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With your Hosts...

Stephen Furst is a successful television and movie producer/director and a kidney patient.

Lori Hartwell is the author of Chronically Happy - Joyful Living in Spite of Chronic Illness, and President/Founder of Renal Support Network. 

Click here for more pictures of Stephen and Lori!

Eyewitness Account of Kidney Donation
Donating a kidney to a friend or family member is becoming more common. Listen to Phillip Palmer, weekday morning anchor for KABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles and hear him describe his journey of what it was like to give the "gift of life" to his good friend Dale Wade Davis. Phillip describes how he made the decision to become a living donor and what inspired him to make this decision. Don't miss this extraordinary act of kindness!

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Posted February 24th, 2010

Ask The Nephrologist
Listen to these short interviews where Dr. Allen Nissenson answers the following questions:

How Do I Stay Active with Limited Energy?
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Should I Tell My Employer That I Have Kidney Disease?
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How Long Can I Live on Dialysis?
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What Can I Do About Sexual Dysfunction?
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Is it Possible for a Surgeon to Reverse a Failed Fistula?
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What Happens if I Don't Follow the Prescribed Renal Diet?
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Why is Heart Disease the Main Cause Kidney Patients End Up Dying?
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What Dialysis Treatment Modality Would You Choose?  
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How Often Should You See Your Kidney Doctor?  
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What Could Have Slowed Down The Progression of my Kidney Disease?
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Past Shows on KidneyTalk!

The Right Start Program
Do you remember how you felt when you started dialysis? Anxious, scared, and with endless questions? This new pilot program called “RightStart,” is designed to educate and help new patients feel better and more in control of their health during this critical time. Rebecca Wingard, Nephrology Nurse and Vice President of Quality Initiatives for Fresenius Medical Care, joins us today to talk about the Right Start Program.

Read the KidneyTimes article "Getting Off to the RightStart", Easy Link Access #291
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Posted February 9th, 2010

Transitioning out of Childhood for Young People with CKD
Lori has a heart-to-heart with Dr. Maria Ferris, Pediatric Nephrologist from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and specialist in treating adolescents and young adults with CKD.  They discuss the unique challenges a young person can face, both those with childhood-onset CKD and those who develop CKD in their adolescence.  Dr. Ferris and the team at UNC Kidney Center have developed helpful guidelines and tools for young people with CKD and their parents to help "smooth" what can often be a difficult transition; growing up can have a whole new meaning when you have CKD!  All this and more, including discussion on the challenges of completing your education when you have CKD.
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Posted January 26th, 2010

Become an Empowered Health Care Consumer and Protect Yourself
Lori and Stephen rap with Jane Neff Rollins, an Epidemiologist, medical writer and empowered healthcare consumer, and discuss several topics that are particularly vital to people managing a chronic illness.  It's no secret that the health care system can be intimidating, and this episode of KidneyTalk offers a big bowl full of helpful rules of thumb for the perpetual patient, including how to protect yourself from medical identity theft.  Join us!
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Posted January 13th, 2010

Classic KidneyTalk!
Holiday Eating Tips: Eat, Drink, and Be Careful
This special holiday KidneyTalk! features Sara Carlson, a renal dietitian, DaVita’s Nutrition Project Specialist, and co-author of “Cooking for David,” who discusses guidelines for eating, drinking, and being careful not to overindulge during the holiday season. Lori and Stephen ask Sara questions about navigating all the holiday goodies, dinners, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while maintaining a renal-friendly diet.

Tune in and discover tips for controlling your intake at the holiday buffet table, learn how to play the “buffet game,” and collect some new recipes that are packed full of flavor and are also renal-friendly that your family will enjoy as well.

From everyone at KidneyTalk and Renal Support Network, have a very healthy and Happy Holiday Season!
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Posted December 15th, 2009

Trading Places - What Happens When a Doctor Becomes the Patient?
Dr. Peter Laird offers his perspective as both an internal medicine doctor and a person with chronic kidney disease. Do yourself a favor; visit with Lori and Dr. Laird as they discuss his telling experiences transitioning from a healthcare professional in charge of many other peoples' health. He shares his journey as a patient and his limited level of control over his own care - even literally changing places with a former patient that became his doctor. This is a show that neither patients nor professionals should miss!
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Posted December 2nd, 2009

Take the Dr. Block Challenge
Dr. Geoffrey Block, MD explains in great detail how important bone and mineral health is to a patient’s quality of life.  He understands what patients can do to get an “A” for their target phosphorus, calcium and Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) levels as established by their health care provider.

He also explains the trouble around reaching a consensus in the renal community for measuring quality and defining best practices in regards to bone and mineral disorder. This discrepancy is quickly becoming all the more worrisome as the Proposed Payment System for the Bundling of Dialysis Services is nearing implementation...

The information in this show can save your life- so don't miss it!
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Posted November 18th, 2009

Dialysis Wisdom with Dr. Tuso - Part Two
Listen to part two of the interview with Phillip Tuso, MD. You thought part one was jam-packed with information? Part two is loaded with tidbits you're going to want to remember (not to mention Lori & Stephen are in rare form). Come for the information, stay for the snappy banter!
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Posted November 3rd, 2009

Dialysis Wisdom with Dr. Tuso - Part One
Phillip Tuso, MD tells us what patients need to closely monitor and manage to maintain a healthy body when on dialysis.  This is a jam-packed episode full of knowledge. Sit back while Dr. Tuso shares with us some steps you can take to live a longer life.  Stay tuned for Part Two.

