KIDNEY CITIZEN Issue 11
The Kidney Citizen is a quarterly informational magazine that provides articles, Q & A’s, dedicated topic supplements, and patient profiles. You can download the latest issue on https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/the-kidney-citizen/ The Kidney Citizen is a quarterly informational magazine that provides articles, Q & A’s, dedicated topic supplements, and patient profiles. You can download the latest issue on https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/the-kidney-citizen/
Reflectionsfrom 45 Yearson DialysisBy Jack Reynolds,DPC Board MemberIhave survived on in-centerhemodialysis for the last 45 years. Ihave also received Medicare for allthose years to pay for most of my dialysisand other medical needs. I currently resideoutside the village of Palmyra, Iowa. Oneof the first group of Patient Ambassadorsto advocate in Washington, D.C. in 2005,I have visited Capitol Hill many timessince. Because of the cost, time and effortit takes to keep a kidney patient healthy,I feel that it is important to be aware ofissues and legislation that can impact ourchoices of treatment modalities, drugs ormedical insurances.Kidney replacement therapy. Those threewords are summed up in one word foralmost a half a million people in theUnited States. That word is dialysis, andmany kidney citizens undergo their kidneytherapy in an in-center clinic setting—typically three times a week for three tofour hours. For myself, this regimen oftreatment has been going on for morethan 45 years. When my kidneysfailed in 1974—due to complicationsfrom a crushed pelvis sufferedin childhood—there was onlyone hospital in Des Moines,Iowa that offered dialysis and noprivate clinics at all. Currently,the greater metro area ofDes Moines supports ninedialysis facilities with a patientpopulation of around 500.Changes6In the old days, even if the numberof facilities were the same,they would have had tooperate 24 hours a day
to make sure everyone got treatment dueto the fact that it took an hour or moreto reset, sterilize and string the dialysismachine for the next customer. Moderndialysis machines, along with high fluxdialyzers, allow patients to remove excessfluid and urea waste products with lessadverse side effects such as cramping andnausea. However, although patients tendto be healthier overall, treatment timeshave not decreased substantially.Dialysis citizens are more likely tolive somewhat longer now, and inmy opinion, have a lot more leewayin their adherence to the renal diet.Development and improvement of bothoral and intravenous drugs have made itpossible for patients to maintain higherhemoglobin values, ward off bone diseaseand improve their overall health whileliving with organ failure.Dialysis FacilitiesModern dialysis providers provideeducational materials on variousmodalities of dialysis, kidneytransplantation, diet, and even help insetting up dialysis appointments for tripsand vacations. Many people have foundthat doing dialysis at home has improvedtheir physical well-being and provideda more liberal diet, but the trade-off ishaving to dialyze much more frequently,although for less time per treatment.Problems with in-center dialysisfacilities include under-staffing as wellas nephrologists, dieticians and socialworkers who are responsible for multiplefacilities. Another issue that is oftenoverlooked is reliable transportation forkidney clients, many of whom requirewheelchairs or are otherwise handicapped.As I live in a small town outside of themetro area, I have been fortunate tobe able to drive myself to treatments.There is nothing like driving home in anIowa snowstorm after dialysis when I amusually quite fatigued!Keep LearningAs a long time kidney advocate and Boardmember of Dialysis Patient Citizens, Ihave found it helpful to look past theweekly grind of my kidney sessions andtake time to educate myself on issues andlegislation that can affect thousands ofkidney citizens. I find understanding theissues and advocating for more effectivepolicies to be helpful in combating thesolitude and frustration that can so oftenhamper the lives of people who requirethis lifesaving, but severely demandingtherapy. If I have learned anything,however, over these many years as adialysis citizen, it is that if you do not dodialysis well, then it is likely that you willnot do anything well. Stay healthy andkeep learning!7
- Page 1 and 2: issue number 11Reflectionsfrom 45 Y
- Page 3 and 4: Advancing CareCoordination forDialy
- Page 5: A First Step TowardIntegrated Care:
- Page 9 and 10: (or prescription drugs for unintend
- Page 11 and 12: Prasad agrees. That’s why both ch
- Page 13 and 14: By Gloria Rohrer,DPC Patient Ambass
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- Page 23 and 24: There are multiple injection therap
Reflections
from 45 Years
on Dialysis
By Jack Reynolds,
DPC Board Member
I
have survived on in-center
hemodialysis for the last 45 years. I
have also received Medicare for all
those years to pay for most of my dialysis
and other medical needs. I currently reside
outside the village of Palmyra, Iowa. One
of the first group of Patient Ambassadors
to advocate in Washington, D.C. in 2005,
I have visited Capitol Hill many times
since. Because of the cost, time and effort
it takes to keep a kidney patient healthy,
I feel that it is important to be aware of
issues and legislation that can impact our
choices of treatment modalities, drugs or
medical insurances.
Kidney replacement therapy. Those three
words are summed up in one word for
almost a half a million people in the
United States. That word is dialysis, and
many kidney citizens undergo their kidney
therapy in an in-center clinic setting—
typically three times a week for three to
four hours. For myself, this regimen of
treatment has been going on for more
than 45 years. When my kidneys
failed in 1974—due to complications
from a crushed pelvis suffered
in childhood—there was only
one hospital in Des Moines,
Iowa that offered dialysis and no
private clinics at all. Currently,
the greater metro area of
Des Moines supports nine
dialysis facilities with a patient
population of around 500.
Changes
6
In the old days, even if the number
of facilities were the same,
they would have had to
operate 24 hours a day
Change language