Dialysis Patient Organizations Form Groundbreaking Partnership to Empower and Educate Patients

Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC Education Center and the Shad Ireland Foundation Combine Efforts to Improve Patient Quality of Life

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), the DPC Education Center and the Shad Ireland Foundation (SIF) are proud to announce a new partnership effort aimed at empowering dialysis patients and improving patient quality of life. Under this new partnership, the organizations will collaborate on innovative and engaging educational resources starting with the Baseline™ Your Health Program, a technology driven patient empowerment tool that educates and inspires patients to take an active role in their life by taking control of their disease, as pre-dialysis, dialysis or transplant patients.

"We are excited about this unique collaboration between DPC, the Shad Ireland Foundation (SIF) and the DPC Education Center," said Hrant Jamgochian, DPC and DPC Education Center Executive Director. "Teaming up with the Shad Ireland Foundation will allow us to capitalize on the unique skills and expertise of the Foundation to better inform and empower the DPC community and beyond. We look forward to working closely together to expand our reach and strengthen our mission of improving patient quality of life."

"While the Baseline Program has something for all chronic kidney disease patients, I am particularly excited about the potential the Baseline tools have to help, not only kidney patients awaiting a renal transplant, but also their prospective kidney donors as they too, prepare for transplantation," stated Shad Ireland, Executive Director, SIF. "This may be the first time that comprehensive resources focused on diet, weight loss and exercise have been available for both members of the donor and recipient team and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to move this initiative ahead in partnership with DPC and the DPC Education Center."

The three organizations share a common mission and goal of educating and empowering those affected by kidney disease and reducing the impact of kidney disease on individuals, families and the country as a whole. This dynamic partnership will unite the technological expertise of the Shad Ireland Foundation with the membership power of DPC and educational reach of The Center. Combined, the three organizations hope to develop, implement and disperse cutting-edge educational tools and resources that enable kidney disease patients to be better-informed and more active participants in their care.

Work has started on a 90 day proof of concept for the Baseline Your Health Program, with the purpose of taking theoretical findings and providing hard data to support improved patient care. In the future DPC and the Shad Ireland Foundation will partner broadly on advocacy issues, joint messaging, Hill meetings and joint briefings. The Center and the Foundation will join forces to build national awareness of kidney disease and collaborate on patient-centric research efforts and jointly pursue grant funding opportunities.

About Dialysis Patient Citizens: DPC is America's largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients. With a membership of more than 24,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families, DPC's mission is to improve the quality of life of dialysis patients by engaging policy makers, providers and the public. Through patient education, empowerment and advocacy, DPC works to increase awareness about kidney disease and promote favorable public policy. More information: www.dialysispatients.org

About the DPC Education Center:  The DPC Education Center is dedicated to improving kidney patients' quality of life and reducing the occurrence of ESRD through education and by developing awareness of dialysis and kidney disease issues, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers, and developing favorable public policy solutions.  The Center is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization of Dialysis Patient Citizens. More information: dpcedcenter.org  

About the Shad Ireland Foundation: The Shad Ireland Foundation is an international non-profit organization that is actively exploring ways to create strategic relationships that lead to the development of tools and resources, which positively impact individuals, families and communities affected by chronic kidney disease. More information: www.shadirelandfoundation.org

PRESS CONTACT:
Jessica Nagro
O: 202-789-6931
C: 202-870-2141

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens