Dear PAC Members, Representatives and Advisors:

Thank you for volunteering your time, passion, expertise and energy to help provide an important connection between ESRD patients, family members/carepartners, dialysis facilities, and the ESRD Network.

This is an amazing opportunity to help the ESRD community and we are looking forward to working with you this year!
Community Awareness
Join the Network in Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Join the IPRO ESRD Network Program in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens of Latin American descent.

The ESRD Network Program focuses on raising awareness about the health disparities impacting the Hispanic/Latino community and promote physical activity, healthy nutrition and regular doctor visits to help improve overall health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th-October 15th every year.

Staring in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week it was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a full 30-day period. The initial September 15th date celebrates the anniversary of independence for countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th. Hispanic Heritage Month ends following "el dia de la raza".
September is National Recovery Month
Drug overdose remains a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Overdoses involving prescription and illicit opioids take the lives of 128 people every day. Almost 70% of these overdoses involve opioid usage.

Different Types of Opioids:
  • Prescription Opioids can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain. (Common Types: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone.)
  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever. It is many times more powerful than other opioids and is approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. Illegally made and distributed fentanyl has been on the rise in several states
  • Heroin is an illegal opioid. Heroin use has increased across the U.S. among men and women, most age groups, and all income levels
PAC Virtual Patient Support Group
September 24, 2020 at 4:45 pm ET
Meeting Link: https://ipro.webex.com/ipro/j.php?MTID=m7fcf38de4f949a54f2f9d1db84fa6dc7
Meeting Number: 616 535 334
Password: PAC2020
Or Call: 1-855-797-9485
Access Code: 616 535 334
Network Program PAC Meeting
Join the IPRO ESRD Network Program for a
bi-monthly meeting of the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) across the Network service areas to discuss patient/family member/carepartner community education, resources and activities.

Event Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Event Time: 5:00-6:30pm ET
Meeting Link:
Event Password: PAC
Call In: 1-855-797-9485 Access Code: 171 815 5402
ESRD Network Home Therapies Resources
Network Educational Resources
Medicare Part D

Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D) is an optional benefit offered to everyone who has Medicare. This program provides prescription drugs through private insurance companies that have contracts with the federal government. Unlike the original Medicare program, Medicare Part D is not provided directly by the government.

You can get prescription drug coverage through:
  • Medicare Part D Drug Plans (PDPs) add drug coverage to original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans and Medicare Medical Savings Accounts.

  • Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan that offers Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.” You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan




Diabetes

Blood glucose (blood sugar) is your body's main source of energy It is controlled by insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. Insulin allows your body to use glucose from the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keep your glucose level from getting too high or too low. If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or if your cells don’t respond to insulin, you may end up having too much glucose in your blood. Over time high levels of glucose cause diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes: People with type 1 diabetes have an immune system that attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This results in the pancreas making little or no insulin, requiring that those with type 1 diabetes take insulin to live. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can also appear in adults. 

Type 2 Diabetes: If you have type 2 diabetes, your body is “insulin resistant,” which means it doesn’t use insulin properly. Over time, the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep your glucose at normal levels. This type of diabetes can happen at any age and is the most common form of diabetes. 

Mental Health Resources
Grounding is a practice that can help you pull away from flashbacks, unwanted memories, and negative or challenging emotions. Grounding techniques may help distract you from what you’re experiencing and refocus on what’s happening in the present moment.

Grounding techniques can help create space from distressing feelings in nearly any situation, but they’re especially helpful if you’re dealing with:

Types of Grounding Practices
  1. Put your hands in water: Focus on the water’s temperature and how it feels on your fingertips, palms, and the backs of your hands. Does it feel the same in each part of your hand? Use warm water first, then cold. Next, try cold water first, then warm. Does it feel different to switch from cold to warm water versus warm to cold?
  2. Pick up or touch items near you: Are the things you touch soft or hard? Heavy or light? Warm or cool? Focus on the texture and color of each item. Challenge yourself to think of specific colors, such as crimson, burgundy, indigo, or turquoise, instead of simply red or blue.
  3. Breathe deeply: Slowly inhale, then exhale. If it helps, you can say or think “in” and “out” with each breath. Feel each breath filling your lungs and note how it feels to push it back out.
  4. Savor a food or drink: Take small bites or sips of a food or beverage you enjoy, letting yourself fully taste each bite. Think about how it tastes and smells and the flavors that linger on your tongue.
  5. Take a short walk: Concentrate on your steps — you can even count them. Notice the rhythm of your footsteps and how it feels to put your foot on the ground and then lift it again.
  6. Hold a piece of ice: What does it feel like at first? How long does it take to start melting? How does the sensation change when the ice begins to melt?
  7. Savor a scent: Is there a fragrance that appeals to you? This might be a cup of tea, an herb or spice, a favorite soap, or a scented candle. Inhale the fragrance slowly and deeply and try to note its qualities (sweet, spicy, sharp, citrusy, and so on)
Renal Support Network (RSN) Virtual Podcasts
RSN’s KidneyTalk is an informative, inspirational, and entertaining online, half-hour radio talk show that launched in 2006 with host RSN Founder & President Lori Hartwell who has been a renal disease survivor since 1968.

KidneyTalk provides the audience with practical advice on how to live a full and productive life despite CKD. The show features healthcare professionals and people living successfully with kidney disease who share personal experiences and wisdom. RSN’s online kidney disease support group and patient education meetings are offered at no charge to people who have kidney disease and their families. Among the many benefits to attending these meetings are learning tips to navigating kidney disease and living a fulfilling, joyful life from people who have been there and from concerned healthcare professionals.
Understanding Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask:

CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19

CDC Mask Overview:
  • Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
  • Masks should be worn by people two years and older
  • Masks should NOT be worn by children younger than two, people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance
  • Do NOT wear masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators
  • CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is ongoing but effectiveness is unknown at this time.