NKF Honors Home Dialysis Nurse with Mattix Award

 

New York, NY – February 11, 2020 – Each year, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) considers the work of hundreds of specialists in the field of nephrology and selects among them those who most exemplify the relentless efforts of the NKF to enhance the lives of patients through action, education and accelerating change.

 

A new award, presented for just the second year, in the name of Carol Mattix, a home dialysis training nurse, who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of kidney patients, will go to Teri Jo Kinnison, RN, BS, CNN, of Tempe, AZ, at NKF’s Spring Clinical Meetings 2020 in New Orleans March 25-29.

 

"I’m very appreciative of this award in the name of Carol Mattix, who was an inspirational home dialysis training nurse, and it is an honor to be connected to her," Ms. Kinnison said. "Education that supports the development of self-confidence in managing their medical care, is essential to positively impact patient lives."

 

Ms. Kinnison, of DaVita Kidney Care, has gravitated toward the more technical types of nursing throughout her career. Following graduation from nursing school she worked in ICU, eager to learn how the combination of technology and physiology can be used to care for complicated patients. In 1981, she took on the challenge of learning hemodialysis and the complex care of end-stage kidney failure patients.

 

“This award is meant to recognize a nurse who dedicates their career to improving patient's lives, not just their health. Teri Jo Kinnison meets this high expectation,” said Dr. Holly Kramer, President of the National Kidney Foundation.

 

Ms. Kinnison has filled many roles during her dialysis career of 38 years, ranging from in-center nurse, clinical specialist on management teams, to quality assurance director.

 

Over time Ms. Kinnison found she missed direct patient care and accepted an offer of patient care in an acute setting. She also enjoys working with new dialysis nurses to help them improve their patient care skills, not just run machines. For the past three years she has worked in home hemodialysis helping patients learn dialysis procedures and develop their abilities to manage their own treatments.

 

For the past 28 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF’s Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams’ skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team.  This year’s Spring Clinical Meetings will be held March 25-29 in New Orleans.

 

Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease. 

 

Join the NKF network of advocates to make a difference for kidney patients. Influence public policy issues relating to kidney health, organ donation, and transplantation. These efforts require the participation of dedicated volunteers who will make change happen in government and across the nation. Go to https://advocacy.kidney.org/ to learn how to make an impact.

 

In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease— and more than 90% aren’t aware of it. 1 in 3 American adults are at risk for chronic kidney disease.  Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history.  People of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease.  African Americans are 3 times more likely than Whites, and Hispanics are nearly 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanics to develop end-stage kidney disease (kidney failure).