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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 586 blog entries.

Medicare 101

2024-03-28T21:07:19-04:00December 17th, 2012|Categories: Costs for Treatment, eNews|

Medicare Overview Most Americans have heard of Medicare, approximately 45 million people were receiving Medicare benefits in 2008. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has predicted that there will be 78 million people eligible for the program by the year 2030. It might be expected that Medicare is very well understood, but the reality is that there are many pieces and parts that can be very confusing to the average person. A recent search on the internet for the term “Medicare” returned more than 16 million results in less than 1/10th of a second. It would take a person [...]

Kidney Patients and the Donut Hole

2024-03-28T21:07:20-04:00December 17th, 2012|Categories: Costs for Treatment, eNews, Medication|

Can the Medicare "Donut Hole" Affect Kidney Patients? The short answer to this question is "maybe". The longer answer reveals that the gap affects some Medicare recipients more than others. A closer look will help to explain the reason why these two answers are different and how your patient may be affected. What is it? The "donut hole" is a gap in prescription drug coverage under Medicare. This gap begins when a person reaches a predetermined amount during the year based on average retail cost of drugs. In 2011 the gap begins when a person spends $2840 in actual out of [...]

Taking Care of Yourself When You Have Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:21-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy|

Taking Time for Fun With or without chronic kidney disease (CKD), life is what you make it. Some patients with CKD may choose to withdraw. Others may choose to do as much as possible and live life to the fullest. The choice is yours. Maybe you want to spend more time with family and friends. If so, plan an outing with them. They’ll appreciate your effort and you can feel good about taking charge. Decide what is most important to you now. Then take the steps necessary to make it happen. Tips for Coping You might feel like you are no [...]

Managing Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:22-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Medication, Nutrition, Stages of Kidney Disease|

As you are being treated for your chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5, there are 2 areas of concern that you and your renal (kidney) care team should discuss. Diet Following a renal-friendly diet can help limit the amount of waste in your body, which will aid in your treatment. You and your renal dietitian can work together to monitor the foods you eat and the fluids you drink. Some things you may discuss include Limiting fluids Avoiding salt Being aware of hidden phosphorus Sticking to the diet you and your dietitian create may not only help you feel better, it [...]

Keeping a Food Diary and Tips for Eating Out

2024-03-28T21:07:23-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Nutrition|

Food Diary A food diary is an easy way to monitor the foods and liquids in your diet. The diary can help you identify trouble spots and make quick fixes. Your renal dietitian can help you get a food diary or you can check for one online. Food labels can help you with your food diary and help you choose healthier, kidney-friendly foods. Talk to your renal dietitian about what to look for before you shop. Since imbalances of minerals such as phosphorus and potassium are a concern for patients on dialysis, ask your renal dietitian how many milligrams (mg) of [...]

Be a Part of Your Kidney Care Team

2024-03-28T21:07:24-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Treatment|

Communicating Effectively with Your Kidney Care Team You go to dialysis and stay for the entire session. You take your medication as directed by your doctor. You follow your kidney care team’s instructions. Is there anything else you can do to manage your condition? There is. Learn to talk and work with your kidney care team so you understand their expectations and they understand yours. Communicating with your kidney care team is more than just listening to them. It’s asking questions, letting them know your thoughts, and taking action. Be specific when talking with your kidney care team and Write down [...]

Care for Your Overall Health

2024-03-28T21:07:25-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Immunizations, Lifestyle|

Preventive Screenings Part of managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) is keeping up with medical screenings. Talk with your doctor every January about “preventive maintenance” screenings you’ll need for the coming year, and mark them on a calendar. The tests you need depend on your age, your health, and whether you are male or female, so work with your nephrologist to ensure that your tests are done as necessary. Below are some examples of tests recommended by the US Department of Health & Human Services for the average person: General Tests Cholesterol test Blood pressure test Diabetes screening Fecal blood test Mental [...]

Managing Your Time Wisely Around Treatment

2024-03-28T21:07:26-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, News & Events, Treatment|

Scheduling Activities and Tasks Your time at your dialysis treatment or doctor appointments is a great opportunity to take care of all the things that are a part of your daily life. Use this time to your advantage. Talk to others with kidney disease. They can be a source of strength and support, and they may also be able to give you tips on how to stick with your treatment plan Learn about something interesting like a new language or photography Bring a sketchbook and practice drawing Bring your kidney-friendly cookbook and plan meals for the week Strengthen your mind with [...]

Transportation Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:27-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Quality of Life|

With chronic kidney disease (CKD) and any additional conditions you have, it may be a challenge getting to doctor appointments, the grocery store, and other places. However, there are some helpful options to consider: Ask a friend or family member to drive you to your doctor appointments Take a city bus, taxi, or other public transportation to get around Talk to your social worker for information about government-sponsored transportation for senior citizens or those who cannot get around easily While you’re at dialysis or with your support group, if you belong to one, talk to others with CKD about how they [...]

Traveling Tips for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:28-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Stress Management|Tags: |

The thought of travel may seem intimidating because of your dialysis schedule, but a little planning can make it easier. Ask your local dialysis center or your doctor’s office for help finding a dialysis center away from home. You or a loved one can also visit www.dialysisfinder.com or call 1-866-889-6019 toll free to speak with a dialysis placement specialist. If your dialysis is done at home, either with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, you may also want to consider contacting one of the services listed above, as traveling with the necessary supplies or finding space to do your dialysis may be difficult. Be sure [...]

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