Resource Links
The following web sites contain helpful information regarding kidney disease and its related diseases.
National Kidney Foundation - www.kidney.org
The NKFL's national office in New York maintains a sizable, detailed online reference catalog for patients seeking information related to kidney health. This useful tool found here is updated frequently and makes it easy for you to find the information you need.
Donate Life America- https://donatelife.net/ a non profit alliance of national organizations and state teams across the United States committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation. To view Louisiana State team please visit https://www.donatelifela.org/.
Tips for choosing a dialysis provider
Choosing a dialysis clinic is an important decision. If you are a new patient, traveling, or simply looking to transfer to a new facility, this decision can seem overwhelming. You will need to consider many factors, including the location, distance from your home, schedule, quality-of-care, and much more. Click here for some tips to help you choose a facility that is right for you.
The Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) Star Program is a rating system developed by Medicare that assigns 1 to 5 stars to dialysis facilities by comparing the health of the patients in their clinics to the patients in other dialysis facilities across the country. It is intended to help you find and compare dialysis facilities in your local area. There are many ways to evaluate the quality of care provided by a dialysis center. The “DFC Star Program” is one resource. It can provide you with a simple “snapshot” of a facility, which may help you make a few useful comparisons. Making a final judgement about the quality of care offered by a facility is a complex process that should be done carefully. We recommend that you use more than one resource to make that decision. Click here for more information.
CyberNephrology - www.cybernephrology.org
The mission statement of the cyberNephrologyTM Project is to consolidate the ever-increasing resources and technologies available on the Internet, to provide the greatest possible access to the most current medical information, to ensure the best in professional education and to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney and urinary tract diseases.
Children's Organ Transplant Association- https://cota.org/
Helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support.
End Stage Renal Disease Networks - www.hsag.com/ESRDNetwork13
The ESRD Networks provide a cost effective mechanism to ensure the most efficient use of Medicare dollars for dialysis treatment and kidney transplantation through monitoring the quality of care indicators and maintaining timely, complete data on the ESRD program.
The Nephron Information Center - www.nephron.com
Nephrons are the cells in your kidney. The Nephron Information Center is a dynamic site designed as a tool to help the public, the patient and the physician advance their knowledge and better understanding of kidney disease.
Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation - https://paireddonation.org/
Provides information, education and support on all aspects of paired kidney donation. Whether you are a transplant professional just discovering paired donation or are ready to take the next steps toward becoming a registered pair.
American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)- https://aakp.org/
As the oldest and largest, independent kidney patient organization in the U.S. AAKP is dedicated to improving the lives and long-term outcomes of kidney patients through education, advocacy, patient engagement and the fostering of patient communities.
American Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.
American Heart Association - www.americanheart.org
For nearly 100 years, the American Heart Association has been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives.
American Society of Transplantation- https://www.myast.org/
Group of transplant professionals dedicated to research, education, advocacy and patient care in transplantation science and medicine.
The Assistance Fund- https://tafcares.org/
Provides financial support to patients with serious and chronic diseases to help them access the medications they need.
Lotsa Helping Hands- https://lotsahelpinghands.com/
Simple, immediate way for friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to assist loved ones in need. It is an easy-to-use, private group online calendar, specifically designed for organizing helpers, where everyone can pitch in with meal delivery, rides, and other necessary tasks.
Miracle Flights- https://miracleflights.org/
Offers free flights to those in need of life-saving medical treatments far from home, including transplant patients.
The Organization for Transplant Professionals(NATCO) - https://www.natco1.org/
Professional society representing the largest group of transplant experts in North America.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - www.niddk.nih.gov
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. In addition, they are a great source of information for the general public and health professionals.
National Living Donor Assistance Center - https://www.livingdonorassistance.org/
A program funded by the US government that provides reimbursement of travel, subsistence expenses and lost wage reimbursement to people being evaluated for and/or undergoing living donation.
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) - www.nkdep.nih.gov
NKDEP is a program of the National Institutes of Health to reduce the deaths and disabilities from kidney disease and its complications.
504HealthNet - www.504healthnet.org
504HealthNet provides support to an integrated and coordinated network of healthcare providers in the Greater New Orleans region (Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes), which are working together to achieve these goals:
1. Increase access to comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services to all people irrespective of the ability to pay.
2. Improve the quality and benefits of care.
3. Increase sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency among the member organizations.
4. Develop linkages for a full continuum of health services.
5. Advance an effective medical home model system of care.
6. Provide advocacy for the needs of community-based primary care and behavioral health providers serving underserved populations.
HelpHopeLive - https://helphopelive.org/
Support community-based fundraising for people with unmet medical expenses and related costs due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses.
Rare Diseases - www.kidney.org/atoz/content/rare-diseases
The National Kidney Foundation has designed this website to raise awareness about the link between certain rare diseases and kidney disease for patients and healthcare providers. If you have links that you believe should be included here, please email us.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) - https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/
Is the unified transplant network established by the United States Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984. The OPTN is a unique public-private partnership that links all of the professionals involved in the donation and transplantation system.
The United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) - https://unos.org/
Manages the waiting list for a transplant in the U.S. and matches donors to recipients.
U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - https://www.hhs.gov/
U.S. Government information on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation to establish successful fundraising campaigns.
Team Louisiana Transplant Games - About the Transplant Games (transplantgamesofamerica.org)
To increase awareness of the life-restoring importance of organ, cornea, bone marrow, and tissue donation through the lives of the athlete-recipients and the lasting legacy of their donors. To involve the entire transplant community - recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals awaiting transplantation, caregivers, medical professionals, recovery agencies, transplant centers, and other related organizations - in a shared mission to highlight the benefits of donation.
VA eKidney Clinic- Learn how to take care of your kidneys and make better choices.
Learn about how the VA can help the veterans who suffer from kidney disease and your role in kidney care.