Resources for Patients & Social Workers

This page provides tools and resources to assist with providing care to dialysis patients. It contains important links with information to improve the quality of care given to patients.

Grievance Process

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Monthly Patients Education Flyers

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Managing Chronic Kidney Disease

LEARN MORE ABOUT MANAGING KIDNEY DISEASE

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CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Did you know that one in three Americans is at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 96 percent of those with CKD are unaware they have the condition? By watching TMF’s free short video (available in English and Spanish), viewers can learn how to improve their kidney health and lower their risk for CKD. The video is family and patient friendly and especially important for people over 65. TMF encourages sharing this video with Medicare beneficiaries, family, caregivers and educators. Viewers will be prompted to take a short assessment survey before the video. For questions or more information, contact TMF QIN-QIO at KidneyHealth@tmf.org.

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Renal Failure Zone Tool 

Kidney School – Life Options Rehabilitation Program (LORAC)

  • Kidney School will help you learn more about kidney disease, its treatment and ways to take an active role in your healthcare decision making.

Kidney Disease – National Kidney Foundation (NKF)

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Patient Videos – Inspirational Stories

ESRD Network of Texas Patient Advisory Committee would like to share their personal inspirational stories to all persons in the dialysis community. We hope you enjoy their videos and we will continue to present more patient stories for all patients, family members and caregivers.

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PODCAST

A Patient’s Story: How A Chronic Condition Led to Chronic Kidney Disease and How He Overcame It

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Information for Patients

BE INVOLVED! – AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ)

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Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center

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FLUID OVERLOAD PROJECT

Fluid Management Workbook

  • Fluid Management Patient Workbook Module 1 – English  – Spanish  – last updated 2/06/2019
  • Fluid Management Patient Workbook Module 2 – English – Spanish – last updated 2/06/2019

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MISSED TREATMENTS

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National Kidney Foundation – Patient Programs and Services

  • NKF Cares 
  • PEERS Lending Support: A national, telephone-based peer support program from NKF. Connects people who want support with people that have been there. Helps people adjust to living with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or a kidney transplant.
  • NKF Patient Network
    • Individualized Education
    • Peer Support
    • Easy way to get involved in research & innovation
    • Access to clinical trials
    • Open to all kidney disease patients age 18 years and above, including kidney transplant recipients and patients on dialysis
    • Requires you to give written consent for research

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SELF CARE

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SUPPORT GROUPS

HOPELINE PEER SUPPORT PHONE LINE – RENAL SUPPORT NETWORK

  • If you are a person with chronic kidney disease, family member or caregiver and don’t know what to expect, call us. Connect with another person who has lived successfully with kidney disease and can share their experience, strength and hope with you on what they have done to navigate this illness successfully.
  • Call the HOPEline – (800) 579-1970 (toll-free) Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm (PT)
  • HOPELine en Español – (800) 780-4238 (toll-free) Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm (PT) Support for Spanish speaking patients HOPELine en Espanol
  • An illness is too demanding when you don’t have HOPE

ESRD Support Group Resources 

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Calling all transplant recipients, living donors, family, and friends!  Come share your story, give encouragement, support, and hope. See below for further details regarding our support group meetings:

Kidney Donor & Recipients Support Group

When: Every Monday
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Where: Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 899 8164 0396
Passcode: 100514

Transplant Support Group

When: Every Thursday
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Where: Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 896 4672 0948
Passcode: 896175

Click here to join! All are Welcome!

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Treatment Adherence

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Peer Mentoring

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Mental Health

Mental Health Resources

STRESS AWARENESS

April is Stress Awareness Month – Watch this Stress Awareness video for helpful tips on how to manage stress.

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ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) Resources

ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) 

  • Lifeline for a Lifetime: Planning for Your Vascular Access Guide- English  and Spanish 
  • Questions to Help with Your Treatment Choices – A handout designed to help you develop questions to ask your healthcare team about your treatment options.
  • Questions to Get You Started – A resource to help you develop questions to ask your healthcare team after you begin treatment.
  • Preventing Peritonitis Peritonitis: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention – This resource is designed to help you recognize the signs and symptoms of peritonitis, as well as provide information on how its treated.
  • Be Heard: Tips for Talking with Your Care Team – This resource is designed to help you communicate with your care team members.
  • Goal Setting: Getting Back to Me – This workbook is designed to help patients restore their sense of dignity and increase self-esteem through goal setting.
  • ESRD NCC Mental Health Toolkit for ProfessionalsThis toolkit can be used by any renal professional including the ESRD Networks, dialysis providers, and transplant programs. It was developed in conjunction with input and feedback from ESRD Network professionals and patient subject matter experts. The hope is that by informing themselves, sharing the resources, and managing their own well-being they can make a difference in the lives of the ESRD patients and families they serve. It is not intended to be given directly to patients, but instead by professionals to use in their work.

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LIFELINE FOR A LIFETIME – YOUR VASCULAR ACCESS 

A healthy vascular access is very important to have successful dialysis treatments. Do the “One Minute Access Check” every day, so you can find any potential problems, get the help you need and it could save your lifeline.

HOW TO SAVE YOUR LIFELINE

At the links below, you can view the steps and tools for “one minute access check”. These will help you do your daily access check.

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Pediatric Patient Education

ABOUT MY KIDNEY

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PEDIATRIC ACTIVITIES

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End of Life