The Dialysis Five Star Program is a new, forced ranking rating system developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency of the Federal government that oversees providers of dialysis services.

Daily home hemodialysis requires the patient to have a partner to ensure safety and supportive care. The role of the partner is very important in the success for the patient. This is why the first evaluation for treatment approval requires that the partner be interviewed.

Anyone who has been to the doctor or admitted to a hospital has been asked the question “do you have an advance directive?” It is a patient’s right to know about and have advance directives, including a Living Will or Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions (POA).

Did you know that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a quality improvement program in place—known as the End Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP)—that measures how well dialysis facilities provide care?

As a result of an autoimmune disease, I’ve had Chronic Kidney Disease since I was in my 20’s. Suddenly in my 60’s, I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease-what a shock! There was minimal education from medical personnel, nor was I directed to any patient support groups. What a blessing it was when I found AAKP.

Get Ready Now! Daily routines can be disrupted with little or no warning by a catastrophic event, such as an earthquake, tornado, hurricane or flood. Help might not always be available, so emergency preparedness is key.

What is phosphorus? Phosphorus is a mineral that works with other nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, to help build strong bones. Phosphorus is in almost everything you eat, including dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and peanuts.

It’s no secret any chronic illness can take a toll on the body, but what about your mental wellbeing? Dialysis is exhausting both physically and mentally. For the last 26 years, I’ve been battling to stay sane.

Dialysis, a substitute for kidney function, removes toxins and fluids from the body. During hemodialysis blood is removed from the body and spread through a man-made dialysis filter. The filter removes toxins and fluid from the blood, and then returns the blood back to the body. Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

The best diet pattern for managing chronic kidney disease(CKD)isnotknown. A major challenge is thatdietaryneedschangewiththeprogressionof the disease. IntheearlystagesofCKD,choosing a healthy diet pattern will help to reduce the risk of chronic disease and manage other health conditions.