Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle

New location for Seattle area CKD meeting: Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club

By Bill Peckham

If you're in the Seattle area on August 29th plan to attend the Renal Support Network's 2010 Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting at its new location:

Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club
3583 320th Street
Federal Way, WA 98023

The PLM is free for you and a guest to attend; please RSVP as soon as possible by filling out the form ( PDF link) and fax it to: (818) 244-9540

The Key Note this year is Dr. Connie Davis a University of Washington professor of medicine,the director of kidney care and transplantation services at UW Medical Center and both co-director and medical director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at UWMC. Dr. Davis is a great resource for anyone with CKD particularly if they're considering a transplant.

As always the agenda is subject to change:

Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting
Agenda

•  9:45      Registration, Brunch, Visit the Exhibits and Silent Auction 
                (to benefit RSN)

• 10:45     Welcome, Introduction and Door Prizes        
  
  • Bonnie Markuson, kidney patient
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient

• 11:00     Keeping Fit with CKD and the Benefits of an Early 
               Transplant
  • Connie Davis, MD, UW Medical Center, Division of Transplantation

• 12:00     Spicing Up Your Renal Diet
  
  • Maya West, Renal Dietitian, Northwest Kidney Centers

• 1:00       Understanding Your treatment Options and Planning Your 
                Course
  
  • Sandra Glenn, RN, BA, CNN

• 1:30       Going Rogue and Other travels with Dialysis
  
  • Bill Peckham, kidney patient

• 2:45       How Do I Ask for a Kidney?
  
  • David LeFevre, Kidney Donor

All that and a tasty buffet. And did I mention it was free!  

AND THERE IS A SILENT AUCTION. Organizer Bonnie Markuson writes in:

I have received a number of very generously donated items from local businesses and friends for the auction, including

• Seahawks Tickets
• a Hydra-Facial
• a Massage
• Beauty Product Gift Baskets
• Toys
• Gourmet Food Baskets 
• and more.  

If you're interested in bidding but are unable to attend send Bonnie an email: bmarkuson@comcast.net for information and to bid! All proceeds go to support the Renal Support Network.

It'll be a great event and an opportunity to hear me speak about travel - most recently the trip with NxStage down the Rogue and the first NxStage Freedom cruise last January, but also my 15 years of foreign hemodialysis travel experience. And if there is time a little about bundling.

Come see Rogue rafting pictures and video at Seattle area CKD meeting August 29 - register now!

By Bill Peckham

If you're in the Seattle area on August 29th plan to attend the Renal Support Network's 2010 Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting. I'll be speaking about travel - most recently the trip with NxStage down the Rogue and the first NxStage Freedom cruise last January, but also my 15 years of foreign hemodialysis travel experience. And if there is time a little about bundling.

The PLM is free for you and a guest to attend, please RSVP by August 20th. You can RSVP in two ways:

• Fill out the form ( PDF link) and fax it to: (818) 244-9540
• Register online at RSNhope.org

And I'm not the only speaker!

The Key Note this year is Dr. Connie Davis a University of Washington professor of medicine,the director of kidney care and transplantation services at UW Medical Center and both co-director and medical director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at UWMC. Dr. Davis is a great resource for anyone considering a transplant.

As always the agenda is subject to change:

Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting
Agenda

•  9:45      Registration, Brunch, Visit the Exhibits and Silent Auction (to benefit RSN)

• 10:45     Welcome, Introduction and Door Prizes       
  
  • Bonnie Markuson, kidney patient
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient

• 11:00     Keeping Fit with CKD and the Benefits of an Early Transplant
  • Connie Davis, MD, UW Medical Center, Division of Transplantation

• 12:00     Spicing Up Your Renal Diet
  
  • Maya West, Renal Dietitian, Northwest Kidney Centers

• 1:00       Understanding Your treatment Options and Planning Your Course
  
  • Sandra Glenn, RN, BA, CNN

• 1:30       Going Rogue and Other travels with Dialysis
  
  • Bill Peckham, kidney patient

• 2:45       How Do I Ask for a Kidney?
  
  • David LeFevre, Kidney Donor

All that and a tasty buffet. And did I mention it was free!

Seattle area CKD meeting October 17 - register now - it's FREE

By Bill Peckham

We're having a meeting here in Seattle on October 17 (PDF file). This is a Renal Support Network (RSN) Patient Lifestyle Meeting (PLM):

For the past several years, RSN has hosted free patient lifestyle meetings across United States, attended by people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their family members.

At these meetings, healthcare professionals and renal patients—on dialysis or with a kidney transplant—speak on life-enhancement and illness-related issues relevant to living a fulfilling life despite renal disease.

Any illness—and particularly CKD—is too demanding when you don’t have hope. If people with CKD do not believe they have a future, then the demands placed upon them by dialysis or by the immunosuppressant regimen will prove overwhelming. The goal of the patient lifestyle meeting series is to let patients know that their kidney problems are just that... problems that can be overcome with hope, an eye toward the future, a working knowledge of their disease, and a touch of common sense.

Patients are treated to a renal-friendly lunch or brunch and refreshments, and raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day. During the scheduled breaks, attendees are encouraged to visit information stations located throughout the venue where they can speak with experts on topics such as cooking renal-friendly foods, making traveling easier, re-entering the workforce, taking charge of one’s own health, and honing one’s skills as a caregiver.

