Patients
Welcome to the Patient section Serving the NKF Serving East Tennessee web site. Here you will find information about chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and much more.
Public Education
One of the major goals of the NKF Serving East Tennessee is to increase public awareness through education. Through public education programs, our hope is to reduce the incidence of kidney failure. Annually, we distribute thousands of educational materials through seminars, health fairs, school presentations and a variety of other programs. The NKF Serving East Tennessee was founded on the belief that an informed and thoughtful public can greatly improve the overall health of society.
The programs we offer serve only the East Tennessee area, and include the following:
For more information about any of these programs or to schedule, please contact our Education Coordinator. Just see our contact us page.
Assistance Programs
Dental Assistance:
One of the most important hopes for a patient whose kidneys are failing is to have a kidney transplant. In order to be put on the waiting list for a transplant, the person must be as healthy as possible. This includes having healthy teeth, free of infection. We offer assistance to pay some or all of the dental care for eligible kidney patients needing dental work in order to be eligible for a transplant.
I.D. Jewelry:
Every kidney patient has specific medical needs, particularly in an emergency. That is why we provide free ID jewelry (necklaces or bracelets) for dialysis and transplant patients, specifically stating medication allergies or other health concerns that need to be addressed in a medical emergency.
Nutritional Supplements:
Dialysis patients have to overcome many obstacles. One of them is making sure they receive enough nutrition to keep their strength up to battle kidney disease. We offer a free nutritional assistance program that allows eligible dialysis patients to receive the nutrition that they so desperately need to survive. Some examples of the monthly supplements we provide are Nepro, Prostat, Novasource Renal, Glucerna, Boost and Ensure.
Transportation:
Another important program we offer kidney patients is transportation assistance. Kidney patients have to travel to dialysis clinics at least three (3) times a week for several hours in the clinic to receive dialysis. Transplant recipients also have to travel extensively for follow up appointments after their life-saving transplant has occurred.
This financial weight can be lifted by having the NKF Serving East Tennessee pay for some or all transportation costs to get to and from these life-sustaining treatments. In many cases, this is keeping more dialysis and transplant patients patients alive longer and lifting some of the financial burden off their shoulders and focus more on remaining as healthy as possible.
Prevention:
KEEP, Kidney Early Evaluation Program, is the first public health campaign of its kind. We offer it right here in East Tennessee; it is run by the NKF Serving East Tennessee (NKFETN). KEEP is specifically designed to identify individuals who are at increased risk to develop kidney disease (this includes people with high blood pressure and/or diabetes or has a family member with kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes). We know that if we start early with education, detection, and if necessary, intervention with medication, we can in many cases help prevent kidney disease or significantly slow its development. KEEP screenings include blood, urine and blood pressure tests and a consultation with a physician about preventing and managing kidney disease. Screening tests are valued at $250-$300 per participant. Participation is free to the individual and takes approximately thirty minutes. This KEEP health risk assessment saves lives. On average, 3 out of 4 people find they have kidney disease as a result from our free screenings. 
Empowerment/Inspirational Programs
Patient Picnic:
Every fall since 1987, we host a picnic for all the kidney patients in East Tennessee. There is great food, fun and entertainment. Patients look forward to this event and walk away with great memories.
Support Groups:
Several times a month support groups meet at different locations. Here's a breakdown:
Coffeehouse Conversations
A support group designed to educate and empower patients and their families about specific issues related to transplantation, Coffeehouse Conversations is offered in a casual setting in order to make conversation flow more easily and freely.
Meetings are the SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH at 6pm at the NKF Serving East Tennessee office (4450 Walker Blvd Ste 2, Knoxville).
New Heart Society Support Group
Shoney's Restaurant on Alcoa Highway the LAST Tuesday of every month, starting around 6:00pm. Every transplant recipient and their family is welcome!
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Support Group
Parkwest Medical Center- meet at the building across from the physicians plaza every 3rd Monday of the month from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Anyone with CKD or family members are welcome!
Transplant Games:
Every two years, there is a national Olympic-like celebration for transplant recipients and their families called the Transplant Games.
People come from across the nation to come together to celebrate life and share stories of hope and inspiration! Our organization helps organize sports teams of transplant recipients and help them fundraise to get the necessary money for uniforms, registration, travel expenses, etc. so they can get to the games as easily as possible.
2010 games will be held July 30 – August 4 in Madison Wisconsin.
Public Education Programs
Speaker's Bureau
The NKF Serving East Tennessee is proud to offer this community service to inform the public about kidney disease, organ donation and the work of the Foundation. The Speaker's Bureau is a trained network of individuals who represent the Foundation as spokespeople in our community. Members of the Speaker's Bureau are available at no cost to speak to:
- Businesses
- Church Groups
- Civic Groups
- Neighborhood Groups
- Schools
In the 2003 fiscal year, the Speaker's Bureau reached over 2,700 people through 25 different speaking engagements! If your group is interested in hearing from one of our Speaker's Bureau members, simply contact us to discuss any particulars or get any additional information!
School Education
Learning about the body is something that happens at all levels of the school learning experience. We have special programs and activities that are geared specifically toward freshman health and wellness classes at local high schools.
The program includes:
- Dialysis
- Kidney Health
- Organ Donation
- Preventative Measures against Kidney Disease
- The Two Leading Causes of Kidney Disease
In the past year alone, we have spoken to more than 700 students. Over the past three years, our school education programs reached close to 4,000 students in several counties throughout East Tennessee.
If you are interested in having us visit your school, please contact Helen Harb at (865) 688-5481.
Health Fairs
Health Fair participation is an important aspect of our public education and community outreach programs. We provide specific informational material dependent on the event's target group. We enjoy meeting you and spending time discussing the various aspects of kidney diseases!
We reach out into the community at every opportunity to communicate our message. In the 2006-07 fiscal year, we displayed at 22 events offering educational information to 34,881 people!
Contact our Education Manager with questions.
NKF Brochures
We have developed a page that allows those in East Tennessee to review most of the Kidney Foundation's many brochures and order a copy if desired. The choices given are separated into topic groups such as, "About the Kidneys", "Early Intervention and Prevention", "Diseases and Related Conditions", "Treatment", "Nutrition", "Rehabilitation", "Health Care Services", "Organ Donation" and "Donor Family Support".
