THE PULSE

National Kidney Disease Education Program Offers Family Reunion Health Guide

To increase awareness about kidney disease in the African American community, the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) is offering a Family Reunion Initiative designed to increase dialogue about kidney health at family reunions nationwide. NKDEP has developed an easy-to-use Family Reunion Health Guide that contains important health information related to the connection between diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease that can be shared with family members.

Sometimes a simple note letting loved ones know their health is important to you is all that is needed. The NKDEP Family Reunion Health Guide also provides a sample note to help develop a personal letter to send to family members to let them know their health is important. After writing the note, participants can make copies of it and attach it to the Questions and Answers about the Kidneys and Kidney Disease fact sheet to share with their family.

The NKDEP Family Reunion Health Guide provides readers with talking points on the most important information family members should know about kidney disease.

To get your family off to a healthy start this reunion season, visit www.nkdep.nih.gov/familyreunion to order or download a free copy of the NKDEP Family Reunion Health Guide and learn more about maintaining your family’s kidney health.

Aug. 1 is National Minority Donor Awareness Day

National Minority Donor Awareness Day will be observed in the Southland on Aug. 1 to inspire organ and tissue donation among African American, Latino, Asian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Native American populations.

Donation is critical to the more than 13,500 Californians waiting desperately for transplants who come from the multi-cultural community; more than 40 percent of those waiting reside in the Southland, said Ralph D. Sutton, African American community development coordinator for OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue recovery agency serving the greater Los Angeles area.

Kidneys represent the organ of greatest need across all ethnicities. Interestingly, the percentage of multicultural kidney transplant recipients is virtually identical to the percentage on the waiting list, which demonstrates the fairness of organ allocation rules. Latinos represent nearly half of kidney transplant candidates, and the proportion of African Americans waiting for kidneys is two-and-a-half times their share of the general population. In addition, Asians and Pacific Islanders represent 14 percent of kidney transplant candidates, which is substantially greater than their share of the general population.

Since 1977, OneLegacy has served as the bridge between donors and patients awaiting life-saving transplants. OneLegacy serves 19 million residents in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area and is the primary source of information regarding organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Southern California.

Information: (800) 786-4077 or www.onelegacy.org.

Consumer Protection Bill Safeguarding Calilf.’s Pharmaceuticals Advances

Senate Bill 1307, authored by state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, aimed at protecting the public and consumers from harmful counterfeit pharmaceuticals continues to advance in the legislative process.

The measure won support recently from the State Assembly Appropriations Committee.

S.B. 1307 clarifies existing ambiguities in current state law relevant to the electronic tracking and monitoring of pharmaceuticals (known as e-pedigree) and allows the health care industry additional time to comply with requirements and ensure the most efficient and cost effective technologies are employed.

The drug e-pedigree program was enacted in 2004, and is intended to provide a system of tracking prescription drugs to prevent the counterfeiting, diversion or misbranding of vital medications from the point of manufacture until they reach a pharmacy or hospital. However, because of the complexities and difficulties in the technology needed to properly implement an efficient statewide electronic pedigree system, S.B. 1307 calls for a graduated implementation schedule that begins in 2011 and ends in 2015. The measure also includes provisions for the grandfathering of existing drug supplies and requires the Board of Pharmacy to develop regulations for verifying and validating the receipt of pharmaceutical shipments.

California authorities are currently investigating 20 counterfeit drug investigations. It is estimated that there may have been as many as 3.6 million counterfeit prescriptions issued to Californians in 2007.

Senior Care Bill Passes Assembly Health Committee

Legislation that would help prevent bias in senior care facilities and nursing homes has passed the Assembly Health Committee.

Senate Bill 1729, authored by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California, would train licensed health professionals about the unique needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors. The legislation would help create safe environments within senior care facilities that are free from bias for all older Californians. The Assembly Health Committee passed S.B. 1729 with a 12-5 vote.

S.B. 1729 would require licensed health care professionals who have constant interaction with seniors to participate in a training program that focuses on preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Many health professionals already receive cultural diversity training, but it does not include information and education about LGBT issues.

Basic rights, such as the choice to live in the same nursing home with a partner and the right to hospital visitation are routinely denied to same-gender couples in older age, according to a 2000 study from the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The study also shows that same-gender partners lack essential protections, including Medicaid benefits and access to pensions, which typically protect the homes and retirement funds of surviving spouses who are married.

Free to Breathe™ Lung Cancer 5K Set for Aug. 3

The second annual Free to Breathe™ 5K run/walk and 1.5 mile walk will take place Aug. 3 at Dockweiler State Park, 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey, Calif. Registration opens at 7 a.m. and the 5K run/walk and 1.5-mile walk begin at 8:30 a.m.

Registration is $25 by mail until July 28, $25 online until July 31 and $30 onsite Aug. 3.

Additional activities include a morning health expo and a community rally that will take place immediately following the race. Prizes will be given to all individuals who raise $1,500 or more.

Sponsored by the National Lung Cancer Partnership, all proceeds will benefit lung cancer research, education and awareness.

Information: Kenda@National LungCancerPartnership.org, (608) 233-7905 or www.FreeToBreathe. org.