Choosing and Caring for Your Vascular Access (Podcast)
On this week's show, Lori Hartwell, Stephen Furst, and their guests talk about the all-important vascular access. The access is how your dialysis staff (or you, if you practice self-care) gain entrance to your bloodstream to perform hemodialysis. The access is so important to hemodialysis patients that it's often called their "lifeline."
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CMS Survey & Certification Guidelines
The Social Security Act (the Act) provides for a system of quality assurance in the Medicare program based on objective, onsite, outcome-based surveys by federal and State surveyors. The survey and certification (S&C) system provides beneficiaries with assurance that basic standards of quality are being met by health care providers or, if not met, that remedies are promptly implemented.
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Dialysis Treatment During Disasters: Patient Opportunities and Responsibilities in Emergency Planning
Katrina and other devastating events in 2005 exposed problems in providing medical care to kidney patients in disasters as well as in providing food and shelter to the hundreds of thousands who were displaced from their homes. In response to the particular needs of kidney patients, the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (KCERC) has formulated plans to ensure readily available dialysis care during disasters.
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Gaining that Winning Smile (Podcast)
On this week's show, Lori Hartwell and Stephen Furst speak with Cheryl (" Cher ") Thomas, a registered dental hygienist and kidney transplant recipient, who brings up the intriguing relationship between gum disease and one's overall health. What brings a smile to your face? A sparkling, silvery, five-pound fish on the end of your fishing line? A quiet evening with a good book? Or maybe even a crisp, juicy, red apple? For Lori, it's all about dogs. "When my two dogs are playing and tumbling around, it just makes me smile," she relates.
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Generic Medications: Are They Right for You?
There are some things that everyone, particularly dialysis and kidney transplant patients, taking generic medications should understand to protect themselves and to feel confident about the medications they are taking.
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H1N1 Pandemic Flu 2009: Preparation, Prevention and Treatment
America is sending our children back to school with an expected surge in H1N1 influenza cases. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) H1N1 news briefing, the CDC states that H1N1 is unpredictable but can be a severe disease especially in people with chronic illnesses. To date, the composite Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of the current H1N1 flu pandemic is below 1% with most people infected making a full and complete recovery after a mild illness. However, the H1N1 2009 pandemic flu has many features differing from the usual seasonal flu which forebode the potential for adverse outcomes especially among people with chronic medical conditions including renal disease.
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Herbal Supplements for the Kidney Patient: Caveat Emptor
When it comes to herbs, they should be thought of as diluted drugs and should not be taken before consulting your physician. If you are someone with kidney disease who may be contemplating purchasing OTC herbal medications, it would serve you well to consider the old phrase, caveat emptor, or "Let the buyer beware."
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How Do They Know You Are Okay? Measuring Quality of Care in Dialysis (Podcast)
This is a tough topic, but a necessary one to understand how the dialysis providers measure the quality of your care. Vincent Dennis, MD explains the proposed quality measures (anemia, bone and mineral metabolism, dialysis adequacy and infection) that are monitored carefully and overseen by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It is important that people with kidney disease understand that when a measure is set, it becomes the target for the healthcare provider and patients can suffer if they get it wrong.
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How Low Can You Go? (Podcast)
How low can you go? What are we talking about? This week we're talking about understanding low blood pressure while on dialysis. Stephen knows firsthand how low he can go. He experiences low blood pressure frequently while on dialysis. He also experiences some of the symptoms of low blood pressure such as headache, sweating, and cramping. Collectively, these signs and symptoms are frequently referred to as "crashing".
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Infection Prevention (Podcast)
This week on KidneyTalk, Lori Hartwell & Steven Furst get to the nitty and the gritty with Debbie Punch, a registered nurse, and CEO of Alliance Management on infection while on dialysis. This informative interview will open your eyes to the many simple and overlooked ways to preventing infection. You'll also learn what shots are really necessary or just myths. Tune in and learn the signs to look out for and avoid.
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Keeping Dialysis Units Up to Snuff (Podcast)
Spending time in dialysis units is what Glenda does to help protect Patients Rights. Observations, questions and inspections insure that units meet the minimum Medicare requirements. Listen and learn what your dialysis unit should provide to YOU-and what it doesn't. Glenda Payne has been a nurse for over 30 years and works for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as an educator and surveyor.
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Lessons Learned from Katrina (Podcast)
This week, Lori and Stephen visit with Dr. Paul Miller, a nephrologist who came to the rescue of many displaced dialysis patients in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and Bradley Mayfield, a kidney patient who not only lived through the hurricane but helped chauffer other patients to dialysis during the storm's awful aftermath. "As a patient, seeing that size storm approaching the area, my first concern was how it was going to impact my ability to get the necessary treatment I needed. With some of the precautions Dr. Miller had taken with his center, I didn't have much to worry about," says Bradley. Listen in as this week's guests tell of their experiences during the worst storm in our nation's history, how they made dialysis work, and tips on how you too can be prepared for an emergency situation in times of unforeseen disaster
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Medication Reconciliation: A Practical Guide For Dialysis and Transplant Patients
We’ve all heard the stories about people who were given the wrong medication or the wrong dose of medication in the hospital. These stories often have devastating outcomes, and people become scared of the care that is being provided by healthcare workers.
