Dialysis Patient Citizens is a U.S.

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

based in our nation's capital dedicated to improving dialysis citizens’ quality of life by advocating for favorable public policy.

History

Dialysis Patient Citizens was founded in 2004 with the stated goals of advocating for

self-care Self-care has been defined as the process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and to actively management of illness when it occurs. Individuals engage in some form of self-care daily with food ...

, fostering and strengthening partnerships among

patients A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, optometrist, dentist, veterinarian, or other health c ...

and

caregivers A caregiver or carer is a paid or unpaid member of a person's social network who helps them with activities of daily living. Since they have no specific professional training, they are often described as informal caregivers. Caregivers most commo ...

, achieving adequate dialysis-related funding, and ensuring up-to-date, optimal clinical protocols.

Membership

Currently, DPC has 28,000 members. Membership is free and open to dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families. Members have the opportunity to take part in guiding the organization's policies and mission.

Organization

DPC is a patient-led organization. The

Board of Directors A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

is made up of patients currently on dialysis or who have been on dialysis, but now have a

kidney transplant Kidney transplant or renal transplant is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant is typically classified as deceased-donor (formerly known as cadaveric) or living-donor transplantati ...

. Through membership surveys, DPC members can help set the organization's advocacy and education priorities. Membership can also provide input into the organization's Board-approved public policies. The national organization is overseen by a Board of Directors, which is currently headed by Andrew Conkling. Board members are elected to two-year terms. DPC's

bylaws A by-law (bye-law, by(e)law, by(e) law), or as it is most commonly known in the United States bylaws, is a set of rules or law established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authorit ...

require the President, Vice President and a majority of its Board to be current dialysis patients.

Goals

The stated long-term goals of DPC are to be an organization that plays an advisory role to the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

, the

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer M ...

(CMS) and dialysis providers and that works to achieve superior education for dialysis and pre-dialysis patients.

Advocacy

DPC brings patients to Washington, DC every year and have held more than 1,000 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff through these efforts to increase public awareness of dialysis issues.

Patient Ambassadors

DPC Patient Ambassadors are volunteers throughout the United States who advocate on kidney care issues. DPC educates Patient Ambassadors on how to advocate for dialysis patients through regular Patient Ambassador calls. DPC has held Patient Ambassador Meetings on a wide range of topics including transplantation,

Medicare Part D Medicare Part D, also called the Medicare prescription drug benefit, is an optional United States federal-government program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for self-administered prescription drugs. Part D was enacted as part of the Medica ...

Medigap Medigap (also called Medicare supplement insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance) refers to various private health insurance plans sold to supplement Medicare in the United States. Medigap insurance provides coverage for many of the co-pays a ...

, charitable assistance and health disparities.

State Dialysis Days

DPC State Dialysis Days are held throughout the year in various states. DPC Patient Ambassadors, dialysis patients or family members of dialysis patients, and DPC Staff meet with state legislators at the State Capitols to educate lawmakers about matters of importance to dialysis care. DPC has participated in state advocacy efforts across the country.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official Website

ESRD resource for Medicare.gov
Renal dialysis Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C. Organizations based in Washington, D.C. Organizations established in 2004 Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.