Rhonda McCammon, part of the team of professionals from Fresenius Medical Care that holds the meetings, said the meetings inform patients with chronic kidney diseases and their families of treatment options as well as nutrition and lifestyle advice for living with it.
“A team of renal care professionals — nurses, dietitians and social workers — are available to provide information and answer questions, and follow-up support is offered on an on-going basis,” McCammon said.
Those who may be at risk for developing chronic kidney disease are encouraged to attend.
“People who have diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure) are encouraged to receive this education, as those diseases are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease,” McCammon said.
After the meeting, the professionals follow up with those who attend in an effort to answer any questions they might not have thought of during the meeting.
“It truly is a lot of information to give a patient in two hours,” McCammon said.
Although the program at the Bradley County Health Department started in March, McCammon said she has been educating the public in similar ways for a year. McCammon said knowing more about kidney disease may help people cope better with it. Some of those who have attended the meetings have done so at the recommendation of their doctors.
The meetings are free, and the company understands that not everyone who comes to the meetings will become patients of Fresenius Medical Care. These informational meetings are held every first Wednesday of the month at the Bradley County Health Department at 3 p.m. and usually last two hours. The next meeting will be Oct. 6.
