RSN KidneyTalk re Boundaries

In Blurred Lines: Keeping Safe Boundaries at a Dialysis Clinic, Lori and Network 18 Patient Services Director Eileen Rhodes discuss the problems that can arise when patients and staff become friends.  Find this recorded podcast at https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/blurred-lines-keeping-safe-boundaries-at-a-dialysis-clinic/.

Previous podcasts can be found at https://www.rsnhope.org/, along with information about the Renal Support Network’s Annual Teen Prom, Annual Essay Contest, Monthly Support Group Meetings, Public Speaking Training, KidneyTalk Magazine, HOPEline Peer Support Hotline, KidneyTalk Blog, Renal Recipes, and the many other services RSN provides for ESRD patients.

4/25 NKF Patient Lifestyle Workshop in Seattle

NKF and Swedish Medical Center will present an April 25, 2020 four-hour workshop on Lifestyle & Kidney Health: Diet, Exercise, Weight Loss and Beyond.  Topics will include nutrition, diabetes, blood pressure, fitness, and transplant preparation.  Lunch will be provided.  See below for full details:

Transitional Care for Urgent Starts in Dialysis

Home Dialysis Central has published a blog post on Traditional Dialysis vs. Transitional Care for Urgent Starts.  Transitional Care for Urgent Starts (TCU) provides a gentler and more supportive introduction to dialysis for people whose kidneys fail with little warning, helping them get past the shock of a “sudden” change of just about everything in their life, and helping them make informed decisions about treatment modality.  Of course kidneys don’t fail suddenly, but sometimes it seems that way to the person whose kidneys have failed.  Find the post at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/330-traditional-dialysis-vs-transitional-care-for-urgent-starts.

NW18 8/9 POLST Survey

The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California is conducting a survey to better understand the level of interest and engagement in a state-wide electronic Registry of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST).  POLST is a form that gives seriously-ill patients more control over their end-of-life care, including medical treatment, extraordinary measures (such as a ventilator or feeding tube) and CPR.  Printed on bright pink paper, and signed by both a patient and physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, POLST can prevent unwanted or ineffective treatments, reduce patient and family suffering, and ensure that a patient’s wishes are honored.  Since it’s designed to be readily available to all healthcare practitioners in any setting or circumstance, electronic availability would promote its purpose.  For more information and a sample of the California form, see https://capolst.org/.  Take the survey, if possible before August 9, 2019, at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3XC2PGX.

Online English/Spanish Treatment Options Tool

My Life, My Dialysis Choice is a free English/Spanish, values-based dialysis treatment matcher developed by the non-profit MEI and endorsed by AAKP and Home Dialyzors United.  You enter your lifestyle preferences, and My Life, My Dialysis Choice suggests treatment options most appropriate for you.  The tool is written at a 5th grade reading level and includes ALL types of dialysis.  Find My Life, My Dialysis Choice at https://mydialysischoice.org/.  It may load in either English or Spanish, but you can switch by clicking on the “English” or “Español” button in the upper left corner of the screen.

New Tools in Depression Toolkit

The Forum of ESRD Networks has added a recording and slides from their October 4, 2018 live webinar on Depression & Dialysis: Removing the Stigma and Strengthening our Mental Health.  The event was hosted by patient leaders from the the Forum in collaboration with AAKP and NKF.  Find these resources, plus ancillary tools, at http://esrdnetworks.org/education/quality-conference/quality-conference-webinar-series-2018-2019.

Depression Toolkit Revised

The National Forum of ESRD Networks has revised the Dialysis Patient Depression Toolkit and added a video.  Find the revised English version at http://esrdnetworks.org/resources/toolkits/patient-toolkits/new-toolkit-dialysis-patient-depression-toolkit/dialysis-patient-depression-toolkit-english and a Spanish version at http://esrdnetworks.org/resources/toolkits/patient-toolkits/new-toolkit-dialysis-patient-depression-toolkit/dialysis-patient-depression-toolkit-spanish.  A related video interview with a dialysis patient has also been recorded.  Find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Iv6JytQt4.