By Bill Peckham
The Northwest Kidney Centers has endorsed the Every Other Day Dialysis petition. The Quality Committee of the Board of Trustees considered the petition and voted their support. In endorsing the petition NKC points to:
“Studies show that those who dialyze more frequently feel better and live longer,” says Northwest Kidney Centers President and CEO Joyce F. Jackson. “We believe those with kidney failure should be able to lead the most productive and healthy lives possible; therefore, we support this petition.”
Improved quality requires additional time on dialysis. We've taken three day a week dialysis as far as it can go without getting to where we need to be. We have to break out of the three day a week straight jacket if we want to get beyond adequate. This petition is a first step.
That's great. Now some of the other dialysis organization need to step forward and support the first action in which ReanalWeb commented "the Congressional Kidney Caucus has never seen this large of a response from the CKD/ESRD community."
The Every Other Day Dialysis Petition is targeted and specific enough in tone to push the envelope toward more frequent dialysis. We believe the new floor should be every other day and not thrice weekly for in-center dialyzors. What's so hard to understand about that.
And, it didn't take "K" Street lobbyists; it came directly from Main St. It represents the Change many people voted for. So let's stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Let's keep the petition alive.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | March 27, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Great article.....your site is quite informative
Posted by: Blend | March 28, 2009 at 12:17 AM
Let us now see, and hope, that other providers follow the footsteps of Northwest Kidney Centers.
Roberta Mikles, RN, Director, Health Care Patient Advocates (advocates striving for quality safe care for all patients in all health care settings)
Posted by: Roberta Mikles | March 29, 2009 at 02:08 PM