FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               Contact: Courtney Goodwin, 703-966-1214   
January 20, 2010

Dialysis Patient Citizens Unveils New Online Education Tools Helping Kidney Disease Patients Maximize Their Health, Avoid Complications

Nation’s Largest Dialysis Patient Organization Introduces New ‘DPC Classroom’ Web-Based Courses on Cardiovascular Health, Home Hemodialysis Options

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 20, 2010) – In order to help chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients avoid preventable health complications and better manage their condition, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) today announced the availability of two new courses in its online DPC Classroom series – www.DPCClassroom.org – to focus on the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health and home hemodialysis options for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.  The DPC Classroom offerings are designed to provide easy to understand, direct information for patients in a format they can access at their own convenience.

“We strive to act as a comprehensive resource for kidney disease patients and are pleased to deliver this important information to our members, other patients and family members who will greatly benefit from this education,” said DPC executive director Chad Lennox. “With CKD now impacting an estimated 27 million Americans, DPC is proud to  help those living with the disease and those who are at risk do all they can to maximize their health and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.”

Entitled “Heart of the Matter,” the DPC Classroom course on heart health covers the connections between bone health, CKD and cardiovascular disease; heart disease risk factors; and what patients can do to improve their heart health.  The “Home Hemodialysis” course includes an overview of ESRD treatment choices, description of dialysis options, history and benefits of home hemodialysis, information to help determine whether home hemodialysis is the right choice for them, and tips on adjusting to home hemodialysis.

Launched in late 2008, the DPC Classroom course on nutrition has received a wealth of positive feedback from DPC members and other CKD patients using the site as an education resource.  It offers information on nutrition management, maintaining a kidney-friendly diet, community support and the role of medication.

The DPC Classroom offerings are provided in part by funding from kidney community partners Nx Stage and Shire. 

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About Dialysis Patient Citizens
Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) is an independent, nationwide, non-profit, patient-governed dialysis patient organization dedicated to improving dialysis patients' quality of life by developing awareness of dialysis-related issues, advocating for dialysis and pre-dialysis patients, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers, and promoting favorable public policy.  DPC provides comprehensive information on kidney disease treatments, legislative policies and patient resources at www.dialysispatients.org.