One of our very active educators was happy to share feedback following her first class:One of the patients went back to his physician later in the week and told him how much he “loved the class”.  This was a surprise since he this was a quiet gentleman who did not participate much during class.  His physician stated he talked about the “Kidney Class” for minutes.  This physician was not entirely enthusiastic when initially approached about the EMPOWER class. He wanted his “own” class for CKD training.  Now we have won the physician over and his patient too!

We are proud to announce that we have held over 20 classes across the country and have 80 more classes scheduled for the month of April!  Our educators and nephrologists are very happy for this newly structured chronic kidney disease (CKD) education program.  Educators are also reporting successful classes and are happy to have an opportunity to educate people early to help them preserve their kidney function, improve their quality of life and also help them to learn more about their choices, if their kidneys do fail.  If you have CKD and want to find out if these classes are happening in your area, please call 1-888-MyKidney (695-4363).

The interest in chronic kidney disease (CKD) education is off to a great start. We have held stage specific classes in many communities across the country. Patients are excited about our newest resource tool, the Health Diary. They are reporting that this will help guide them along in better managing their CKD, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure and diet. Patients feel encouraged because they are attending classes that are targeted at their specific CKD stage.

I am happy to announce that we are rolling out a new chronic kidney disease (CKD) education program in communities across the US in March and April. We want to help bring awareness to National Kidney Month and the epidemic of CKD.

Education is my passion, and I believe it is the tool that can help empower people to understand how to take better care of themselves, so they may lead healthier, happier lives.

If you have CKD, or someone you care about does, I encourage you to find a class in your area at DaVita.com/KEY/Schedule. I am so proud to have contributed to this world class education program!

We have just finished trainings across the country for this new chronic kidney disease (CKD) education program, brought to you by Kidney Education and You.

Our teammates are getting ready to empower people in their communities with CKD to take control of kidney disease and make healthy choices to improve their quality of life. We’re currently working on getting our full class list on our website so you can see if there is a class near you to come join.

If you or someone you care about, are interested in a class before I get the schedule updated, please call 1-888-My-Kidney.

In our Fall 2007 newsletter, we asked you to share about how the educational information in our quarterly newsletters has helped you to live healthy.

We received so many responses from people with chronic kidney disease all over the country. It was a difficult task to choose just one winning essay. After a long review process, the essay chosen that clearly defines the positive impact that our newsletter has had on her life is Barba McCarty.

Thank you to all who took the time to submit an essay and congratulations to Barba.

Here are a few quotes from other essays:

“Education a good doctor….have kept me healthy. The more I read and learn about my disease, the more questions I can ask my doctor.” – Walter, Des Moines, Iowa

“I really appreciate KEY for all of your helpful advice.” – Trudy, Rockford, Illinois

Here is the winning essay from Barba McCarty:

I have a liver transplant so I am constantly on guard concerning my kidney function. There is information in every issue of the KEY newsletter that teaches me how to guard my kidneys in some way.

It’s not uncommon for transplant patients of any organ to need a kidney transplant later, because the anti-rejection medications that must be taken to prevent loss of our graft have side effects. One of those side effects of the very medications that save our transplanted organ and keep us alive is that the medicines are hard on another important organ, our kidneys. I call those side effects — and the others — my trade off for living.

In my opinion one can never be too informed, so before and after my transplant I made it my first priority to educate myself about my liver disease, and later my transplant. Educating me just about my liver in itself is a full-time job.

Our bodies are like cars; when one thing goes wrong, if that one thing is not repaired, something connected to that not yet repaired part will also quit functioning. Occasionally, especially for the layman, in all that information we need reminders about what is connected to what. There is no way I can keep up with all the available information to all the connected parts in my body — doctors can’t even do that. That’s why there are specialists.

The KEY newsletter is my reminders along the way. It is especially good to find new information. I am educated or reminded of something important in every issue.

In the Fall 2007 issue of the KEY newsletter, in the article titled The Benefits of Vitamin D, for the first time I learned that Vitamin D is activated by the kidneys. I am already prescribed Vitamin D along with Boniva® because of osteopenia from steroids I have had prescribed in the past; however, I had not been told Vitamin D might help delay the progression of my CKD. Who knew? I’m sure my doctor knew but when she prescribed the Vitamin D she told me she wanted me take the Vitamin D daily along with my monthly Boniva. She explained in great detail that Boniva works best if taken with Calcium and Vitamin D. But there was no mention of the kidney connection.

Starting today, my Vitamin D is no longer an if-I-remember-to-take-it medication. It will be placed in my weekly pill minder along with the others I take daily.

Thank you KEY for assisting me with my trade off for living.

Congratulations and “thank you” Barba for your winning essay!