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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 602 blog entries.

DPC and the DPC Education Center Mourn the Passing of Diane Brisbane

2025-06-09T16:32:17-04:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: News & Events|

It is with a heavy heart that Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) and the DPC Education Center learned of the passing of former Board Member, Diane Brisbane. Diane grew up in the South Jamaica section of Queens, NY and was raised in a household and community that taught family first and service to others. This is the mindset with which she pursued life. After getting her start as a nurses’ aide, she eventually advanced to EKG technician, and later to supervisor of the EKG department, and finally retired after 37 years of service. During the course of her career, she served on [...]

Camarones con Sémola de Maíz

2025-05-07T13:39:25-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Recipes, Spanish Materials, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Receta enviada por Arnella Chatman para el DCI Kidney Cookbook Tiempo de preparación: 20 min Tiempo de cocción: 40 min Tiempo total: 1 hora Porciones: 4 Ingredientes: 1 taza sémola de maíz blanca molida gruesa 2 cucharadas mantequilla sin sal ½ manojo de chalotes pequeños, picados ½ taza maíz 1 cucharada aceite vegetal 1 pizca hojuelas de pimiento rojo (opcional) ½ taza pimiento rojo picado 1 taza guisantes verdes ¾ libra camarones, pelados y desvenados Instrucciones: En una olla grande, lleve 3 tazas de agua a ebullición. Agregue la sémola de maíz, reduzca a fuego bajo, cubra y cocine durante [...]

Why Medicare’s Payment System Keeps New Dialysis Drugs from Reaching Patients

2025-05-07T13:39:04-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Jackson Williams, DPC Vice President of Public Policy Payment bundling is a technique Medicare uses to increase efficiency and reduce low-value care during a treatment episode. Congress adopted a payment bundle for dialysis a decade ago and for several years it worked well. But trade-offs are inherent in bundles and there is always potential for a negative impact on consumers. This negative experience has arrived for dialysis patients in the form of non—prescribing of new drugs. Patients are missing out on improvements to their health and quality of life. A bundled payment sets a maximum price for all [...]

A Faithful Kidney Patient Caregiver’s Journey

2025-05-07T13:34:15-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Sheree Stephens, DPC Patient Ambassador I would describe being a kidney patient caregiver to my husband as inspiring, beautiful, and life changing. Ken has fought kidney failure for years, and I’ve stood beside him every step of the way. The journey can be, at times, stressful and tiring but with strong communication and a strong relationship with God, the journey is not nearly as overwhelming. When we met in 2010, he told me upfront his kidneys were failing. I heard him, but love doesn’t calculate risks. We built a life together, knowing challenges would come. In 2016, they [...]

Preventing Infections in Hemodialysis

2025-06-11T10:54:18-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Nephrologist Download PDF Article Descargar artículo en PDF For patients undergoing hemodialysis, infection prevention is not just a recommendation, it’s a necessity. Hemodialysis patients have a compromised immune system and face a heightened risk of infections, which can affect their lives in a multitude of ways. Many suffer from bloodstream infections, which can lead to hospitalization and even life-threatening complications like sepsis. Catheter-related infections and skin infections near the vascular access site, also quite common, can put patients in the hospital as well. Any of these infections can delay hemodialysis patients’ upcoming kidney [...]

Phosphorus: A Hidden Challenge in Dialysis

2025-05-07T13:30:08-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Medication, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Natalie Zuniga, DCP Board Vice President I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – or kidney failure – soon after a heart attack seven years ago. Like many ESRD patients upon diagnosis, I immediately thought of my mortality and what my death would mean for my family. But I knew that kidney failure wasn’t a death sentence. My husband, Eddie, had been on dialysis for five years when I was diagnosed with ESRD, so he gave me a sense of what life with kidney failure would mean. Today, we navigate dialysis treatment together, including the strict [...]

Patience and Strength: A Caregiver’s Journey

2025-05-07T13:29:06-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Christopher James, DPC Patient Ambassador Caring for a loved one with kidney failure requires confronting serious challenges, making significant sacrifices, and pushing through intense emotions. My name is Christopher James, and for years I have been a kidney patient caregiver to multiple family members, including my wife, Niesha Neal. Through my experience, I’ve learned that fulfilling the role of a kidney patient caregiver comes down to patience, perseverance, and love. My caregiving journey started with my brother, who began dialysis many years ago. With help from my background in biomedical technology, I took on the role of learning [...]

The Importance of Immunizations for People with Kidney Disease

2025-05-07T13:28:03-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Immunizations, Kidney Transplant, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Rebecca Schmidt, DO Jeffrey Silberzweig, MD Kristina Bryant, MD Written On Behalf of the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Community Vaccination Collaborative Introduction Living with kidney disease presents unique health challenges, including an increased susceptibility to infections. Immunizations play a crucial role in protecting people with kidney disease, including those on dialysis or with a kidney transplant, from preventable diseases. This article will discuss the importance of vaccines in general and those protecting against respiratory illness specifically, the risks associated with not being vaccinated, and concerns related to misinformation on vaccination decisions. [...]

Ask the Doctor May 2025

2025-05-07T13:27:31-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Nutrition, Physical Health, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Velma Scantlebury, MD, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant 1. What is the impact of phosphorus on kidney patients? For patients with kidney disease on dialysis, they are unable to remove excess phosphorus from the blood. This leads to high phosphorus levels, also known as hyperphosphatemia. Since dialysis does not remove phosphorus, it is important to limit foods high in phosphorus to avoid a build-up in various places in the body. Too much phosphorus results in the following: Bone and heart problems: Excess phosphorus causes your body to pull calcium out of your bones, making them weak and [...]

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DPC Education Center

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Phone: 1-855-291-3725

Fax: 1-888-423-5002

Web: Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center

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