News Releases

MEI Releases New, Animated Kidney Failure Treatment Options Videos

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is pleased to release six animated 2-minute videos on Life Options. The new videos explain treatments for people with kidney failure—peritoneal dialysis, standard hemodialysis (HD), daily home HD, nocturnal HD, transplant, and comfort care—in images and easy-to-understand terms. Watch them here.

MEI is pleased to announce the receipt of two 2023 Digital Health Awards, which honor the world’s best digital health resources:

• My Kidney Life Plan is an evidence-based decision aid for people who need to choose between dialysis, a kidney transplant, or comfort care. Users select their most important values and see how each value would be affected by each option. Results can be printed or emailed to the healthcare team to begin a shared decision-making conversation. My Kidney Life Plan won a Merit Award in the Web-based Resource/Tool category.
• Ready-Set-Home eClasses on Home Dialysis Central are Smartphone-friendly, free courses for those looking to learn about an array of subjects from Dialysis 101 and Feelings, Coping, and Relationships, to traveling on home dialysis. The classes, available in English and Spanish, received a Merit Award in the Mobile Website category.

March is National Kidney Month, and the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce collaboration with investigative journalist Carrie Arnold (2022 National Fellow, Center for Health Journalism) on two free online events on Thursday March 9th, in honor of World Kidney Day. Carrie has spent the last year exploring issues in dialysis for Mother Jones magazine.

MEI to Host World Kidney Day Webinars for Patients, Dialysis Clinic Staff

March is National Kidney Month, and the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce collaboration with investigative journalist Carrie Arnold (2022 National Fellow, Center for Health Journalism) on two free online events on Thursday March 9th, in honor of World Kidney Day. Carrie has spent the last year exploring issues in dialysis for Mother Jones magazine.

New Study Highlights Value of Patient-Centered Care for Kidney Failure

A recent study conducted by a team of researchers from the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) sheds light on how patients with kidney failure evaluate their health throughout their treatment journeys. The results highlight the importance of considering patients' unique health and lifestyle values when choosing a treatment option.

MEI Celebrates 30 Years of Improving Health for People with CKD

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is proud to announce that we are celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2023. Founded in 1993 by Edith Oberley, who was her husband’s home hemodialysis care partner for 20 years, MEI specializes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our core philosophy is that hope motivates—and education empowers—people to become active self-managers of their disease, who can help create their own best health outcomes.

MEI Releases New Patient Education Booklet on Choosing Treatment Options for Kidney Failure

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) offers a new booklet, Choosing My Future with Kidney Failure, to help people understand how each treatment option may affect their lifestyle, so they can make a choice that is the best fit for their lives.

MEI Welcomes New Program Director

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is pleased to welcome Jennifer Ravert, RN as its new Program Director. In this role, she will contribute her nephrology nursing expertise and passion for improving patient outcomes to a variety of current and future initiatives.

MEI Releases New Continuing Education on Endovascular AV Fistula Creation and Use

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has released a brand-new continuing education (CE) course about Endovascular AV Fistula Creation and Use.. The course is available for dialysis nurses and technicians, and counts for one credit of CE.

All New Kidney Failure Treatment Matcher Offers Values-based Decision Making for All Treatment Options

Medical Education Institute (MEI) has launched a beta version of its all-new evidence-based decision aid for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), My Kidney Life Plan. Written at a 5th grade reading level, the tool is a complete update of the award-winning My Life, My Dialysis Choice, and now contains ALL ESKD treatment options: transplant, dialysis, and active medical management (“comfort care”). Each set of options can be toggled on and off by users, and the final version will be in English and Spanish. The 1-page summary is an Advance Directive for ESKD options choice.

New Guide: How to Talk to Patients About Home Dialysis

Talking about treatment options with patients whose kidneys have failed is a difficult conversation. Home Dialysis Central, a program of the non-profit MEI, has released a guide to help clinic staff discuss treatment options to make this challenging task easier and more effective—with four steps:

Continuing Education Available for Nurses to Support Home Dialysis Patient Travel

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has released a continuing education (CE) opportunity for nephrology nurses to learn how to support travel planning for home dialysis patients. For $10, nurses can earn 1.00 credit of CE.

MEI Offers Dialysis Clinics a FREE Patient Fluid Management Poster

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is launching a new, Fluid Management Poster during National Kidney Month to help educate hemodialysis patients about how to feel their best. Dialysis clinics can download the FREE PDF from the MEI store and take it to any print shop with an included permission letter. Many local and online print shops will print the poster at 24”x36” for $30 or less.

MEI Offers Nurse Webinars in March to Support Home Dialysis Travel

Nephrology nurses can learn how to support travel for PD and home HD patients in a webinar offered by the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI), supported by unrestricted educational grants from Fresenius Medical Care North America and NxStage Medical.

