Disaster and Emergency Contacts — Alaska

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Comagine Health
Contact information for end stage renal disease providers and patients to use during emergencies and disasters. Includes medical resources, transportation, food, shelter, utilities and more.
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Vocational Rehabilitation

Comagine Health’s ESRD Network strives to promote optimal care for people with end-stage renal disease. Optimal care includes not only safe and quality care, but also improved patient independence and quality of life. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) provides a path to reduce the impact of kidney disease on your lifestyle and income.

These VR resources can assist you in returning to work or school.

Comagine Health ESRD

Social Security Administration

*Available in other languages at https://www.ssa.gov.

Home Dialysis Central

 

The Network is here to support your vocational rehabilitation efforts and to help remove any barriers. If you have any suggestions or comments or would like assistance with VR, please call Lisa Hall, patient services director, at 800-262-1514.

Emergency Preparedness

Current Closures

  • No current facility closures

Report Closures or Service Interruptions

Report to the Network any changes impacting normal facility operations, schedules or access to treatment as a result of power outage, impassable roads or evacuation. Notify the Network as soon as there is a known problem — including outside of business hours.

Online Report Form


Guide to Reporting Emergency Events to the Network

 

Resources for Providers

General

Local Support and Supplies

CMS requires facilities to contact their local disaster management agency at least annually and as needed for support with restoration of services or to obtain medical resources such as PPE in the event of a disaster or an emergency.

 

Network’s Role in Emergencies

Comagine Health ESRD Network 16 is required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct emergency preparedness and response activities to assist the renal patient and provider communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

In preparation for emergencies, the Network:

  • Encourages dialysis facilities to plan for emergency situations
  • Provides technical assistance in the development of emergency plans
  • Provides educational materials to the patient and provider community on topics related to emergency/disaster
  • Develops an internal Network plan for preparedness and response, including arrangements with backup Networks if local operations are impaired

During emergency responses, and per HIPAA and CMS policy, the Network:

  • Disseminates central contact numbers for dialysis providers in the affected area to assist patients and providers in coordinating the provision of dialysis services
  • Posts information about open and closed status of facilities on the Network website
  • Assists patients with contacting dialysis providers to arrange treatment
  • Assists family members with locating displaced patients
  • Assists treating facilities with obtaining necessary information to care for patients
  • Works with CMS or its contractor to maintain a database tracking system for patient whereabouts (dialysis centers and/or shelter locations)
  • Hosts conference calls with CMS, providers, vendors and other entities to coordinate care for patients
  • Enacts backup Network arrangements if our Network office operations are compromised. We have a CMS-approved mutual backup agreement with ESRD Network 2 in New York.

Contact Us

Phone: 206-923-0714

Patient phone: 800-262-1514

Fax: 206-923-0716

Kidney Education and Resources

Support Groups

Download our Virtual Peer Support information sheet.

Regional Support Groups

Virtual Support Groups

Home Dialysis Central (HDC) Discussion Groups

National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Online Community and Helpline

  • Kidney Transplant on HealthUnlocked
    Online community where you can share your experiences, ask questions and get answers that are accurate and up to date. Visit https://healthunlocked.com/nkf-kidneytransplant/about.
  • NKF Cares
    Helpline offering support for people affected by kidney disease. Designed for patients, family members and care partners. Call 1-855-NKF-CARES (855-653-2273) or email nkfcares@kidney.org.
  • NKF Peers
    Speak with a peer mentor who shares your experiences with dialysis, transplant, living kidney donation or COVID-19. Visit https://www.kidney.org/patients/peers to learn more.

 

If you know of a support group not listed here, please fill out this form so we can add it to our list.

 

Other Resources for Patients

We encourage patients to bring questions about these resources to their health care team.

Health care professionals who use these resources are responsible for evaluating the appropriateness of the content.

  • American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
    Organization for kidney patients that provides educational material about treatment options and resources.
    http://www.aakp.org
  • American Kidney Fund (AKF)
    Kidney health awareness, education and prevention, along with financial assistance to help low-income dialysis and transplant patients access health care.
    http://www.kidneyfund.org
  • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
    Infection prevention for dialysis patients, including dialysis access.
    https://www.cdc.gov/dialysis/patient
  • Dialysis Patient Depression Toolkit
    Depression toolkit designed by patients for patients with contributions from professional collaborators.
    English | Spanish
  • Depression & Dialysis: Removing the Stigma and Strengthening our Mental Health
    Recording and slides of October 2018 webinar hosted by patient leaders in collaboration with AAKP and NKF.
    https://bit.ly/3jsAByW
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Internet Access Assistance Program
    FCC Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that provides eligible households with a discount on broadband internet services and connected devices.
    https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/acp-flyer-i.pdf
  • Home Dialysis Central
    Information for kidney patients about all types of treatment options.
    https://www.homedialysis.org
  • Kidney School
    Dialysis-related learning modules for patients and staff.
    https://www.kidneyschool.org
  • My Kidney Life Plan
    Tool to assist patients with selecting a treatment option to fit their lifestyle
    https://mykidneylifeplan.org
  • Medical Education Institute (MEI) Life Options Rehabilitation
    Materials for kidney patients about treatment options, rehabilitation and maintaining an active lifestyle.
    http://www.lifeoptions.org
  • National Coordinating Center (NCC)
    Educational materials for the ESRD community, including new dialysis patients.
    https://esrdncc.org/en/patients
  • National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
    Information and resources for kidney patients about kidney disease and treatment options
    http://www.kidney.org
  • Neighborhood Navigator (AAFP)
    Interactive tool to connect patients with resources in their community
    https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/the-everyone-project/neighborhood-navigator.html
  • Renal Support Network (RSN)
    Patient-run organization providing support for patients affected by chronic kidney disease.
    https://www.rsnhope.org

 

Kidney Transplant

A kidney transplant is when a kidney from another person (living or deceased) is placed inside your body to do the work that your own kidneys can no longer do. With a kidney transplant you can live a normal life and do not require any form of dialysis while the kidney continues to function. Every patient has the right to be referred and evaluated for a transplant.

You need to pass some medical tests to get a transplant. These tests look to see if your body is healthy enough for the surgery and if you will be able to take the medications needed after surgery to help your body adapt to the new kidney.

Trained staff work with you to determine if transplant is right for you. If you have been told by one transplant center that you are not a candidate, you may qualify at another transplant center with different criteria.

Your doctor should discuss all of the risks and benefits of kidney transplant. Transplants are not always successful. If your transplant fails, you can still pursue other treatment options and get back on the transplant list.

Selecting a Transplant Center

Kidney transplant centers have varying criteria for patients. Use the Kidney Transplant Compare tool to find the best match for your needs. You can search, save and compare centers by medical criteria, support services, wait times, survival rates and location.

Living Kidney Donation

Oregon Transplant Centers

Washington Transplant Centers

Kidney Transplant Resources

Transplant Financial Assistance