COVID.gov Launched by the White House

2024-03-28T20:58:30-04:00April 1st, 2022|Categories: eNews, Immunizations, Resources|Tags: |

On Wednesday, March 30th, the White House launched a new website, https://www.covid.gov/, that will be its one-stop shop for questions on masks, treatment, vaccines, testing, and where to find and order resources. Users can search by county to access the latest COVID-19 Community Level in their area, and can click on links that take them directly to the CDC’s site for guidance on staying up-to-date with vaccines, when to get tested, and additional precautions that can be taken for those at high risk for severe illness, such as those who are immunocompromised. The site is designed to be accessible to a [...]

DPC’s New Report Card on Medigap Coverage Helps ESRD Patients Understand their Medicare Supplemental Insurance Options

2024-03-28T20:58:41-04:00December 17th, 2021|Categories: Additional Resources, Costs for Treatment, The Kidney Citizen|

By Kelly Goss, J.D., LL.M., Western Region Advocacy Director If you’re a dialysis patient under age 65 looking to purchase a Medigap plan, DPC’s new interactive Medigap Report Card will help you understand the availability of Medigap coverage in your state. Medicare Supplemental Insurance, or Medigap, is provided by private insurance companies to help Medicare enrollees cover their out-of-pocket “gap” costs – such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles – not covered by Original Medicare. Providing accessible and affordable Medigap coverage is critical to ensuring patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) can fully cover the cost of their care, since Medicare [...]

Be Ready for Weather-Related Emergencies!

2024-03-28T20:58:43-04:00December 17th, 2021|Categories: Additional Resources, Dialysis, Physical Health, The Kidney Citizen|

By Mike Guffey, DPC Board Member It is critically important for dialysis patients to be prepared for weather emergencies, especially as we head into the hurricane and winter weather seasons. Patients should have an emergency checklist and a “go” kit with emergency supplies. www.ready.gov is a good go-to site with checklists and contact cards to help your family be prepared. You should gather the information well in advance of any incidents, but it is helpful to review them at the start of each severe weather season. Maintain the kit in a sturdy plastic container and rotate supplies on a [...]

Finding Your Voice – The Importance of Advocacy

2024-03-28T20:58:51-04:00December 1st, 2021|Categories: eNews, Quality of Life, Support|

Including the patient voice in healthcare is something that most people don’t have to think about. You realize how essential it is though if you are sick - something that Christina Fuhrman experienced firsthand when she got an infection. After being in the hospital for seven months, her doctor thought that the best course of treatment would be to remove her colon; however, Christina was worried about the impact on her quality of life. By doing her own research, she learned about another, possibly risky, treatment and decided to seek a second opinion when her doctor said she did not have [...]

New Online Course for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T20:59:07-04:00June 2nd, 2021|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, Online Courses, Support|

The DPC Education Center is proud to announce a new free course, in partnership with the American Psychological Association, for parents and caregivers of children living with kidney disease. It explores the changes that happen within families due to a chronic illness and offers tips to help your family cope and thrive. Check out the Course

Join Us by Telephone for Our New Program!

2024-03-28T20:59:15-04:00April 19th, 2021|Categories: Mental Health, Patient Support Group, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

By Kathi Niccum, EdD, Education Director In March we launched our first Patient Support Group meeting by telephone. Having a support group has been one of our goals for years and we are happy to announce it is now a reality. We chose to have the group meet by phone instead of online in a Zoom meeting because we think most people use the telephone. And we want the support group to be available to all patients at any stage of kidney disease and to their families. On the second Tuesday of each month, at 3:00 pm Eastern, you can join [...]

So, You’ve Been Vaccinated. Now What?

2024-03-28T20:59:21-04:00April 5th, 2021|Categories: Additional Resources, eNews, Immunizations|Tags: |

First of all, congratulations! It has been a long and difficult year for everyone, and finally having some protection against COVID-19 feels good. We still have a ways to go though, and since we are still learning about how the vaccines will affect the spread of the virus, it is important that everyone one keeps taking precautions – such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds or poorly ventilated indoor spaces. The CDC has also provided some recommendations to help with decision making in daily activities for people who have been vaccinated. The first thing [...]

Fabry Awareness Month

2024-03-28T20:59:22-04:00April 1st, 2021|Categories: Additional Resources, eNews, What Causes Kidney Disease|

April is Fabry Awareness Month, which brings attention to a rare disease that affects about 1 in 100,000 people. So, what is it? Fabry is an inherited genetic condition, caused by a mutation on the X chromosome in the GLA gene that leads to reduced levels of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (AGA) in the body. This means that the body cannot break down a certain type of fat, called globotriaosylceramide (GL-3), which then continues to build-up in a way that causes the blood vessels all over the body to become narrowed. This causes damage to tissues and organs, including your kidneys! [...]

Podcast: The Elephant in the Room – Fear & Uncertainty During COVID-19

2024-03-28T20:59:25-04:00March 4th, 2021|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, Support|Tags: |

At the end of last year, dialysis patients were invited to submit their questions about real-life issues during COVID-19. In this first episode of the new podcast, The Elephant in the Room, experts respond to patients’ letters, including Dale Lupu from George Washington School of Nursing, Liz Anderson, a long-time social worker (both of whom were presenters for the Ed Center’s January 2021 webinar), and a kidney patient with “lived experience” John Brandon Bayton, Jr. You can listen to the first episode of the podcast on Buzzsprout here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1642372/7476073-episode-1-fear-uncertainty-during-covid-19

Join Us for Our New Patient Support Group!

2024-03-28T20:59:27-04:00February 11th, 2021|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, News & Events, Patient Support Group, Support|

In March we will be launching our first Patient Support Group meeting by telephone. Having a support group has been one of our goals for years and we are happy to announce it is now a reality. We chose to have the group meet by phone instead of online or in a Zoom meeting because we think most everyone has a phone. And we want the support group to be available to all patients at any stage of kidney disease and to their families. On the second Tuesday of each month, at 3:00 pm Eastern, you can call and join in [...]

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