Medical Education Institute and Home Dialyzors United Announce Collaborative Response to CMS-3409-NC - Request for Information; Health and Safety Requirements for Transplant Programs, Organ Procurement Organizations, and End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities

Medical Education Institute (MEI) is excited to announce the collaborative effort of MEI and Home Dialyzors United (HDU) in response to the CMS Request for Information, focusing on End Stage Renal Disease Facilities. Together our organizations represent the voice of more than 10,000 home dialyzors and more than 50 years of collective experience in the field.

MEI Updates eGFR Calculator to Remove Race as a Variable for Estimating Kidney Function

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has followed the recommendation of a National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology task force to remove race as a variable for estimating kidney function.

MEI Promotes Patient Education During National Health Education Week

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is highlighting its approach to kidney patient education during National Health Education Week (NHEW), October 18-22. Effective patient education is at the core of the MEI mission: to help people with chronic disease learn to manage and improve their health.

MEI Releases Endovascular AV Fistula Education for Dialysis Technicians and Nurses

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has released an educational supplement to the 6th Edition of the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician. Endovascular AV Fistula Creation and Use is a free download developed by MEI with an educational grant provided by Becton Dickinson and Company (BD).

MEI & Kidney Academy Partner to Educate Patients & Professionals

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is honored to announce a cooperative partnership with Kidney Academy. The relationship serves to promote and share educational content for kidney professionals and the patients they serve.

New Solo Home HD Section Debuts on Home Dialysis Central

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) recently released an in-depth resource about solo home hemodialysis on Home Dialysis Central. Solo Home HD: Taking the Plunge offers supportive information for users of the only home HD machine currently FDA-approved for solo daytime use: NxStage.

MEI Seeks Patients to Participate in Study of Kidney Treatments

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI), in cooperation with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, is seeking patients to discuss their experiences of living with three or more treatment options for kidney failure. The Goodness of Fit study will help inform development of a measure to assess whether a dialysis choice suits a patient’s lifestyle and values.

Home Dialysis Central Launches New Mini-Courses for Patients

In conjunction with National Kidney Month, the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is launching nine new home dialysis patient education online mini-courses. Ready-Set- Home eClasses are a new, free resource from MEI’s Home Dialysis Central program. The dynamic, mobile-friendly lessons were designed to be convenient and easy to understand, and are written to give patients knowledge and confidence about home treatment.

MEI Partners with Docola in Winning KidneyX Covid-19 Proposal

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI), which develops easy- to-read, evidence-based kidney patient education, and Docola, a social-good organization with a secure, online, HIPAA-compliant patient education platform, are partners in a winning KidneyX proposal.

Home Dialysis Central Publishes List of ETC Participating Clinics

Madison, Wisconsin—A new KidneyViews blog post from Home Dialysis Central links to a list of clinics participating in the new ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) Model. ETC aims to increase home dialysis and access to transplant.

Patient Education is Key for Clinics Using New Payment Models

New CMS Payment Models that aim to reduce costs, incentivize home dialysis and transplant, and slow CKD progression are now in effect, so participating clinics will need to make education a central focus of patient care.

Educational materials from the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) support values-based, patient-centered treatment choices. These materials will also help clinics meet the goals of the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative.

Enrolled in the ETC Model? MEI Can Help with Patient Education

An increased emphasis on patient education will be critical for renal and medical clinics operating under new Medicare (CMS) payment models. The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has many free and low-cost, award-winning tools and resources designed to improve patient engagement in care and communication with the care team.

MEI Launches Two New Kidney School Learning Modules

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is launching two new learning modules for its award-winning patient education program, Kidney School. The new modules have an upgraded design to be more interactive and easier to use on mobile devices. They were developed with unrestricted educational grant support from Fresenius Kidney Care.

MEI Welcomes New Director of Research and Development and Two New Board Members

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) recently hired a new key staff member and added two new Board of Directors members. “We are thrilled about these additions to our team of staff and advisors—their strong, diverse backgrounds and commitment to helping people with chronic diseases will help ensure that MEI continues to innovate and advance our mission!” noted MEI Executive Director, Dori Schatell, MS.

MEI Updates Kidney School Nutrition Module

Launched in 2002, Kidney School offers free, tailored education for people with stages 4–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sixteen interactive modules at the 6th grade reading level help patients and family members learn about kidney disease, treatment options, coping skills, lab tests, diet and nutrition, and much more. Each online module creates a Personal Action Plan. Audio files and PDFs in English and Spanish are also available.

MEI Releases Animated Dialysis Fluid Video for National Kidney Month

For National Kidney Month in March, the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is releasing a new video animating fluid compartments in the body, and explaining how and why to remove water gently during hemodialysis (HD). The video was produced in partnership with NCLab and the world-renowned Dr. John Agar.

Poster at ASN Kidney Week Demonstrates Efficacy of Online Ultrafiltration Rate Calculator

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) and Barwon Health will discuss the effectiveness of Home Dialysis Central’s Ultrafiltration Rate Calculator, which will be presented as a poster during ASN Kidney Week in Washington DC, November 5–10.

MEI Raises Awareness of Invisible Disabilities

In recognition of Invisible Disabilities Week, October 13–19, the nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is releasing vehicle window clings. An invisible disability is a health condition that cannot be seen from the outside, yet can significantly limit or challenge someone’s movements, senses, or activities.

MEI Releases New Chronic Kidney Disease Educational Poster

The nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) now has a chronic kidney disease (CKD) educational poster for use in physicians’ offices and clinics to help educate patients. The full-color, 24” x 36” poster is best used in conjunction with MEI’s 'Take Charge of Your Health' CKD brochure, which are take-home reminders with the same key CKD information.

MEI Adds Two New Continuing Education Courses for Nurses

The nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has added two new continuing education courses for nurses to its continuing education website. Each hour-long course is available for $10 for 1 credit.

MEI Welcomes Brouwer-Maier to Board of Directors

The nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is delighted to welcome Deborah Brouwer-Maier RN, CNN to its Board of Directors. Ms. Brouwer-Maier, a nephrology nurse with more than 35 years of experience in acute and chronic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, is currently the Vascular Access Marketing Manager for Transonic.

New MEI CE Course on Starting a Home Hemodialysis Program

The nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has released a new self-study CE course for nurses on how to start a home hemodialysis program. Based on the manual Implementing Hemodialysis in the Home developed by the International Society for Hemodialysis, the course is certified by the California Board of Registered Nursing and counts for 4.0 CE hours.

Surveys Show Life Options Visitors Have Personal Interest in Kidney Disease

Recent LifeOptions.org, surveys find that 75% of site visitors have a very personal interest in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The CKD patient education site from the nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) attracts 3+ million annual visitors who want to learn how to preserve kidney function, have a good life with CKD, or learn about treatment options for kidney failure. Life Options offers resources for kidney professionals as well.

Medical Education Institute Celebrates 15-year Focus on Home Dialysis as Administration Announces Kidney Health Initiative

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) celebrates 15 years of raising awareness and use of peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis through Home Dialysis Central, which launched on July 1, 2004.

MEI Releases Instructor Slides for Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 6th Edition

The nonprofit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has created 28 colorful decks covering all nine modules of the 6th edition Core Curriculum. The fully illustrated slides—containing many new figures not available in the book—offer detailed speaker notes, and are the perfect complement to any dialysis technician training curriculum or review course. Each deck has about 30 slides, for a 60-minute class with discussion. Training Slide Decks for the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 6th Edition

MEI Offers Free Shipping on ‘Help, I Need Dialysis!’ Book During National Kidney Month

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) will offer free shipping on all orders of the award-winning Help, I Need Dialysis! book during National Kidney Month in March.

MEI Releases New CKD Brochure at ASN Kidney Week

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) will debut a new tool to help nephrologists talk with patients about chronic kidney disease (CKD) during ASN Kidney Week in San Diego, CA, October 23–28. CKD: Take Charge of Your Health, will help patients understand what CKD is, stages, symptoms to report, and—most importantly—their vital self-management job. Pick up a sample at the MEI booth: #2533 or order at store.mei.org.

Home Dialysis Central Discussion Group Reaches New Milestone

The closed Home Dialysis Central Facebook discussion group now has more than 4,000 members, a milestone that demonstrates the value of online community support and information sharing. Administered by the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI), the group welcomes dialyzors, care- partners, and professionals who are interested in the lifestyle and advantages of home treatments.

New Article on Organ Stunning on Home Dialysis Central

The non-profit Medical Education Institute released a new Life@Home patient article about the vital topic of organ stunning on its Home Dialysis Central website, written at a 6th grade reading level and fully referenced and illustrated.

MEI Now Offers E-versions of the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 6th edition

The new Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician is now available as an eBook for Kindle or iBook. As with any eBook, the document is fully searchable, and citations in the text link to references. Both the eBook and print copy can be purchased from www.meiresearch.org/cc6. The cost of the eBook is $27.99; or $35 for the soft-cover print copy.

MEI Launches Effort to Help Kids and Families Affected by Kidney Disease

During National Kidney Month, the non-profit public charity Medical Education Institute has launched a national effort to raise money to help children and families affected by kidney disease. HOPE4Kids with KIDney Disease aims to build kidney disease education and support tools that are specialized for kids and families with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

CKD affects kids of all ages: in 2015, 1,375 kids and teens developed kidney failure. However, as the numbers are small, few resources focus on the unique challenges faced by kids, including diet, self-image, growth problems, hospital stays, and difficulty with school and activities. Dialysis may be necessary to treat kidney failure if a kidney transplant is not immediately available or possible.

