Dialysis at National Convention

Dialysis at National Convention

DIALYSIS AT NATIONAL CONVENTION

by Ed Bryant

Artwork: NFB logo at end of article

During this year's annual convention of the

National Federation of the Blind in Atlanta, Georgia (Sunday, July 2, through Saturday,

July 8), dialysis will be available. Individuals requiring dialysis must have a transient

patient packet and physician's statement filled out prior to treatment. Conventioneers

must have their unit contact the desired location in the Atlanta area for instructions,

well in advance. NOTE: The convention will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265

Peachtree Center, in downtown Atlanta.

Individuals will be responsible for, and must pay

out of pocket, prior to each treatment, the approximately $30 not covered by Medicare,

plus any additional physician's fees, and any charges for other medications.

DIALYSIS CENTERS SHOULD SET UP TRANSIENT DIALYSIS

LOCATIONS AT LEAST TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE. THIS HELPS ASSURE A LOCATION FOR ANYONE WANTING

TO DIALYZE. There are many centers in the Atlanta area, but that area is quite large, so

early reservation is strongly recommended, to avoid long taxi rides!

Here are some dialysis locations:

* DIALYSIS CLINIC INC.–WEST PEACHTREE, 820

West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 888-4520.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE, 699 Ponce De Leon Ave.,

Suite 19, Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 872-7211.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE ATLANTA, 400 Decatur Street,

Atlanta, GA 30312; telephone: (404) 577-9097.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE, 524 West Peachtree Street,

Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 249-1563.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SCHEDULE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS

EARLY, TO ENSURE SPACE. If scheduling assistance is needed, have your dialysis unit's

social worker contact me: Diabetes Action Network President Ed Bryant; telephone: (573)

875-8911. See you in Atlanta!

Remember that you can have microalbuminuria

(small amounts of the protein albumin in the urine), a sign of early kidney disease, even

without elevated blood pressure. Preliminary data on Teveten suggest it has beneficial

effects on reducing urinary protein excretion in proteinuric patients, thus may be of

benefit in preserving renal function, where progressive renal disease is present. The

researchers, and Teveten's manufacturer, Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., stress these renal

findings are positive but preliminary.

If you have diabetes and kidney disease, or

diabetes and hypertension, ask your doctor about Teveten. Approved by the Food and Drug

Administration in 1997 for the treatment of hypertension, it is available now.