NRAA Announces Presentation Schedule for Third Annual Medical Directors' Workshop and Nephrology Symposium in Chicago

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In less than two months, several experts in nephrology are slated to present during NRAA's third annual Medical Directors' Workshop and Nephrology Symposium in Chicago, Illinois, October 17 and 18. In joint providership with Cleveland Clinic, this two-day workshop was designed by the NRAA to address the most pressing medical challenges faced by today's dialysis facilities.

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This unique workshop brings colleagues and industry experts together to discuss practical tools and applications for Medical Directors and Nephrologists. Patient care and improvements in dialysis administration are among some of the topics to be addressed in October.

Conference presentations include:

Intradialytic Cardiac Stunning: You Just Think You Know What Is Going on During the Dialytic Process ‒ Many dialysis providers are unaware that much of the disease they treat is generated by deficiencies in how dialysis is delivered to patients. Chris McIntyre, M.B.B.S., D.M. of University of Nottingham will share how dialysis providers can adequately identify what those deficiencies are and how to improve outcomes without increasing costs.

Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements – Suggestive data has shown that nutritional supplements can make a difference in the mortality and hospitalization of hemodialysis patients. Dan Weiner, M.D. of Tufts Medical Center will discuss how the usage of protein supplements can produce significant benefits for hemodialysis patients.

Preemptive Transplantation ‒ Doctors can expect positive outcomes by implementing a preemptive transplantation protocol for kidney disease patients. Emilio Poggio, M.D. of Cleveland Clinic will offer step-by-step instruction on what needs to be done when preparing patients for a kidney transplant, as well as when to refer dialysis patients to a transplantation doctor.

The Quality Pyramid, Where Care Must Go to Make a Real Difference ‒ Using the metaphor of a pyramid, Allen Nissenson, M.D. of DaVita Inc. will be presenting the new quality paradigm. The presentation will challenge dialysis providers to rethink the current quality model by focusing on what's the most important to patients: an improved quality of life.

Acute Kidney Injury: Ethics, Regulation and Real Life ‒ Although it may seem as though dialysis is the most accessible and appropriate treatment in light of kidney disease, this may not be right for everyone. Rebecca Schmidt, D.O. of West Virginia University will offer a different viewpoint about the importance of patient choice in making a decision about dialysis.

The third annual NRAA Medical Directors' Workshop and Symposium is a separate event immediately following the NRAA Fall Conference and Facility Leaders' Workshop, also held in Chicago.  To register, visit the NRAA website, www.nraa.org. The workshop's early bird registration rate is available through September 8, 2014 and is $195 for members and non-members. Discount packages are available to those who register for two or more components of the conference. For full registration details, visit www.nraa.org.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 10584, for contact hours (TBD).

About NRAA
NRAA is a nonprofit association representing dialysis providers throughout the United States. Our membership is primarily community-based small dialysis organizations (SDOs) and medium sized dialysis organizations (MDOs), which are both for-profit and nonprofit, serving patients in urban, rural and suburban areas in free-standing or hospital-based facilities. For more information, go to www.nraa.org.

Media Contact:
Marc Chow, NRAA Executive Director
Phone: (215) 564-3484 x2294

SOURCE NRAA