National Kidney Foundation of Florida

Patient services - low income and other Kidney patients receive medicines, transportation, seminars, retreats and other Kidney disease related services. Through the direct aid program, the National Kidney Foundation of Florida provided $139,702 in direct financial aid to patients for groceries, gas, transportation, utilities, and rent in fiscal year 2023. This aid was distributed to 1326 individuals over the course of the year.the hawthorne fund - designed to assist Kidney transplant recipients who meet stated criteria with the cost of their post-transplant medications, including immunosuppressant and prophylaxis drugs. In fiscal year 2023, the nkff distributed nearly $68,516 to over 58 individual patients for assistance.public education - literature and speaking engagements to educate the public of the needs of Kidney patients and to teach about the early detection of the disease.

Community services - the Florida Kidney patient support group provides free virtual educational seminars for patients with Kidney disease and their caregivers.the nkff partners with community leaders and educators to hold monthly meetings, supporting hundreds of patients and their caregivers across the state. During the last fiscal year, the nkff conducted twelve support group meetings and continues to grow this program through additional organizational partnerships. In addition, nkff employs a full time patient advocate to lead the meetings and work with patients one on one to promote better outcomes.

Professional education and research - seminars, literature and research funding to educate healthcare personnel in the treatment of Kidney disease.

Item 1. Public education - nkff provides literature and holds speaking engagements to educate the public of the needs of Kidney patients and to teach about the early detection of the disease.item 2. Nkff holds professional educational seminars designed to bring up-to-date renal-specific information to nurses, social workers, technicians, and dieticians who care for Kidney patients. During the last fiscal year, the nkff partnered with several organizations to conduct virtual educational opportunities for healthcare professionals in addition to holding the renal professional forum (rpf). 111 professionals attended rpf and received up to 18 continuing education credits for attending all sessions.item 3. Patient advocacy - nkff is unique in that it has a full-time experienced patient advocate. The advocate travels around the state offering programs designed to appeal to the specific audience. His recent presentations are to health care professionals, corporations, transplant centers, the naacp and other organizations, college students, and the general public. He is also available 7 days a week by phone or email to patients or the general public.