Professional Resources
The organizations listed on this page provide information about kidney disease and vascular access, as well as clinical and quality improvement-related resources.
American Association of Kidney Patients
AAKP is a national non-profit organization founded by kidney patients for kidney patients. They strive to educate and improve the health and well-being of patients and families by offering extensive information about chronic kidney disease (including pediatric cases) and treatment options Their web site also features a free program called AAKP My Health, designed to help patients manage and track their doctor’s visits, medications and lab tests. Patients can also view brochures, learn about educational programs and events, and sign up to receive AAKP newsletters and policy briefs.
(800) 749-2257
www.aakp.org
American Journal of Kidney Disease
Health care providers can browse or search current and past issues of the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation on this website.
(877) 839-7126
www.ajkd.org
American Kidney Fund
AKF is one of the nation’s top sources of direct financial assistance to kidney patients. Eligible kidney dialysis and transplant patients can receive help paying for expenses related to treatment, including procedures, travel, medication and a summer enrichment program for young kidney patients. In addition to learning about funding opportunities for patients, health care professionals will find information about conferences, CME opportunities and AKF fellowships.
(866) 300-2900
www.akfinc.org/fpr.asp
American Nephrology Nurses Association
ANNA is the professional organization for registered nurses who specialize in the care of patients experiencing the real or threatened impact of renal dysfunction. ANNA sets forth and updates standards of patient care, educates its practitioners, stimulates and supports research, disseminates new ideas throughout the field, promotes interdisciplinary communication and cooperation, and monitors and addresses issues encompassing the practice of nephrology nursing.
(888) 600-2662
www.annanurse.org
American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology
ASDIN was founded in 2000 to promote the proper application of new and existing procedures in the practice of nephrology with the goal of improving the care of nephrology patients.
(601) 924-2220
www.asdin.org
American Society of Nephrology
ASN is organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, including enhancing the field of nephrology by advancing the scientific knowledge and clinical practice of that discipline through stimulation of basic and clinical investigation, providing access to new knowledge through the publication of journals and the holding of scientific meetings, advocating for the development of national health policies to improve the quality of care for renal patients, cooperating with other national and international societies and organizations involved in the field of nephrology and using other means as directed by the Council of the Society.
(202) 659-0599
www.asn-online.org
AV Fistula First
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in close collaboration with key stakeholders in the renal community, is pleased to introduce a breakthrough initiative called "AV Fistula First". The purpose is to significantly increase the use of AV fistulas (AVF) as the primary vascular access in all suitable hemodialysis patients.
www.fistulafirst.org
Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists (CANNT)
The website features an active discussion forum for which users may register. The purpose of the discussion forum is to ask questions and share information. Intended users of the discussion area are hemodialysis access nurses/coordinators.
www.cannt.ca
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The mission of CMS is to ensure effective, up-to-date health care coverage and to promote quality care for beneficiaries. Its vision is to achieve a transformed and modernized health care system, and to accomplish its mission by continuing to transform and modernize America's health care system.
(800) 633-4227
www.cms.hhs.gov
End Stage Renal Disease Networks
The ESRD Networks are not-for-profit organizations that provide quality improvement projects and activities for the renal community. Each Network organization has information available for patients and providers about treatment modalities, quality of life and the AV Fistula First initiative.
www.esrdncc.org
Medical Education Institute
MEI’s vision is to create a world where people with chronic diseases are knowledgeable, active partners in their medical care, using treatment options that allow them to live full, productive lives; a world where healthcare professionals take pride in empowering patients to live as independently as possible.
(608) 833-8033
www.meiresearch.org
Projects of MEI include:
Home Dialysis Central: providers and kidney patients can see a complete listing of U.S. home dialysis centers, information on types of home dialysis and updates on home dialysis technology and equipment. Resources specific to providers include clinical outcomes, research briefs and information about vascular access.
(608) 833-8033
www.homedialysis.org
Life Options: a program of research, research-based education, and outreach founded in 1993 to help people live long and live well with kidney disease. A national panel of doctors, researchers, patients, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and ESRD Network directors reviews all Life Options materials and helps guide research. Materials cover multiple CKD issues including treatment options, vocational rehabilitation, and how-to manuals for the professional. Many of the materials can be downloaded.
