Pre-Dialysis Education: Healthy Start
Ochsner offers this early education and training program for pre-end stage renal disease patients and their families. Basic Healthy Start educates patients with mild chronic renal impairment on how to manage the disease process and how to maintain renal function. Advanced Healthy Start is a more intensive one-on-one session of at least one hour each with the dietitian, social worker and nurse. The nurse assesses learning style and special learning needs, reviews physiology of the kidneys, provides instructions on treatments, teaches patients about their medications and reviews laboratory test results. Ochsner’s dietitian develops and instructs patients on their individualized diet prescriptions and meal planning. Ochsner’s social worker provides an in-depth assessment of financial and psychosocial needs as well as help in determining the choice of treatment. Patients can be referred by any treating physician by calling 504-842-6076 in New Orleans, 985-868-8187 in Houma or 225-226-1464 in Baton Rouge. Written feedback is provided to the referring physician. Early referral for access placement is encouraged. For Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank community physicians please visit the Find our Doctor link on the right-hand side of this page.
