Editor's note: While CMS does seem
to be acknowledging that ESA overuse has been a
significant cause of morbidity and mortality, it
is disappointing that CMS continues to target biochemical
markers instead of life outcomes. Few realize it,
but the two outcomes they are still targeting with
URR are "not dead and not in the hospital."
If patients aren't getting enough dialysis to feel
well enough to live productive and meaningful lives,
the federal ESRD program will continue to be a factory
for debilitation and disability.
There is a growing hypocrisy in the dialysis industry
in that the CEOs and nephrologists of the major
corporations would want much more dialysis therapy
for themselves (double or more!)
than their average patient receives.
Editor's note: I believe the fact
sheet should also state that you can likely reduce
the amount of ESAs you will require if you receive
longer and more frequent hemodialysis treatments.
Editor's Note: Why shouldn't there
be a U.S. Dialyzors' Games every year, too? With
longer and more frequent dialysis treatments at
night, it should be completely normal for dialysis
patients to participate in these activities.
Editor's note: I had the privilege
of being on this spectacularly successful trip.
Kudos to Bill and Dan for their leadership and for
sharing their experiences and beliefs, along with
demonstrating what can be done and what should be
normal for people on dialysis. They both spoke of
how activities like this are only possible with
longer and more frequent dialysis treatments than
the standard 3-times-a-week therapy (URR=65%) that
most patients receive.
"Serum albumin improved among the NHD group
(0.7 g/L) and declined for the conventional group
(-1.6 g/L). None of the between group differences
achieved statistical significance."
HHS
Announces Thursday Call on EHR Rules The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services and Office of the National Coordinator will host
a July 22 "audio training"
session on the final rules for "meaningful use"
and certification of electronic health records under the Medicare
and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.
Health
Reform's Newest Target: Pets
Article from the Contra Costa Times.
Pet owners are offered a sophisticated menu of potentially
lifesaving services, including kidney dialysis.
"These findings emphasize the important role
sleep plays in the health of Americans, and indicate
that sleep may have a larger influence on these
chronic diseases than diet or exercise."
"...the level of urinary protein excretion
is independently and significantly associated with
left ventricular mass in patients with CKD. This
relationship was independent of blood pressure.
This finding provides a novel link between CKD and
increased cardiovascular risk."
In 2007, an FDA advisory panel voted 22-1 to permit
Avandia to remain on the market. Arthur Levin of
the Center for Medical Consumers was the lone no
vote. Story from GoozNews.
Editor's note: We now have 40 years
of long-term dialysis care experience. Renal rehabilitation,
which should be a source of great pride for nephrologists
and an inspiration to the general public, unfortunately
is not even mentioned.
"(Clinical Coordinating Nurse Monica) Broadstreet
said that in 11 years at DaVita she had never
seen a patient celebrate 15 years of treatment.
She said one reason Morales has prevailed may
be his positive attitude."
