Provena Covenant Medical Center and The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI) have partnered to provide free early detection screenings, designed to help raise awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition that affects more than 960,000 Illinoisans and one in nine Americans.
The screening will take place Monday, September 20 at Provena Covenant Medical Center, 1400 W. Park in Urbana from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary and free parking is available. Screenings include blood pressure, blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, waist circumference, body mass index and urinalysis. The free screening program is open to all community members.
"Of all the people on dialysis in this country, 75% are there because of either diabetes and/or hypertension. The other 25% often have more unusual diseases that usually start with traces of blood or protein in the urine. More recently, protein in the urine is being recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so now almost everybody can benefit from the Kidney Mobile screenings," said Christie Clinic Physician Dr. J. T. Sehy.
"As key players in preventing kidney disease our partnerships are the best way to prevent and treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease," said Nicole Sisen, CHES and Director of Community Health Education of NKFI. "We hope to empower participants to be proactive about their healthcare and to take initiative about testing for the conditions that lead to kidney disease."
More than 73 percent of those who participate in the NKFI’s screening program find that they have at least one abnormal result which requires either an immediate referral and/or medication. Early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease, including lifestyle changes and medications, may SLOW or PREVENT its progression to kidney failure and lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States have increased by more than 20% over the last decade, causing kidney failure, loss of life and sky-rocketing health care costs. More than $57 billion of the US Medicare budget is allocated to treat CKD and $19 billion to the treatment of end-stage kidney disease.
Provena Covenant Medical Center and NKFI are dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. For more information about risk factors and World Kidney Day activities, visit www.nkfi.org.
About Provena Covenant Medical Center
Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois, is a Catholic faith-based hospital, where a tradition of clinical excellence and service to others come together to create powerful healing. A licensed 210-bed regional hospital serving 13 counties, Provena Covenant is one of east central Illinois' most advanced medical facilities offering a full scope of inpatient and outpatient care. For more information, visit www.provena.org/covenant.
About NKFI’s KidneyMobile® Program
In 2005, the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI) launched the nation’s first KidneyMobile®, a custom motor coach offering free mobile education and screening services to Illinois communities. The KidneyMobile is the nation’s only traveling chronic kidney disease screening program. Participants are invited on board the KidneyMobile® for an educational tour and short video featuring people whose lives have been touched by diabetes and kidney disease. For more information on KidneyMobile’s events and schedule, visit www.kidneymobile.org. |
