7/27 AKF Laughter Webinar

The American Kidney Fund will present a free 27 July, 2017 webinar on Laughter Therapy in Dialysis: Exercise, Activity, and Wellness.  The webinar will cover recent research exploring laughter therapy during dialysis and provide demonstrations and recommendations on how to introduce laughter therapy into a dialysis or CKD treatment program.  Laughter therapy consists of breathing and stretching exercises followed by intentional laughter exercises and laughter meditation.  It is a safe, low-intensity form of physical activity during dialysis that has potential to reduce chronic pain and depression.  While the webinar is aimed toward dialysis patients and their families, health professionals are encouraged to attend to learn more about integrating laughter therapy into a dialysis center or practice.  For more information and registration, and access to recordings of past AKF webinars, see http://www.kidneyfund.org/training/webinars/ .

7/18 NW18 Quality Conference

The HealthInsight ESRD Network 18 Quality Conference 2017 will be held in Los Angeles on July 18, 2017.  Onsite parking, continental breakfast, and lunch are all included in the $25 registration fee.  All Dialysis staff are invited – PCTs, RNs, SWs, dietitians, nephrologists, management, regional staff, support staff, and more will all benefit.  Main Topics include palliative care and advance care planning, violence prevention and de-escalation techniques, Alzheimer’s and dementia, emergency planning and preparedness, infection control, self care, and community resources.  Two CEs will be available to RNs and SWs.  Find full details and register at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gfuz7mxab&oeidk=a07ee8xffqt1c2df4c8&oseq= .

7/18 NW18 Quality Conference

The HealthInsight ESRD Network 18 Quality Conferene 2017 will be held in Los Angeles on July 18, 2017.  Onsite parking, continental breakfast, and lunch are all included in the $25 registration fee.  All Dialysis staff are invited – PCTs, RNs, SWs, dietitians, nephrologists, management, regional staff, support staff, and more will all benefit.  Main Topics include palliative care and advance care planning, violence prevention and de-escalation techniques, Alzheimer’s and dementia, emergency planning and preparedness, infection control, self care, and community resources.  Two CEs will be available to RNs and SWs.  Find full details and register at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gfuz7mxab&oeidk=a07ee8xffqt1c2df4c8&oseq= .

5/11 Depression Webinar

The DPC Education Center and the American Psychological Association will present a May 11, 2017 webinar for patients on Depression & Kidney Disease: Coping with a Long-Term Illness.  For details see https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/Depression0517.pdf .

1/30 Grief and Music

The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California will co-sponsor a free webinar titled The Transforming Power of Music, with Olivia Newton-John and Friends on January 30, 2017.  Loss and grief occur for many reasons — whether it’s caring for a seriously ill patient, or losing a loved one, a relationship, one’s health, a pet, or a job.  It’s important to remember that each person’s grief is as individual as his or her DNA – and there truly is no timeline for healing from loss.  With the fast-paced society we live in, we are often forced to “get over things.”  However, grief has its own clock.  For details and registration see https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5001456673658620163 .

NKF PERC Education for Professionals

NKF offers a number of webinars under their Professional Education Resource Center or PERC, many of which offer free continuing education credits for multiple disciplines.  Some examples:

• Social Work Collaboration for Transplant Patients
• Evidence-Based Social Work
• Anemia and Cardiovascular Disease
• Nephropathic Cystinosis 
• Western Diets: Are We Killing Our Patients?
• Ethical Issues When Family Interferes with Transplant
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Cardiometabolic Diseases
• Hyperkalemia
• Living Kidney Donations
• Early Detection and Prevention
• Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
• Hepatitis C
• Mineral and Bone Disorder
• Water
• Minorities, Transplant, and Home Dialysis
• ESRD Core Survey
• Polypharmacy
• Albumin
• Depression and Pain
• Nephrotic Syndrome
• Lipid Management
• Journal of Renal Nutrition articles

See http://education.kidney.org/courses for information and registration.

SC 11/16 CNSW Workshop

The CNSW Greater Los Angeles Chapter will present their Semi-Annual Workshop in Burbank November 16, 2016.  Topics will include PHQ & KDQOL surveys, Medi-Cal, and suicide.  Three CEUs will be available.  For details see https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/CNSW.LA.1116.FLYER.pdf , and register at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/CNSW.LA.1116.Reg.pdf .