Transportation Assistance Program
TKF provides transportation assistance for dialysis patients, transplant candidates and transplant recipients who, without TKF support, would be faced with missing life-sustaining treatments. End stage renal disease patients must attend three dialysis treatments each week to sustain life. Each treatment is four to five hours in duration, not including the travel time to and from the dialysis clinic. Just one missed treatment can lead to hospitalization or emergency room visits by end stage renal disease dialysis patients yet transportation is the single most significant barrier to attending dialysis treatment. TKF strives to provide access to care and to relieve the burden of transportation so patients can focus on their health. Transportation assistance includes, but is not limited to: AccessRide tickets, bus passes, fuel cards, tickets for regional transit providers and private door-to-door transportation providers.
Kidney Disease Prevention and Screening Program
TKF offers prevention programming through kidney disease screenings. The screenings are free, provided by TKF staff and volunteer health professionals. Each screening consists of an intake form to determine personal and family history of kidney-related health issues, hypertension and diabetes, a blood pressure reading, Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation, and urinalysis. TKF offers a volunteer physician or nurse practitioner to speak one on one with each participant at the end of the screening to provide TKF educational resources and encouragement for seeking follow-up care with a primary care physician as needed. Screenings can be conducted anywhere, including workplaces, health fairs, churches, and community events. Participants receive the screenings at no cost and educational resources are also distributed at no cost.
Kidney Transplant Education Program
TKF provides education about the kidney transplant process for both potential donors and recipients. Living kidney donation saves thousands of lives each year, and more education is needed to help people understand the ability to donate a kidney. Nearly 90% of waitlisted organ transplant candidates need a kidney – in Tennessee alone, more than 2,600 out of 3,000 candidates need a kidney.
Emergency Assistance Program
The Emergency Assistance Program provides funds to help those affected by kidney disease with any expenses related directly or indirectly to end stage renal disease. Individuals may request up to $250 per year in assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities, medication, food, dental, emergency transportation and medical equipment as well as other basic needs.