Northwest Renal Network Network Consumer News For Northwest Renal Network Patients, Family & Friends

In December 2007, in collaboration with its Patient Advisory Committee, the Network inaugurated a new format and philosophy for its newsletter for patients, family, and friends, Network Consumer News.   Below is a list of issues, in both two-page and big-print (four-page) formats.   If you see anything you like or dislike about the new format or content, please fill out our Feedback Form and mail or fax it to the Network.

You may need Adobe Reader to read many of the documents on this page, but you can download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

See also our separate index of the Puzzles and Solutions that have been included with Network Consumer News.

The December 2009 issue is on Why Can't Patients Cover Their Access Arm with a Sheet or Blanket?. It's available in 2-page format at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.3.pdf and a large-print (4-page) version at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.3Big.pdf. With this issue we include an update of our flyer on The Role of Northwest Renal Network in Handling Complaints and Grievances, in both English (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/G/NetworkRole.pdf) and Spanish (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/G/QuejasProtestas.pdf). We also included another word search puzzle, which you can find at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/SeePuzzle.pdf.   The solution can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNP.htm.

The October 2009 issue is on Dialysis and Your (Health-Related) Quality of Life. It's available in 2-page format at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.2.pdf and a large-print (4-page) version at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.2Big.pdf. With this issue we include an update of our flyer on Helpful Things to Know (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/Helpful.pdf), which covers Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the Network Patient Advisory Committee, fistulas and other vascular access types, comparing dialysis facilities, home dialysis, and the health advantages of remaining active, including vocational rehabilitation. The issue also includes a word search puzzle, which you can find at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/QOLWordSearch.pdf.   The solution can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNP.htm.

The August 2009 issue is on The Journey of Transplant Evaluation It's available in 2-page format at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.1.pdf and a large-print (4-page) version at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv3.1Big.pdf. This issue includes a word search puzzle, which you can find at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/WordSearch.pdf.   The solution can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNP.htm.

The March 2009 issue is on how to Be A Survivor, outlining what you need to do to be prepared for disasters, including familiarizing yourself with your dialysis facility's emergency plans.   Find the issue at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv2.4.pdf (2-page) and http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv2.4big.pdf (large-print). We also included a crossword puzzle on disaster preparedness, which can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/Crossword.pdf), and a feedback form called "Tell Us What You Think" at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/TellUs.pdf.   We need to know what you think we're doing well, and what we can do better, so we can serve you best.   The answers to the crossword puzzle can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNP.htm

The January 2009 issue is on Voicing Concerns, with many helpful suggestions for dealing with any dissatisfaction you may have with your care.   Find the issue at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv2.3.pdf (2-page) and http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/NCNv2.3big.pdf (large-print). We included copies of our flyer on The Role of the Northwest Renal Network in Handling Complaints and Grievances, in English (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/G/ComplaintsGrievances.htm) and en espaņol (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/G/QuejasProtestas.pdf).

The October 2008 issue is on New Federal Rules and Your Care. It's available in 2-page and large-print (4-page) versions.   It discusses patient rights, patient safety, patient involvement, quality of life, patient satisfaction, quality improvement, and treatment options. With it we mailed a flyer on Helpful Things to Know (http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/Helpful.pdf), covering Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the Network Patient Advisory Committee, Fistulas and other vascular access types, comparing dialysis facilities, home dialysis, and the health advantages of remaining active, including vocational rehabilitation.

The August 2008 issue is on deprssion: It's Not All in Your Head. It's available in 2-page and large-print (4-page) versions. With it we mailed a Form for ordering free educational materials.

The February 2008 issue is on Remaining Active with Kidney Disease. It's available in 2-page and large-print (4-page) versions.   It refers to several useful resources, including "Keeping Your Job When You Need Dialysis" at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/KeepingYourJob.pdf, "A Kidney Patient's Guide to Working and Paying for Treatment" at http://www.lifeoptions.org/catalog/pdfs/booklets/employment.pdf, "Your Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage" at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/cmsPDCguide.pdf, and "Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: How to Join a Medicare Drug Plan" at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/JoinPDC.pdf in English and http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/P/NCN/cobertura.pdf in Spanish.

The December 2007 issue has been updated.   The current version is The Journey of Transplant Evaluation .   It's available in 2-page and large-print (4-page) versions.

See also our separate index of the Puzzles and Solutions that have been included with Network Consumer News.

Issues of Consumer News, in the format we used prior to December 2007, are indexed at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/consumernews.htm.