Network 17 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.
About The Network Brochure English Spanish
ESRD and Health Education
You Can Live: Your Guide for Living with Kidney Failure
This booklet gives tips on treating kidney failure, making treatments better, and living a healthier lifestyle.
Why Am I Cold Brochure
This brochure addresses the reasons patients may feel cold during their treatment and some ways they can deal with that.
Vascular Access
Lifeline for a Lifetime
The ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) website provides information about vascular access management through a program called Lifeline for a Lifetime.
Life Options Vascular Access Education in Multiple Languages
The Life Options website offers free print materials available, including booklets, newsletters, and fact sheets. This site contains vascular access education in multiple languages.
Healthy Living
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.
SmokeFree.gov - Quit Smoking Today!
This website provides information and resources about how to stop smoking.
Grievance Process
Grievance Process
If you have a concern about the care being provided to you or family member in a dialysis clinic, you may call the Network at any time. However, you are encouraged to speak to the clinic manager, charge nurse, or social worker first. This resource will provide you with more information about the Network grievance process, including how to file a grievance.
Vaccinations
Vaccines for People on Dialysis
This flyer provides recommended immunizations for people on dialysis.
Myth Busters: Vaccinations
Fact or fiction? This handout, available in English and Spanish, dispels some of the myths and highlights the facts about the Pneumonia and Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Prescription Drug Coverage
University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Outreach
Each outreach event will also provide many other services that beneficiaries can take advantage of and have included: vaccinations, blood pressure testing, diabetes screening, cholesterol testing, bone density testing, and much more.
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.
Going Back to Work or School
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.
Working While Disabled - Spanish Version
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 in death.
Treatment Options
Fixing Paco
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."
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.
Patient Organizations
Online and Telephone Support Group Resources
This document provides a list of and links to online and telephonic resources that specialize in kidney disease. Many offer education, as well as the opportunity to connect with other end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, family members, and/or caregivers through discussion forums and subscription-based email lists.
American Association of Kidney Patients
The American Association of Kidney Patients continually develops high quality, professionally written, edited and reviewed educational pieces covering every level of kidney disease.
End of Life Care
Planning Today for Tomorrow's Healthcare: A Guide for People with Chronic Kidney Disease
This brochure will provide details on how to have control over your healthcare in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.
Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients
The Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients brings together like-minded multi-disciplinary clinical professionals and lay people who care deeply about the quality of compassionate, supportive care for kidney patients. The website includes education, helpful links, and resources.
Patient Newsletters
February 2019 Patient Newsletter
This February 2019 edition of the Patient Newsletter highlights information about the Network, your "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit, the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), and more.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patient Responsibilities Poster - English
Do you know your responsibilities as a patient? This poster reviews important patient responsibilities for ESRD patients to know and understand.
Patient Responsibilities - Spanish
Do you know your responsibilities as a patient? This Spanish language poster reviews important patient responsibilities for ESRD patients to know and understand.
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ESRD Network 17 | 533 Airport Blvd., Suite 400, Burlingame, CA 94010 | 415.897.2400 |