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In the past year, the NKFDV's KEEP program has grown immensely in the Delaware Valley. KEEP is a free health screening offered by the NKF for adults who either have diabetes, high blood pressure or family history of these conditions, and are thus more susceptible to developing kidney disease. Individuals at the screening receive blood pressure and weight measurement tests, as well as various blood and urine tests for signs of diabetes and kidney disease.
Eight KEEP screenings were held over the past year in the following locations: Philadelphia (Olney, West Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia), Newark, Del., Allentown, Pa., Trenton, N.J., and Wyncote, Pa. Three hundred and eighteen individuals were screened for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease at these screenings, and 35 percent of individuals screened in the past year learned that they may have kidney disease.
NKFDV also held informational sessions for individuals of all ages in the Greater Delaware Valley. Ninety-three Philadelphia seniors attended the workshop "Kidney Disease and Its Risk Factors," while 900 middle school students learned about kidney disease and the importance of organ donation through our Valentino H. Pasquarella Sr. In-School Organ Donation Program.
Additionally, various patient services were offered to Delaware Valley residents who are afflicted by chronic kidney disease. Our emergency financial assistance program allowed 153 area dialysis and recent transplant recipients to receive financial aid in the total amount of $30,143. Through our transportation reimbursement program, funded by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, more than 400 dialysis patients in Pennsylvania received financial assistance with their transportation to and from dialysis three times a week.
For questions or information about the programs and services the NKF offers to the residents of the Delaware Valley, contact Rachel NDiaye at Rachel.Ndiaye@kidney.org.
