Archive for the ‘Patient Advocate’ Category
Friday, December 16, 2016 | By arlene | No Comments
Should Dialysis Workers Be Banned From Having Patients as Friends on facebook?
Health care workers at a Dialysis Center were told to remove dialysis patients from their friend’s list on facebook. It appears the center wants to hamper Dialysis Patients and care givers from forming relationship where they might discuss common concerns.
After the large non-profit corporations took over, the patient to dialysis technicians ratios were increased to levels that no longer afforded time for technicians to form a bond with their patients. Those bonds helped patients feel they and the care giver were a team working together for the patients benefit. Present work loads at the major for-profits barely allow time to prepare for the next patient, let alone get to know the patient.
Monday, October 31, 2016 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Chili Most 
is a respected musician and creator of socially conscious music. His music will be featured in an upcoming movie “Stop The Violence/N Love With Love” He is one of the leaders of the Stop The Violence movement and an ordained minister. He is the host of the radio show “The Chili Most Show” weekdays and the host of a Sunday show on WVFG 107.5 FM in Union Town, Alabama. He is author of “The Queen Mother of Watts” the story of Dr. Sweet Alice Harris who has been an invited advisor and guest at The White House by several President’s. Chili’s music is available on I-Tunes.
Monday, October 31, 2016 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Cassia Hill 
is a CCHT certified dialysis technician, entrepreneur, and author of 2 bestselling books in nephrology, and self-help. She is currently studying to gain a degree in Criminal Justice. Her books “Expert Tips On Becoming a Dialysis Technician” and “The Wisdom Secret Diary of a Dialysis Technician” give inspiration and advice to dialysis caregivers.
Cassia has her own blog http://dialysistechniciansworldwide.blogspot.com/ where dialysis technicians can go for support and answers.
Monday, October 31, 2016 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Lisa Baxter 
is a Dialysis Patient and author of “Through the Eyes of a Dialysis Patient” a book on her experiences as a patient. She is President and founder of Blessed Kidneys Connection which she founded in 2010. Lisa has her own Youtube channel dealing with Dialysis issues. She graduated with a Associates Degree from Empire State College. She works in the Social Service Field and loves to work with people. She is an advocate for anyone needing help. In 1995 she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease and went on dialysis in 2004. Lisa decided to become an advocate for patients and family members. She produced a DVD “Life on Dialysis” in 2009 her story on dialysis.
Friday, September 30, 2016 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Marie A. DeFrancesco-Loukas, is a RN, MSN, CRNP, CRNA Marie joins our Board with over 22 years of experience as a healthcare professional. 
She began her career in Pediatrics and took care of children with renal disease at Mt. Sinai in New York. Her duties included caring for inpatient dialysis patients. At Columbia-Presbyterian Marie worked in the Pediatric ICU and cared for critically-ill children in acute and chronic Renal Failure and was a Prisma (CVVHD) instructor; which is a continuous form of dialysis. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Wagner College, Master of Science from Wagner College as a Family NP, Post-Master’s from Stonybook as a Pediatric NP, Post-Master’s Continue reading “Marie A. DeFrancesco-Loukas Appointed Director of Public Relations and Patient Education” »
Saturday, May 7, 2016 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Several recent studies and papers point to problems in the much heralded CMS/Medicare 5 Star rating system which is meant to rate the quality of patient care and overall clinic standing using a Star Rating System with ratings from 1 to 5 stars. Articles written by Medical Staff, Administrators point to this system being generally ineffective in giving real, workable numbers. The results are used by CMS in determining payments for care and are suppose to allow patients to rate overall care at their clinic using Dialysis Facility Compare.
The problem is that it only takes few wrongly or under or overstated figures to skew the results making them fairly unusable.
Additional stars in the rating system for dialysis facilities may not reflect increases in quality of care, according to an analysis presented at the National Kidney Foundation 2016 Spring Clinical Meetings
A concern of patients and those advocating for them is that clinics may feel pressure to rid themselves of those patient who are lowering their star rating.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 | By William Tinker | No Comments
A recent article at the website Futurism.com shed light on the progress toward an Artificial Kidney for those suffering kidney failure and presently undergoing traditional kidney dialysis.
Taken from Futurism article: Now, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco and Vanderbilt University have developed a prototype device that mimics the function of a human kidney. Amazingly, using a silicon nanofilter to remove toxins, salts, some small molecules, and water from the blood, the device, which is only the size of a cup, is designed to function without a pump or electrical power. It solely works on blood pressure.
For the whole story go to: http://futurism.com/links/goodbye-dialysis-nanotechnology-used-to-make-artificial-kidney/
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 | By William Tinker | No Comments
John Rider will discuss how patients can empower themselves and take charge of their own treatment. His insight will help listeners and callers process the difficulties faced by Dialysis Patients and their family. He presently works with Out Patients at High Point Treatment Center in Brockton, Boston.
John is a past National Advocate for the Committee of Ten Thousand which deals with the hemophilia community, living with HIV/AIDS and HCV. He helped get national legislation passed and supported litigants in a national class lawsuit.
Show will be on Thursday March 26 at 9:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 Central and 6:00 PM Pacific
You can listen on line at: blogtalkradio.com/dialysisadvocates or call into the show no earlier than 10 minutes before airtime at: 347-857-3961
Dialysis Talk is supported by Dialysis Advocates dialysisadvocates.com
Sunday, March 15, 2015 | By William Tinker | No Comments
Dr. Robert A. Bear, is the author of “Sorrow’s Reward” -interrelated tales from a fictional dialysis unit. While fictional, the stories are too close to the real day to day, lives of patients, Doctors and families. Dr. Bear, author of over 150 medical articles will discuss his reasons for these compelling stories told through the eyes and thoughts of his fictional characters.
After many years in Nephrology as a Physician, Educator and Administrator he began to have questions about how Dialysis Care has evolved. Now that many clinics are run by large “For Profit” companies; are the patients, nursing staff and Doctors better off? What can and should be done to improve dialysis care. What are the responsibilities of patients in their care?
This book is a must read for anyone involved with Dialysis from Doctors, Technicians, Counselors, Patient and their families.
Show is on live Thursday March 19, at 9:00 Eastern, 8:00 Central and 6:00 Pacific.
Listen live on line at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dialysisadvocates/2015/03/20/lessening-the-suffering-of-dialysis-patients-through-engagement
Call in at: (347) 857-3961 Thursday March 19,2015.
Monday, February 9, 2015 | By William Tinker | No Comments
John Rider will discuss how patients can empower themselves and take charge of their own treatment. His insight will help listeners and callers process the difficulties faced by Dialysis Patients and their family. He presently works with Out Patients at High Point Treatment Center in Brockton, Boston.
John is a past National Advocate for the Committee of Ten Thousand which deals with the hemophilia community, living with HIV/AIDS and HCV. He helped get national legislation passed and supported litigants in a national class lawsuit.
Show will be on Thursday February 11 at 9:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 Central and 6:00 PM Pacific
You can listen on line at: http://tobtr.com/s/7340373 or call into the show no earlier than 10 minutes before airtime at: 347-857-3961
Dialysis Talk is supported by http://dialysisadvocates.com