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Medication Tips (Podcast)
This week on KidneyTalk, Mike Josbena, MS, RPH, President of Wordsmiths Health Communications talks with Lori Hartwell and Stephen Furst in depth about medication. What is medication? Where do you store medication? You'll be surprised to hear where in fact you should not store your meds. What about herbal medication? Is it really medication? Can vitamins hurt you? What if you forget your medication? Listen in to this fun and insightful show, and find out the answers to all these questions and more.
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Preparing for Dialysis: A Guide for People on Dialysis (Medical Emblems)
This useful information prepared by CMS provides information on how to obtain a medical emblem that will aid you in identifying you in the event of an emergency.
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Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis (3-Day Emergency Diet Plan)
Emergencies caused by severe weather or disasters can happen with or without warning. This helpful 3-Day Emergency Diet Plan prepared by CMS, provides useful information and tips to aid you in your emergency preparedness so you can feel better and stay healthier.
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Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis (Emergency Food List)
Emergencies caused by severe weather or disasters can happen with or without warning. This Emergecny Food List prepared by CMS, is to be used in conjuction with the 3-day Emergency Diet Plan and will aid you in your emergency preparedness so you can feel better and stay healthier.
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Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis (Helpful Tips in an Emergency)
Emergencies caused by severe weather or disasters can happen with or without warning. This helpful guide prepared by CMS, divided conveniently into sections on our website for your use, provides useful information and tips to aid you in your emergency preparedness so you can feel better and stay healthier.
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Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis (How to Get Off of a Dialysis Machine in an Emergency Evacuation)
Emergencies caused by severe weather or disasters can happen with or without warning. This helpful guide prepared by CMS, provides useful information and tips on How to Get Off of a Dialysis Machine in an Emergency Evacuation.
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Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis (Steps to Prepare for an Emergency)
Emergencies caused by severe weather or disasters can happen with or without warning. This helpful guide prepared by CMS, divided conveniently into sections on our website for your use, provides useful information and tips to aid you in your emergency preparedness so you can feel better and stay healthier.
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Recommendations For Handling Pets in the ESRD Setting
Pets have been part of man’s household for thousands of years. They provide us with unconditional affection and companionship. Recent studies suggest that, in addition to providing a social support, pets lower one’s stress response, improve the sense of well-being, and reduce depression. As a result of these studies, pets have been introduced into the hospital and nursing home settings with beneficial effects on patients. In many cases, blood pressure or antidepressant medications have been reduced in some patients as a result of pet therapy.
In addition to definite health benefits however, pets pose some health risks, particularly to those with compromised immune function. These risks are especially important for individuals with renal transplants.
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Redsense is Ready to Make a Difference
In a world full of alarms and monitors, finally there is a FDA approved device to help detect the worrisome, potentially life threatening complication of dialysis, Venous Needle Dislodgement (VND) at home.
For those patients who choose the flexibility and freedom of home dialysis, the Redsense alarm is a welcome piece of mind. Few, if any, other serious complications of dialysis cause more concern than the unpredictable nature of a VND. It's known that it can occur without warning even under the best situations. Patients are educated on precautions that can be used to reduce the likelihood of having one, but the fact remains, it can't be accurately predicted.
Now that Redsense is available for home use, dialysis patients now have an additional layer of security to help ease their minds.
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RPA Launches 'Keeping Kidney Patients Safe' Website
In September 2008, the Renal Physicians Association (RPA), in collaboration with the Forum of ESRD Networks, launched a new patient safety website, Keeping Kidney Patients Safe (www.kidneypatientsafety.org) to provide resources, tools, and information to improve ESRD patient safety. Since its launch, Keeping Kidney Patients Safe has attracted over 6,500 visitors from 35 countries, including China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Russian Federation, Germany, and the Netherlands.
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Slip, Slop, Slap- Preventing Harmful Effects of the Sun
Warnings about the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays on the skin have been at the forefront of health advice for years. As a kidney transplant recipient, I know that the chance of getting skin cancer is much higher for me than for the rest of the population.
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Stop Thief! Protect Yourself Against Medical Identity Theft
One week after having a spot on my forehead removed by a new dermatologist, I received a notice from his office stating that their medical records had been compromised, and recommended that I put a fraud alert on my credit reports at the three major credit bureaus. So far, it appears that no one has tried to use my information to establish a new medical identity.
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Sunny Delight! Understanding Vitamin D (Podcast)
What does Vitamin D do for your body? What foods are the best source of Vitamin D? Why are so many people who have chronic kidney disease deficient in Vitamin D? Gail DeWald who has over 24 years as a Certified Nephrology Nurse, will answer these questions.
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Tips on How a Dialysis Facility and Patients Can Prepare for an Emergency
“An emergency stops being one when you are ready for it.”
These words are important to reflect upon when you realize that, during the last few years, the United States has experienced several disasters (particularly Hurricane Katrina) that seriously disrupted the lives of many dialysis patients because they could not get to their clinics to receive treatments. Emergencies caused by severe weather (hurricanes, earthquakes, snowstorms, power outages, etc.) can occur suddenly and without warning. Your availability to water, power, transportation, or supplies may be limited. You may not be able to get to your dialysis unit for treatment or give yourself treatments at home. Therefore, the importance of being prepared for such events cannot be overstated.
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Why Do Patients Have Bouts of Low Blood Pressure During Hemodialysis?
While most people who eventually require chronic maintenance hemodialysis (HD) had hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), before they began HD treatments, hypotension (low BP) during the HD treatment sessions is a common problem. It is estimated that 15%-50% of patients receiving HD will have low BP during their treatments.
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