Dialysis Patient Citizens Announces Creation of DPC Education Center

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Jan 15, 2013, 12:29 ET

New Affiliate Organization Will Empower Kidney Disease Patients through Education

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) announced the creation of a new affiliate organization, the DPC Education Center (The Center). The new organization, which is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, will work together with DPC to advance their shared mission of improving the quality of life of all kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

The Center is dedicated to improving kidney patients' quality of life and reducing the occurrence of ESRD through education and by developing awareness of dialysis and kidney disease issues, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers and developing favorable public policy solutions. It is currently led by a Board of Directors comprised of 14 ESRD patients, including 9 current dialysis patients and 5 transplant recipients. Nancy Scott, from Newark, DE, was elected Board President.

"With great excitement, I am pleased to announce the formation of the DPC Education Center," said Nancy Scott, Board President. "All kidney disease patients should have the needed information and empowered spirit to make choices that affect positive changes in their health. The Center will be a wonderful new resource for patients and the general public to learn about kidney disease and I am honored to have been chosen as Board President and eager to get to work."

The Center will focus on education to empower kidney disease patients to become active participants in their healthcare. Access to high quality educational resources and tools allows patients to take control of their disease, increase communication with healthcare providers and most importantly improve health outcomes. The organization will work to improve access to educational materials, promote preventative actions to stop or delay the onset of disease and expand partnerships to increase the flow of ideas.

"Dialysis Patient Citizens has had an extremely busy and productive few years, and as our activities expanded, it was necessary to expand our organizational capacity as well," said Hrant Jamgochian, DPC Education Center Executive Director. "The DPC Education Center will work together with DPC to combat kidney disease and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. In time, The Center hopes to become a trusted leader in advancing patient choice, access and health outcomes."

The Center will produce and promote educational tools through a variety of mediums, including the new DPC Education Center website, the newly designed DPC Classroom, print materials, webinars, conference calls, videos, mobile applications and others. Additionally, materials will be translated where possible to ensure wider access to patients from various backgrounds. To enable resources to remain at the cutting edge, The Center will rely heavily on patient feedback to drive future projects instead of dictating what patients want to see. Lastly, the organization will serve as an intersection for patients, families, providers and industry to come together to improve patient care. The new organization will be housed in the DPC offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

PRESS CONTACT:
Jessica Nagro
202-789-6931

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens