For Patients and Families

Patient Plan of Care Campaign Brochure

This resource was created by patients for patients, with the goals of:

• Getting more patients engaged in their dialysis Plans of Care (POC).
• Encouraging dialysis facilities to hold POC meetings with patients.
• Inspiring patients to attend their POC meetings. 

Patient Plan of Care Campaign Brochure_Spanish Language

This Spanish language resource was created by patients for patients, with the goals of:
• Getting more patients engaged in their dialysis Plans of Care (POC).
• Encouraging dialysis facilities to hold POC meetings with patients.
• Inspiring patients to attend their POC meetings.

PEER Program Brochure

This brochure provides information about becoming a PEER volunteer for your dialysis facility.

PEER Program Brochure - Spanish

This Spanish version brochure provides information about becoming a PEER volunteer for your dialysis facility.

Patient Grievance Toolkit

This Patient Grievance Toolkit (available in English and Spanish) was created by the Forum of ESRD Networks Kidney Patient Advisory Council (KPAC).  It was developed BY patients, FOR patients, and offers guidance and tools to assist in the grievance process.

Patient Rights Poster

Do you know your rights as a patient? This poster reviews important patient rights for ESRD patients to know and understand.

Home Dialysis Needs Assessment

The Home Hemodialysis Needs Assessment is designed to gain an understanding of dialysis patients’ educational needs, level of activity in the facility Plan of Care process, and knowledge of treatment options. 

In-Center Hemodialysis Needs Assessment

The In-Center Hemodialysis Needs Assessment is designed to gain an understanding of dialysis patients’ educational needs, level of activity in the facility Plan of Care process, and knowledge of treatment options. 

Fluid Management

Kidneys are instrumental in removing excess water in the body, so when your kidneys don’t work, it is harder to keep the right fluid balance. The right balance is important, because if you gain too much fluid, you may have: Swelling in your face, hands, and feet Headaches and low...

The Little Book About Kidneys: A Guide for Children About Kidney Disease and Treatment

The Little Book About Kidneys by Victoria Hanson and illustrated by Jenny Tulip, will help you talk to young children about your kidneys and the treatments you may experience. It is intended to support you in explaining your kidney failure to children. 

Dialysis Center Five-Star Rating System FAQs

These FAQs should shed light on the Five-Star Rating System. We hope this transparency empowers patients to make the best decisions for their health.

WANTED: Permanent Access Angels

This document tells you about how you can help other patients by sharing your experiences with getting, using, and maintaining your permanent access.

Stay on the road to your permanent access.

This checklist is designed to help you to stay on the road to the placement and use of a permanent access.

Medicare Part D

Learn about how to get Medicare Part D drug coverage, what drug plans cover, costs for Medicare drug coverage, how Medicare Part D works with other insurance, and the enrollment dates.

American Association of Kidney Patients

The American Association of Kidney Patients is recognized as the leader for patient-centered education – continually developing high quality, professionally written, edited and reviewed educational pieces covering every level of kidney disease.

American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. The site offers patient programs, kidney disease education, and professional education.

Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients

The Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients brings together like-minded people who care deeply about the quality of compassionate and supportive care for kidney patients. 

Florida Advanced Directives

Every competent adult has the right to make decisions concerning his or her own health, including the right to choose or refuse medical treatment. This website contains health care advance directives education, information, and forms.

Keep Comfortable on Dialysis

This one page document for patients provides some ideas to help promote comfort and ease patients' pain that can be tried before moving to medication.

Dialysis Schedules: Tips for Patients and Staff

Scheduling issues are a common source of frustration for dialysis patients and staff.This document addresses what you can do to help keep your dialysis schedule running as on time as possible.

Vaccines for People on Dialysis

This flyer provides recommended immunizations for people on dialysis.

Bloodstream Infection Prevention

Patients who undergo dialysis treatment have an increased risk of infection. They are at a high risk for infection because the process of hemodialysis requires frequent use of dialysis catheters or the insertion of needles to access the bloodstream. Additionally, hemodialysis patients commonly have...

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)

The FAAST Device Loan Program is a way for people with disabilities of all ages to try out different assistive devices to best determine those most helpful for them. The Program provides hands on training and access to personal computers and other items.

Working While Disabled - How We Can Help

Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working, or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months, or end in death.

December 2019 Patient Newsletter

This December edition of the Patient Newsletter highlights how patients can get involved with the Network, home dialysis treatment options, how patients can contact the Network with concerns or grievances about their treatment, and a patient’s memorial.

October 2019 Patient Newsletter

This October edition of the Patient Newsletter highlights the importance of the In-Center Hemodialyis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH-CAHPS), understanding Medicare Part D Open Enrollment, resources and support for managing diabetes, and pain management for dialysis patients.