, polycystic Kidney Disease, Transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis Centers and @CMS 5-star Rating


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