(800) 468-7777
www.lifeoptions.org
Kidney School: Kidney School is an interactive, web-based learning program in 20-minute modules for patients. It was designed to help people learn what they need to know to understand kidney disease and its treatment, adjust to kidney disease, make good medical choices, and live as fully as possible. There is also learning opportunities available for the professional and continuing education credits can be earned.
www.kidneyschool.org
National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists
NANT is a nonprofit professional organization founded in 1983. NANT was established to improve the quality of care in the dialysis industry and promote education, recognition through certification and licensing, job security and employment opportunities for nephrology technicians.
www.nant.biz/store/
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
This clearinghouse website provides detailed information about treatment options, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation, for patients with kidney failure. The site also includes the NIDDK reference collection, a database of health education materials for patients and providers. The site is a service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
(800) 891–5390
www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov
National Kidney Disease Education Program
An initiative of NIH, NKDEP seeks to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by kidney disease. The website features a section for health professionals that includes information about the risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. The website also includes tools for estimating kidney function, patient care guidelines and patient education materials.
(866) 454-3639
www.nkdep.nih.gov/professionals/index.htm
National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
NKF seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation. The foundation’s Kidney Learning System™ provides healthcare professionals with clinical tools, free continuing education activities and online education resources along the continuum of care. KLS has extensive print and online resources for patients, families and the public about CKD, including a GFR calculator, CKD Clinical Action Plan and K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines. NKF also has several professional organizations that support the mission of making lives better for those with chronic kidney disease through development of policy, education, outreach and research:
The Council of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians (CNNT)
The Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN)
The Council of Nephrology Social Workers (CNSW)
(800) 622-9010
www.kidney.org
National Renal Administrators’ Association
NRAA is a nonprofit organization representing professional managers of dialysis facilities and centers throughout the United States. NRAA members include renal administrators, nurse managers, nurses, medical directors, technicians and financial/billing managers for dialysis clinics, which provide life-sustaining dialysis care to the majority of Medicare End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients. NRAA represents the interests of ALL facilities - hospital-based and freestanding, for-profit and non-profit, independent and chain, urban and rural. Through education, networking, information sharing and governmental representation, NRAA strives to ensure competence and enhance professionalism throughout the renal community.
(928) 717-2772
www.nraa.org
Nephron Information Center
This website contains comprehensive information for health care providers in the renal community, including a search engine for dialysis units, and links to FDA drug alerts and clinical trials. Providers can search for transplant centers and directly access Medline and pharmacology databases.
www.nephron.com
Renal Physicians Association
RPA is a national medical specialty association, whose members include physicians and practice managers in the field of nephrology. RPA offers coding and billing resources, updates on legislative priorities and advocacy efforts, and an extensive list of nephrology links.
(301) 468-3515
www.renalmd.org
Society for Vascular Surgery
SVS is a not-for-profit association that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 2,400 vascular surgeons dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease.
(800) 258-7188
www.VascularWeb.org
Society for Vascular Ultrasound
Founded in 1977, SVU (formerly the Society of Vascular Technology) is the only professional organization completely dedicated to the advancement of noninvasive vascular technology used in the diagnosis of vascular disease. SVU is comprised of more than 4,300 vascular technologists, physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals. SVU offers educational programs, publications, networking opportunities, government representation, and more. The mission of SVU is to represent the best interests of SVU members and promote quality vascular ultrasound services by providing educational, scientific and literary activities to our members, patients and the public.
(301) 459-7550
www.svunet.org
Society of Interventional Radiology
The Society of Interventional Radiology is a national organization of physicians, scientists and allied health professionals dedicated to improving public health through disease management and minimally invasive, image-guided therapeutic interventions.
www.sirweb.org
United Network for Organ Sharing
The UNOS Organ Center is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to facilitate organ sharing among transplant centers, organ procurement organizations and histocompatibility laboratories across the U.S. The primary functions of the Organ Center are to:
Assist in placing donated organs for transplantation
Assist in gathering donor information and running the donor/recipient computer matching process
Assist with transportation of organs and tissues for the purposes of transplantation
Act as a resource to the transplant community regarding organ-sharing policies
(804) 782-4800
www.unos.org
United States Renal Data System
The USRDS is a national data system that collect, analyzes, and distributes information about ESRD in the United States. The USRDS staff collaborate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), UNOS, and the ESRD Networks, sharing datasets and actively working to improve the accuracy of ESRD information.
(888) 998-7797
www.usrds.org
Veterans Administration Kidney Diseases Program
This Veterans Administration website has resources and information on treating kidney disease, including Pre-End Stage Renal Disease Clinical Practice Guidelines and other useful information.
www.va.gov/kidney/