KidneyWise National Summit Combats Alarming Statistics; 50 Million Americans Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

WASHINGTON, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Several members of the U.S. Congress, a former U.S. Surgeon General, and thought leaders from corporate, Non-Profit and Government convened at the KidneyWise National Summit to address the critical need to re-think prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) as unprecedented rising healthcare costs and the devastating toll of disease claims 50 million Americans.

The group met at the U.S. Capitol with the mission to curb the national epidemic, which consumes one-quarter of all Medicare expenses ($57.5 billion in 2007) and according to the National Cancer Institute, is more prevalent each year than all cancers combined.

KidneyWise Executive Director Leigh Reynolds said, "By bringing this group of thought leaders together with a focus of stopping CKD dead in its tracks, we are able to leverage the collective expertise to create a 'Healthsourcing' model which will have a lasting impact not only with the health of this country, but its economy, education system, and its government."

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu pointed out during his presentation, "We are largely a health illiterate society, and this KindeyWise platform is significant to help solve the 'how' as it relates to this epidemic of chronic kidney disease."

Captain Robert Tosatto, Director of the Medical Reserve Corps, said, "Chronic Kidney Disease and related illnesses are taking a heavy toll on this country, and that will continue if nothing is done to stop it. KidneyWise, and the 'WiseCommunities' platform, is the type of organization we want to work with to prevent disease and build community resilience."

Some other groups who attended the conference included:

America's Promise Alliance, The Aspen Institute, the CDC, Health Occupations Students of America, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Independent Insurance Agents/Brokers, The National Council of LaRaza, the Society for Human Resource Management, and Several Members of The U.S. Congress.

About KidneyWise

The PKD Foundation organized KidneyWise in response to the growing need of more than 50 million Americans affected by CKD.  KidneyWise uses open innovation to redefine prevention, laying the ground work for this initiative with medical, ethnographic, and sociological studies in real communities across the country – through a program called WiseCommunities.

For more information please contact: Leigh Reynolds 816-863-5577 – [email protected]

Visit – www.kidneywise.org

SOURCE KidneyWise