PREPARE NOW Study
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Organizations
  • Contact
  • Blog

Why knowing your GFR earlier is crucial

9/2/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
When patients in her support group complained that they did not find out about the level/stage of their kidney function or the GFR (glomerular filtration rate) until it was too late and they were headed towards dialysis, Lana Schmidt decided to do something about it. 

"Blood labs throughout the United States need to change their GFR lab reporting to show the exact number of the GFR and the stage of kidney disease," says Schmidt.

Currently, it is common practice to report on the blood labs GFR greater than 60 normal, when 59 is stage 3. This change is needed. 

​"So both patients and their doctors are informed whether or not they have kidney disease and at what level." 


It has taken years of advocating, but Lana was able to get this change made at her local hospital in Quincy, Illinois. 

What difference does this make? 
By finding out about their GFR before a patient is considered in kidney failure, they can change their diet to slow or stop the progression, get educated about the disease, or even join one of the many programs available to learn more about it.

"Finding out earlier, as we know with any disease, is always better than later," says Schmidt. 

Though she is happy to see the change at her local hospital, Schmidt doesn't plan on stopping to advocate for this change at other health systems nationwide. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All
    Kidney
    Kidney Care

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Organizations
  • Contact
  • Blog