Chronic Kidney Disease - Other Places To Get Help

This federal agency provides guides and other information on Medicare. The Official U.S. Government Site for People With Medicare (http://www.medicare.gov) provides useful information about Medicare enrollment, coverage, billing, appeals, and drug discount cards, as well as the latest Medicare policy changes impacting older Americans. Information on the Medicare Hospice Benefit and how to choose a nursing home is also included.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) provides information and conducts research on a wide variety of diseases as well as issues such as weight control and nutrition.

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), a federal agency, is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to people with kidney and urologic disorders and to their families, to health professionals, and to the public. NKUDIC answers inquiries; develops, reviews, and distributes publications; and works closely with professional and patient organizations and government agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.

The National Kidney Foundation works to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases by supporting research and educating health professionals and the public. Its Web site provides a wealth of materials, including printable brochures, and a newspaper for patients and their families called Family Focus.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). It was established by the U.S. Congress in 1984. UNOS collects and manages data about every transplant event occurring in the United States, facilitates the organ matching and placement process, and brings together health professionals, transplant recipients, and donor families to develop organ transplantation policy. UNOS:

• Matches donors to recipients and coordinates the organ-sharing process 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Maintains the databases that contain all clinical transplant data for every transplant event that occurs in the United States.
• Performs data analyses, fills data requests, produces the Annual and other data reports, and authors authoritative publications.
• Monitors every organ match to ensure adherence to UNOS policy, and works with the Board of Directors to develop equitable policies that maximize the limited supply of organs.
• Offers support to members of the transplant community. These services include seminar planning, providing educational programs and workshops, and much more.
• Provides assistance to patients, family members, and friends, and sets professional standards for efficiency and quality patient care.
• Raises public awareness about the importance of organ donation.
• Works to keep patients informed about transplant issues and policies.
• Offers comprehensive travel and event planning to assist organizations within the transplant community.