Over 400,000 people in the United States suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and North Carolina ranks 9th in statewide prevalence of ESRD. Based on national statistics, it is safe to assume that about 11% of North Carolinians, or 900,000 people have CKD, with another 900,000 at risk for developing CKD. Scientific discoveries leading to a better understanding of kidney disease must be complemented by rigorous, community-based educational outreach that focuses on prevention and improved management of kidney disease.
Increased awareness of personal risk factors and increased knowledge about how the kidneys function will encourage North Carolinians to ask "Doc, how are my kidneys?" before they develop end-stage renal disease.
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Community partners and UNC Screening team for Bertie County |
The Kidney Education Outreach Program (KEOP) has the following objectives:
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Distribute prevention information to at-risk populations through sustained community-based activities
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Partner with community leaders and health care professionals to assess citizens' and primary carephysicians' understanding of risk factors for kidney disease
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Promote its message with public service announcements, the UNCKC web site, and community-based information sessions
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Examine the effectiveness of the KEOP activities to determine the educational strategies that result in earlier detection of patients with decreased kidney function and improved care of those patients
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Encourage at-risk citizens to ask their health care providers "Hey doc, how are my kidneys?"
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Analyzing samples at Montgomery Community
College |
Click HERE to download the KEOP Brochure.
For information about sponsoring an
information session in your community, or partnering with the UNCKC to
encourage citizens and primary care physicians to become better informed
about kidney disease, please contact:
Donna Harward
Director
of Education
UNC Kidney Center
CB# 7156
Chapel Hill, NC
27599
dhh@med.unc.edu
919-966-2561 ext.300
866-259-2230 (toll-free)