Healthcare Heroes Ensure Dialysis Patients Receive Lifesaving Care During Extreme Weather Events

Dialysis Patients at Risk During Natural Disasters

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, snowstorms, and wildfires can cause chaos and devastation, leaving many people stranded and without access to essential services. For dialysis patients, the impact can be life-threatening. Dialysis is a medical treatment that replaces the function of normal kidneys and requires regular sessions to clear the blood. Each missed session increases the risk of death by 10%. According to the National Kidney Foundation, one in 500 Americans is on dialysis, and extreme weather events can put many of them at risk of missing their treatments.

Unsung Heroes

During extreme weather events, healthcare providers who care for dialysis patients often become unsung heroes. They put themselves in harm's way to provide aid and support to their patients, ensuring that they receive the care they need to survive. Michael Sloma, the group vice president of operations at US Renal Care, is one such hero. On Christmas Day 2022, while most residents in upstate New York were getting ready to enjoy the festivities, Sloma was on a mercy mission to save the life of a woman who needed dialysis. Despite the dangerous conditions, Sloma and his team dug through the snow for three hours to create a path to the patient and eventually transported her to a hospital where she received life-saving treatment.

Disaster-Preparedness Teams

To meet the extreme-weather health challenge, dialysis-care providers across the US have created disaster-preparedness teams to keep their patients alive. These teams are made up of meteorologists, advisors from utility companies, and patient-care staff who meet twice daily when extreme weather endangers patients' lives. The teams can be a lifeline for dialysis patients, whether that's by driving a car through a storm, sailing a boat during a flood, or riding a snowplow through a blizzard.

Climate Change

Climate change is exacerbating the problem of extreme weather events, making it even more challenging for dialysis patients to receive the care they need. Mary Dittrich, the executive vice president and chief medical officer of US Renal Care, is deeply concerned about the increasing number of adverse-weather events and emergencies. She believes that these events are due to climate change and will worsen in the future. Dialysis-care providers must prepare for the worst while remaining confident in their ability to provide care for their patients.

Compassion and Resilience

Despite the challenges they face, healthcare providers who care for dialysis patients remain dedicated to their work. They work long hours, often in difficult conditions, to ensure that their patients receive the care they need to survive. For patients who receive their treatments in clinics, the care staff becomes like family, and patients often see staff for a minimum of 12 hours a week. These providers collaborate with other medical companies to provide supplies, generators, and other necessities during times of crisis.

Gratitude

Dialysis patients are among the most vulnerable during natural disasters, but they are not alone. Healthcare providers who care for dialysis patients are there to provide aid and support, putting their lives on the line to ensure that their patients receive the care they need to survive. Their work is not always recognized, but they are the unsung heroes who make a difference in people's lives every day. As Ariel Brigham, a dialysis patient who survived Hurricane Harvey, puts it,

"I'm so grateful to the people who helped me. They were amazing. They put their lives on the line for me."

Supporting Dialysis Patients During Times of Crisis

End-stage kidney failure often halts a person's ability to work, putting many dialysis patients within a low-income bracket. The financial burden of treatment can be crippling, with patients paying roughly $10,000 a year out of pocket for treatment. To support patients during times of crisis, organizations like the American Kidney Fund have developed disaster-relief programs. Patients can receive financial assistance to replace lost medications, fund renal-friendly food, cover the cost of transportation, and provide temporary housing.

Final Thoughts

Healthcare providers who care for dialysis patients are unsung heroes who put themselves in harm's way to provide aid and support to their patients during times of crisis. Dialysis-care providers have created disaster-preparedness teams to keep their patients alive, and organizations like the American Kidney Fund provide financial assistance to support patients during times of crisis. Despite the challenges they face, healthcare providers remain dedicated to their work, collaborating with other medical companies to provide supplies, generators, and other necessities during times of crisis. The compassion and resilience of these providers are a testament to the human spirit and a source of hope for dialysis patients across the country.

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The medical 'heroes' who help save the lives of kidney-dialysis patients when massive storms hit the US

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‍About the Author

Rich Foreman brings over 30 years of technology leadership to his role of CEO and Co-Founder of KidneySoft.  As founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy. Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber. He was also the Founding Chief Technology Officer at Cordico. Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020.  Rich also served 4 years as a Naval Officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.

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Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.