KCER: KIDNEY COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE COALITION

Patient Assistance

Team Leadership: Brenda Dyson

Goals: Review and assess educational resources for patients in preparation for emergencies/ disasters. Serve as central coordination system for financial aid to patients during emergencies/disasters.

Accomplishments: Identified the need for additional concrete tools for patients immediately ahead of a disaster. Reviewed educational material on disaster preparedness for patients. Recommended several possible identifiers, including a laminated wallet card for patients to carry with them at all times, identifying them as dialysis patients and with basic medical information. Recommended the use of lavender as the identifying color for kidney patients during an emergency/disaster. Identified the needs and resources for direct support to patients through monetary grants.

Meeting Minutes:

Patient Resources

Patients in need of assistance should first contact their dialysis or transplant provider, their local emergency management office, or their local ESRD Network. Information for all ESRD Networks can be found here.

Kidney Community Emergency Preparedness and Response (www.kidney.org/help) has essential information to help dialysis patients, transplant recipients and kidney health care professionals before and during emergencies.

The toll-free Emergency Hotline for patients and providers is 888-33-KIDNEY (888-335-4363). During non-emergency times, you will hear a recorded message.

Resources:

 
FMQAI: The Florida ESRD Network
5201 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 900 - Tampa, Florida 33609 - Phone 813-383-1530 - Fax 813-354-1514