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Free kidney disease screening Sunday at Massena Memorial Hospital

Posted 11/2/12

MASSENA -- The Northeast National Kidney Foundation will be holding a Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) at Massena Memorial Hospital’s Dialysis Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. …

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Free kidney disease screening Sunday at Massena Memorial Hospital

Posted

MASSENA -- The Northeast National Kidney Foundation will be holding a Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) at Massena Memorial Hospital’s Dialysis Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.

The program will give “at risk” individuals of the North Country an opportunity to detect early kidney disease.

People 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease are encouraged to attend the KEEP screening Sunday. The screening will provide participants with a health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine testing and the opportunity to discuss their health and review results with the onsite clinician, nephrologist Dr. Khurram Mumtaz

“Twenty-six million adults in the United States have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at risk,” said Mumtaz. Most people with kidney disease are not aware of it, he said. “Routine blood and urine tests can be useful in diagnosing kidney disease. The community has high prevalence of common causes of chronic kidney disease such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension and that makes screening programs such as the KEEP (Kidney Early Evaluation Program) initiative very useful and important for early detection of chronic kidney disease,” he said.

“We have been trying to bring this screening program to the North Country for four years,” explained Darlena James, RN and Dialysis Center Director. “We want to get the word out early so people can make sure they have the day available to come for this free screening. Anyone with a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure are encouraged to participate.”

After the screening the National Kidney Foundation will contact participants with their results, send the results to their clinicians with their permission, refer them to a clinician or public health facility, if needed, provide additional information, education and support, and invite participants back to attend a KEEP screening every year.