Dialysis patients urged to call for services

[okarol]

Dialysis patients urged to call for services

Posted: Sep 17, 2008 01:37 PM

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Health officials continue to urge kidney dialysis patients affected by Hurricane Ike to call (866) 407-3773 to locate dialysis services.

Many dialysis patients have evacuated from coastal areas to other parts of Texas. Others have remained in counties where their usual treatment services are not available.

The toll-free emergency locator service is available 24 hours a day and is provided by the Texas End Stage Renal Disease Network and the Texas End Stage Renal Disease Emergency Coalition.

Dialysis patients are encouraged to watch fluid intake and to heed dietary precautions.

People on dialysis need to receive the blood-cleansing treatment three times a week to stay alive.

DSHS also urges those who evacuated affected areas to wait for official word from state or local officials before returning to their homes.

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=9027732