Fresenius Medical Care Salutes Patients Who Prioritize Fitness and Health - Press release. - January 19, 2012
Editor's note: 40 years after the start of the federal dialysis program, this is where the largest dialysis provider is at in terms of patient quality of life — encouraging exercise and a good diet. No mention of patient employment. No mention of rehabilitation programs.
Is this what taxpayers deserve after spending hundreds of billions of dollars over the last 40 years?

The Correlation of Antidepressive Agents and the Mortality of End-Stage Renal Disease: a Health Insurance Research Database Study in Taiwan - Accepted Article abstract from Nephrology. - January 19, 2012

Enhancing Cognition in Older Adults Also Changes Personality - January 18, 2012

"Southern Food" Chef Paula Deen Hid Diabetes, Pushed High-Fat Food - Article from AP. - January 17, 2012

New Jersey Parents Say Mentally Disabled Girl, Three, Denied Kidney Transplant; Experts Say Situation Is Complex - Articles from The Washington Post and AP. Blog posting from BioEdge. - January 17, 2012
Also see: 15,000 Demand Transplant for Mentally Delayed Child

Xerostomia (dry mouth) in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis - Advance Online abstract from Nature Reviews Nephrology. - January 17, 2012

Jack Black Skips Golden Globes and Reigns at 13th Annual Renal Teen Prom ? - Article from Patch.com. Video from KARE. - January 16, 2012

'Team Amelia' Backs Kidney Transplant for Special Needs Child - Article from USA Today. - January 16, 2012

A Washington State Patient Writes about Dialysis: It's a Really Bad Part-Time Job - January 16, 2012

Renal Support Network's Annual Renal Teen Prom is Jan. 15

Quality of Life and Protein Energy Wasting in Kidney Transplant Recipients - Online First Abstract from International Urology and Nephrology - January 14, 2012

Data: Hospice Programs Grow in Popularity - Article from Hospitals & Health Networks. - January 13, 2012

Kidney Dysfunction and Cognitive Decline in Women - CJASN Express Abstract - January 2012

Jack Black To Attend Renal Teen Prom - January 12, 2012

Depression in Dialysis Patients and Its Association with Nutritional Markers and Quality of Life - Articles in Press Abstract from Journal of Nephrology - January 11, 2012

Combine Diabetes, Depression Care for Best Results - Article from MedPage Today. - January 10, 2012

Los Angeles Area Teens With Kidney Problems Getting A Dream Prom - Video from CBS Los Angeles. - January 10, 2012

Evening Option for Dialysis Patients (in Malta) - Article from the Times of Malta. - January 9, 2012
"Called the “twilight shift”, the evening session started being offered earlier this month between 8 p.m. and midnight at Mater Dei Hospital’s Renal Unit – allowing patients to get on with their daily lives."

On Our Own: Why We Who Struggle To Live With Diabetes Could Use A Helping Hand - Full-text article from Health Affairs. - January 2012
A woman with diabetes points out the shortcomings of a system that blames people with the disease—rather than taking steps to prevent diabetes, diagnose it earlier, and support the best care.

NKF of Singapore Launches First Major Public Fundraising Campaign in Six Years - Article from Channel News Asia. - January 7, 2012

The Story Behind Nick Cannon's 'Mild' Kidney Failure - January 5, 2012

Zinc Sulfate for Relief of Pruritus in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis - Early View Abstract from Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis - January 5, 2012

Ironman Shad Ireland: An Iron Will - KidneyTalk podcast from Renal Support Network. - January 4, 2012

Book Review: Keep Dancing: Life May Not Be the Party We Hoped For, But... by Rosie Giesie - Posting from the Seattle Post Intelligencer. - January 2, 2012