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Posted October 13, 2009

30 Day Notice: Find Another Dialysis Facility
Unquestionably, 'Involuntary Discharge' from a dialysis facility is devastating for a patient.  A discharge can lead to dire results when a patient and provider are unable or unwilling to resolve their differences; the patient has to find another dialysis facility that will provide care.  John Gowan, long time member of the renal community and currently a Social Worker for the ESRD Network #14 of Texas, explains how patients can protect themselves by taking steps to defuse conflict before it escalates.
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Posted September 28, 2009

Transplants Don't Just Save Lives, They Save Money
Want to know the real benefits of a kidney transplant? Want to know the major points of how organ transplantation began and where it's going? Once you've heard Lori rap with Jim Warren, the editor and publisher of Transplant News, you'll feel like an expert too. Join us for an engaging, concise discussion about this often misunderstood topic.
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Posted September 1, 2009

A Mother's Journey to Find Her Daughter a Kidney
When Karol Franks found out her 14 year old daughter, Jenna, was diagnosed with kidney disease, it began a three year journey to search for the gift of life. Listen to Karol’s heartwarming story about searching for solutions and how she and her daughter found hope through the kindness of a stranger.
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Posted August 18, 2009

Across the Country - Dialysis Style
Harvey Wells didn’t let dialysis stop him from doing what he loves to do – travel, have good food and spend time with his family. After a failed transplant he decided to find an option that would fit his lifestyle. He travels around the country in his RV with his portable home hemodialysis machine. He inspires patients that they can still achieve their dreams, but they need to know their options and states his quality of life has improved immensely.
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Posted August 4, 2009

Creating & Implementing the Rules for Dialysis
Congress passed legislation last year that will require CMS to write the rules on the payment policy for dialysis services. Mike Paget, who has many years experience in the dialysis community will explain how the renal community can be sure to be involved in the process. Any day now CMS will publish a "proposed rule" on the new payment policy for dialysis care, in the Federal Register. The community will have 60 days to comment, after which CMS will review the comments to establish the final rule. Listen to the show and learn how you an make an impact and what some of the key issues are.
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Posted July 22, 2009

PEAK: Kidney Care Partners Community Initiative
Kidney Care Partners recently-launched Performance Excellence and Accountability in Kidney Care (PEAK), a quality improvement campaign with a goal of reducing mortality among first-year dialysis patients by 20 percent by the end of the year 2012. Dr. Jones shares Kidney Care Partners strategy on how they plan to improve survival and help people with kidney disease thrive. Listen to why the mortality rate is so high and learn what you can do to make sure you or a loved one are not one of the statistics.
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Posted July 16, 2009

KidneyTalk! Celebrates 100th Show: The Remarkable Ed Spence
“Live your life” is the motto by which Ed Spence lives his daily life and encourages others who have kidney disease. You don’t want to miss this inspiring show as we travel along his 34 year journey of overcoming the trials and tribulations of kidney disease with an attitude that is unstoppable.
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Posted July 15, 2009

Adequate or Optimal Dialysis?
A frequent term that is used in the dialysis industry is adequate dialysis. Lori and Stephen talk to Dr. Raffi Minasian on how the industry is recognizing that patients need more dialysis to feel better and improve their quality of life. Dr. Minasian explains some of the benefits of more dialysis and the barriers health care professionals encounter to be able to deliver optimal dialysis to their patients.
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Posted June 29, 2009

High Antibody Count - What To Do?
Howard Feinberg had a transplant that unfortunately ended up failing. Now back on dialysis, and back on the list he learned his chances were very slim to receive a second kidney. Howard took control of his care and found out all his options. He learned of a new therapy that helps reduce your antibody count. Listen to Howard’s journey of how he was able to receive his second transplant.
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Posted June 16, 2009

Social Networking Among Transplant Patients
Nelson Freytes went to the hospital and ended up in a coma. He awoke with a new liver. What makes this story so fascinating is he never knew he needed a transplant until he had one. Nelson wanted to connect with others and as a result created transplantcafe.com. Join us for a cup of java and hear some ways he's made his transplant work for him.
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Posted June 1, 2009

Confessions of a Fashion Princess
Michelle Kats (Mishy) hasn't had an easy life, she was diagnosed with kidney disease at a very young age. That hasn't kept her from developing style and knowing who she is. Listen as Stephen and Lori travel with her along her journey of courage, hope and love.
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Posted May 19, 2009

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and Kidney Patients
Listen to this interview with Lana Kacherova, RN about this imminent pandemic, as she explains what it is and what people with kidney disease should do.
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Posted May 1, 2009

Celebrities Speak about Kidney Disease
Keep It Hollywood of the National Kidney Foundation promotes kidney disease awareness by screening actors to find out if they are at risk. Hear what several of the actors had to say when they were screened. Hear from Ann Lopez who gave a kidney to her husband comedian George Lopez.
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Posted week of April 27, 2009

Learn About Lupus
Did you know Lupus can lead to kidney disease? Wendy has taken on kidney disease, dialysis, and lupus with a positive attitude. In this show, she talks freely about her life and how chronic illness has affected her. She’s all about education. Listen in and educate yourself a little.    
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Posted week of March 18, 2009

Looking for an older KidneyTalk! Show?

Check our show archives:

KidneyTalk! Shows from 2008

KidneyTalk! Shows from 2007

KidneyTalk! Shows from 2006