Empowering Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Effective Strategies

Learning about Carol Bourne’s Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease

In 2019, Richmond resident Carol Bourne was confronted with alarming news – her kidneys had completely failed. This diagnosis came shortly after she moved to Virginia, primarily to be closer to family after a lengthy hospitalization for another illness.

The former public relations professional went on hemodialysis for a year, a treatment that involves being attached to a machine for hours each week to perform the function of her kidneys. She later transitioned to home dialysis. During this period, she discovered a program designed to improve her health – and her chances of receiving a kidney transplant. This program is part of the Division of Nephrology at VCU Health.

Understanding The Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease, which affects 1 in 7 U.S. adults, typically progresses through five stages, often unnoticed until the final stages. The condition begins with the failure of the kidneys, which are responsible for eliminating waste and excess fluid from the body through urine. Unmanaged diabetes or high blood pressure are the most common culprits, leading to the accumulation of waste and fluid in the body, which can result in symptoms like nausea, swelling, muscle cramps, and brain fog, and potentially death if untreated. The optimal treatment for many patients with chronic kidney disease is a kidney transplant, but due to the long wait or physical ineligibility, many turn to dialysis as an alternative.

Introducing the Renal Rehab Program

The Renal Rehab program, created by Danielle Kirkman, Ph.D., is designed to help those with chronic kidney disease prepare for transplant surgery and recover afterward. The program uses the principles of exercise physiology to improve the patient’s underlying medical condition through exercise.

Many patients, like Bourne, feel too frail and unwell to exercise safely by themselves, particularly given their medical condition. The Renal Rehab program provides a supportive and safe environment to help them build their strength and endurance.

This invaluable program was developed in collaboration with Jason M. Kidd, M.D., Gaurav Gupta, M.D., Dhiren Kumar, M.D., and Anna Vinnikova, M.D., of VCU Health’s Hume-Lee Transplant Center and the Division of Nephrology.

Research and Patient-Centered Work in Renal Rehab

The Renal Rehab program incorporates both lab-based research and practical application to create the most beneficial programs for patients. Lab research focuses on understanding the cellular-level effects of exercise on cardiovascular health in patients with chronic kidney disease, while the patient-focused work aims to reduce the frailty often associated with these conditions.

Dr. Kirkman and her team work alongside the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at VCU to set up a similar program for patients with liver disease and liver transplant recipients.

The Future of Renal Rehab and Insurance Coverage

The Renal Rehab program aims to make a case for obtaining third-party payer reimbursement for these services. This is an essential step, as it would provide a lifeline for patients like Bourne, who has seen significant benefits from the program both before and after her transplant.

“It’s really done wonders for me. It’s better than any other program I’ve ever been in, and I would recommend it highly,” Bourne said of the Renal Rehab program. “And I just don’t know why it’s not available to everybody because it really is a lifesaving and life-affirming kind of program.”

And beyond the exercise training, the program also provides a supportive social atmosphere which is highly appreciated by the participants.

For more information about the Renal Rehab program or for a referral, VCU Health kidney patients can speak to their care teams.

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