The Elderly React Slowly Because They Want To Be Right - December 31, 2011

Clinical Performance Targets and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients - Issue-in-Progress abstract from Blood Purification. MUST READ!! - December 30, 2011
"Patients value health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over survival."
"Conclusion: Attainment with widely accepted clinical performance targets was not related to the HRQOL of hemodialysis patients. Hence, in clinical guidelines, HRQOL should be adopted as an explicit treatment goal for these individuals."
Editor's note: Isn't it amazing that 40 years after the start of the federal dialysis program, nephrologists and CMS haven't figured out what is important to patients. It seems that nephrologists' specialized knowledge is incongruous with significantly improving HRQOL for dialysis patients.
Nephrologists receive no training in improving HRQOL, renal rehabilitation, or the importance of maintaining patient employment. It is time to admit that If we are going to significantly improve dialysis patients' lives and their treatment regimens, nephrologists can neither lead this movement nor lead the involved care teams.
We have picked the wrong head coaches with the wrong goals and the wrong strategies. What do you do when a team doesn't improve after many years of having the same highly paid coach? If we had kept patient employment and rehabilitation as goals over the last forty years, this paper would likely have never been written.
Press releases from large corporations often tout that they provide excellent "patient-centered care" by attaining the best results for clinical performance targets. This should end that stance, hopefully once and for all.

Prevalence and Correlates of Erectile Dysfunction in Men on Chronic Hemodialysis: a Multinational Cross-Sectional Study - Advance Access Abstract from NDT - December 29, 2011

Elderly Who Eat Better Stay Mentally Sharp: Study - December 28, 2011

Increased Presence of Cognitive Impairment in Hemodialysis Patients in the Absence of Neurological Events - Issue-in-Progress abstract from American Journal of Nephrology. - December 28, 2011
Editor's note: The authors state that the patients were "well dialyzed." As with so many studies based on "adequate" dialysis, you have to wonder what the results would have been if the patients had received longer and/or more frequent treatments. Many patients speak of a mental fog lifting when they received more therapy.
If patient employment and rehabilitation were overriding goals of renal replacement therapy, we would have hundreds of studies on how to improve cognitive function in CKD5.

Diet, Nutrient Levels Linked to Cognitive Ability, Brain Shrinkage - Press release from Oregon State University. Article from AFP. - December 28, 2011
Editor's note: Effect of the renal diet?

Racial Disparities Seem to Persist in Depression Diagnosis - Article from HealthDay. - December 27, 2011
"Older black Americans less likely to receive diagnosis than white peers, study finds."

Simi Valley (CA) Women Featured in Kidney Series Dies - Article from Ventura County Star. - December 24, 2011

RENAL CAREPARTNERS Expands Services in Georgia - December 23, 2011

Virginia Dialysis Patient Evicted From Home Over Mom’s Drug Arrest - Article from The Huffington Post. - December 22, 2011

Antidepressant, Talk Therapy Fail To Beat Placebo - December 21, 2011

Engaging Patients in Care Design - Video from Hospital & Health Networks. - December 21, 2011

Cognitive Function and the Risk of Death in Chronic Kidney Disease - Issue-in-Progress Abstract from American Journal of Nephrology - December 21, 2011

Systematic Review of the Impact of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents on Fatigue in Dialysis Patients - Advance Access Abstract from NDT - December 20, 2011

AAKP HealthLine Program Conference Call Scheduled for Jan. 25th - December 19, 2011

Pharmacist Fired After Giving Notice of Kidney Transplant Surgery - Article from Job Mouse. - December 19, 2011

Baxter Responds to Patient Needs in Aftermath of Thailand Floods - December 15, 2011

Optimizing Life With a Chronic Health Problem (Kidney Disease) - Press release from Diabetes Health. - December 14, 2011
Editor's note: In terms of goals for dialysis care, I like the phrase "optimizing life" better than "optimal dialysis."

Having the Palliative Care Talk - Article from Hospitals & Health Networks. - December 14, 2011

Nocturnal Leg Cramps and Prescription Use That Precedes Them - Online First abstract from Archives of Internal Medicine. - December 12, 2011

UK Dialysis Patient Gives Birth to Healthy Baby Girl after Daily Dialysis - Article from Liverpool Echo. - December 10, 2011

Depression, Disability Can Follow ICU Care: Study - December 9, 2011

Engaging Patients in Care Design - Video from Hospital & Health Networks

Health Platform for Kidney Disease web site by Shad Ireland Foundation

Communications from the Heart web site by Lori Hartwell