Space is limited so you need to preregister to attend. Go online to preregister or print, fill out and fax the form (click image for larger version) to (818) 244-9540.

The agenda features Dr. Chris Blagg, emeritus director of the Northwest Kidney Centers who will speak about the journey chronic kidney disease has made from the first dialysis treatment nearly 50 years ago in Seattle through the challenges and opportunities of today. Dr. Blagg presents the history of CKD to conferences throughout the world and has been recognized for promoting home dialysis, as well as for developing public policy for renal disease treatment and kidney transplantation.

As always the agenda is subject to change:

Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting
Agenda

• 10:00       Registration, Brunch, Visit the Exhibits

• 11:00       Introduction, RSN Overview       
  
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient
  • Bill Peckham, kidney patient dialyzor and blogger

• 11:15       History of CKD and Seattle 
  • Chris Blagg, MD

• 12:15       Home Dialysis:  There’s no Place Like Home
  • Sandra Glenn, RN, BA, CNN

• 12:45       Make Yourself a Perfect 10
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient

• 1:30        Break, Raffle, Visit with Exhibitors

• 1:45        Importance of Blood Pressure
  • Leanna B. Tyshler, MD

• 2:30        Self Care – Cannulation
  • Lynda Ball, MSN, RN, CNN

• 3:00        The Transplant Experience
  • George Murray

• 3:30        Latest Issues in Health Care Reform
  
  • Bill Peckham, DSEN

• 3:45          Raffle, Evaluations, Adjourn

It will be a fun and informative meeting, be sure to REGISTER BY OCTOBER 9TH!

You can bet we'd love to have your volunteer help if you're interested in staffing registration or other day of event jobs. On your registration form indicate your willingness to volunteer or drop me an email/write a comment. I hope to see you there.

Seattle August 17th Renal Support Network Patient Lifestyle Meeting Agenda

The current agenda for the Renal Support Network Patient Lifestyle meeting features 2006 Haviland Award winner Dr. Suhail Ahmad, who literally wrote the book when it comes to dialysis and Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb who has just arrived in Seattle to head the new Kidney Research Institute. The meeting is Sunday August 17th.

Seattle Patient Lifestyle Meeting
Agenda

• 10:00        Registration, Brunch, Visit the Exhibits

• 11:00        Introduction, RSN Overview       
  
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient
  • Bill Peckham, kidney patient dialyzor

• 11:15        Protecting Your Kidneys - Living Longer and Healthier
                  in the Face of Kidney Disease
  • Suhail Ahmad, MD

• 12:15        Home Dialysis: Back to the Future
  • Sandra Glenn, RN, BA, CNN

• 12:45        Kidney Survivor: Lessons Learned from Experience
  • Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient

• 1:30          Break, Raffle

• 1:45          Kidney Research—Today and Tomorrow
  • Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD

• 2:30          Disaster Preparedness
  • Sharon A. Badger, RN
  • Aaron Herold, LICSW

• 3:00          Living Well and Long—Patient Panel
  • Moderator: Sharon Pahlka, CLC, kidney patient

• 3:45          Raffle, Evaluations, Adjourn

It will be a fun and informative meeting, be sure to REGISTER BY AUG 8!

Registration online is quick and simple (or download the PLM_Seattle_Flyer.pdf). We'd love to have your volunteer help if you're interested in staffing registration or other day of event jobs. On your registration form indicate your willingness to volunteer or drop me an email or write a comment. I hope to see you there.

 

A Seattle area meeting for those with CKD

We're having a meeting here in Seattle on August 17th (download PLM_Seattle_Flyer.pdf). This is a Renal Support Network (RSN) Patient Lifestyle Meeting (PLM):

For the past several years, RSN has hosted free patient lifestyle meetings across United States, attended by people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their family members.

At these meetings, healthcare professionals and renal patients—on dialysis or with a kidney transplant—speak on life-enhancement and illness-related issues relevant to living a fulfilling life despite renal disease.

Any illness—and particularly CKD—is too demanding when you don’t have hope. If people with CKD do not believe they have a future, then the demands placed upon them by dialysis or by the immunosuppressant regimen will prove overwhelming. The goal of the patient lifestyle meeting series is to let patients know that their kidney problems are just that... problems that can be overcome with hope, an eye toward the future, a working knowledge of their disease, and a touch of common sense.

Patients are treated to a renal-friendly lunch or brunch and refreshments, and raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day. During the scheduled breaks, attendees are encouraged to visit information stations located throughout the venue where they can speak with experts on topics such as cooking renal-friendly foods, making traveling easier, re-entering the workforce, taking charge of one’s own health, and honing one’s skills as a caregiver.

Representatives from companies and associations involved in renal care will provide updates on the latest equipment, pharmaceuticals, and patient resources.

I've been involved in a number of education efforts over the years. This is my first time helping with an RSN PLM. Sharon Pahlka has done the lion's share of the organizing, she's a PEPP speaker and will be giving one of the presentations at the event. I'll go over the meeting agenda in my next post - download the flier or click and print the picture for registration information and be sure to REGISTER BY AUG 8!

Registration online is quick and simple. We'd love to have your volunteer help if you're interested in staffing registration or other day of event jobs. On your registration form indicate your willingness to volunteer or drop me an email or comment. I hope to see you there.