Network 7 provides services to help ensure transplant and end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are receiving the best care possible. We do this by:
- Working with dialysis and transplant facilities to improve the quality of care
- Investigating patient grievances
- Providing patient and provider education
- And more!
We encourage you and your family to learn more about ESRD and ways that you can become involved in your treatment by looking at topics on this website. Equally important, we urge you to talk to your care team (physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and technicians) and get involved in the decision-making process so that you will find your own best approach to treatment.
The National Coordinating Center (NCC) created a video of a member of the Network's Patient Advisory Council (PAC) that features their ESRD journey, where they garner strength from, their work with the Network, and their hope for other patients.
New Resource: Getting Back to Me: A Goal-Setting Journey (PDF)
Do you have a goal you would like to achieve? The Getting Back to Me: A Goal-Setting Journey is a workbook that can assist you with identifying personal goals and setting a plan to achieve them. This resource was developed by kidney patients and family members and designed to help restore a sense of dignity and increase self-esteem through goal-setting.
Plan of Care (POC) Meeting
Patient Education & Engagement Representative (PEER) Program
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 Rights and Responsibilities
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.
Patient Needs Assessment
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.
Nutrition and Diet
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...
ESRD and Health Education
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.
AKF Beat the Heat
When you are on dialysis, fluid (water) builds up in you blood between treatments. Here's some helpful info on fluid management.
Vascular Access
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.
Prescription Drug Coverage
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.
Patient Organizations
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.
End of Life Care
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.
Treatment Options
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.
Fixing Paco: Kidney Transplant as a Treatment Option, Living Donation, and the Importance of Proactive Patient Involvement
Fixing Paco is a website dedicated to educating the public about the leading causes of kidney disease, how to prevent it, kidney transplant as a treatment option, the need for living organ donors, and the importance of proactive patient involvement in care.
There are two components to the website:
- A public service announcement (PSA) campaign that carries a strong call to action.
- Get the Facts (0:30)
- Get the facts! Get Checked! Get Help! (0.60)
- A web series that tells the "story of family, big decisions and second chances."
Infection Prevention
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...
Going Back to Work or School
Ticket to Work
The Ticket to Work and Self Sufficiency program is a Federal program designed to provide Social Security Disability beneficiaries the choices, opportunities, and support they need to enter and maintain employment.
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.
Patient Newsletters
December 2020 Patient Newsletter
This December edition of the Patient Newsletter highlights how patients can contact the Network with concerns about their treatment, including how to do so anonymously, home dialysis treatment options, and how patients can volunteer with the Network.
December 2020 Patient Newsletter Spanish
This Spanish-language December edition of the Patient Newsletter highlights how patients can contact the Network with concerns about their treatment, including how to do so anonymously, home dialysis treatment options, and how patients can volunteer with the Network.
Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view, download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Do you have a concern or grievance?
You may call the Network at any time at 800.826.3773. Learn more by clicking below.
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