Self-tests for the 6th Edition Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician are Now Available

Practice self-tests for the new Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician are now online at www.mei.org/cc6.

The questions are intended to help students prepare for patient care employment—or for the dialysis technician certification exam and were reviewed by two experienced dialysis technician educators, Jeff Boyd, CHT, and Rosa Watson, CHT.

MEI Releases Spanish Translations of its PATH-D Tools for Partner Communication of Home Dialysis Tasks

Doing dialysis at home means integrating new tasks and responsibilities into daily life.

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has released Spanish translations of its Partner Agreement on Tasks for Home Dialysis (PATH-D) tools. Supported by Fresenius Kidney Care, the translations will help Spanish speaking kidney patients and care partners to sort out who will do which of the tasks for PD or home HD.

MEI Celebrates 25 Years of Giving Hope to People with Kidney Disease

Medical Education Institute (MEI) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018. Founded in 1993 by patient advocates Edith Oberley, Paulette Sacksteder, and William Hofeld, the award-winning non-profit educates patients and families about chronic kidney disease (CKD) using a unique, evidence- based approach to help them become their own experts, self-manage at a high level, and improve their own health outcomes. MEI also advocates for improved patient care, helps professionals understand patient perspectives, and promotes better matching of dialysis options to patients’ values and lifestyle.

MEI Wins National Award for UFR Calculator on Home Dialysis Central

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is a Silver Award Winner in the 19th Annual Digital Health Awards for its Ultrafiltration Rate Calculator on Home Dialysis Central. Ultrafiltration rate (UFR) is the speed at which water is pulled out of the blood during hemodialysis. The Digital Health Awards honor the world’s best digital health resources.

6th Edition of the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician is Now Available

The new Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician is here! Purchase the 6th edition as a soft-cover print book for $35 at www.meiresearch.org/cc6. MEI will offer two ebook formats (EPUB and Mobi) for $27.99 each in early 2018.

MEI Shares Analysis of the Impact of Proposed Senate Health Bill on Kidney Patients

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI), through its program Home Dialysis Central , has posted a legislative analysis of the “Better Care Reconciliation Act” (BCRA).

Appearing in the KidneyViews blog , Teri Browne, PhD, MSW, NSW-C examines details of the bill and explains how it will affect health coverage for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

MEI Launches All-New Life Options CKD Support Website

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has re-launched its first (1995) and most popular chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient education website: LifeOptions.org

MEI Will Exhibit at the NKF-WI Symposium in Madison

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) will exhibit at the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin’s 2016 'The Changing Climate of Care' Dialysis Symposium on Thursday, November 10th.

MEI Dialysis Decision Aid Now in Spanish—and Mobile App

The free, award-winning My Life, My Dialysis Choice decision aid by the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is now available in Spanish to help more people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) learn how each type of dialysis may affect their lifestyle and health values.

Medical Education Institute Releases New, Free Ultrafiltration Rate Calculator During National Kidney Month

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has launched a brand new Ultrafiltration Rate Calculator on its Home Dialysis Central website.

MEI Releases Video Series on How to Have A Good Future with Kidney Disease

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) has updated its video series How to Have a Good Future with Kidney Disease.

MEI Begins Work on 6th "Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician"

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is beginning work on the sixth edition of the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician. Currently in its fifth edition, the Core Curriculum is the most widely used training resource for dialysis patient care technicians and nurses.

NKF-WI Symposium a Great Midwestern Alternative to ASN Conference

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) will participate as an exhibitor at the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin’s 2015 Dialysis Symposium on Thursday, November 5.

MEI Wins National Award for Chronic Kidney Disease Booklets

The non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is a Merit Award Winner in the 22nd annual National Health Information Awards, for two new booklets on chronic kidney disease (CKD).

American Association of Kidney Patients Endorses “My Life, My Dialysis Choice” Decision Aid

American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) has officially endorsed My Life, My Dialysis Choice, the online treatment decision aid developed by the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI).

Home Dialyzors United Endorses “My Life, My Dialysis Choice” Decision Aid

Home Dialyzors United (HDU) has officially endorsed My Life, My Dialysis Choice, the on-line treatment decision aid developed by the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI).

MEI Educational Materials Written at 6th Grade Reading Level, an Exception to New Study Findings

A new study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Kidney Disease shows that 90% of chronic kidney disease (CKD) educational material is written above the recommended health literacy level.

MEI Releases New PATH-D Tools for Partner Communication Around Home Dialysis Tasks

People with kidney failure and their care partners have new tools to help sort out who will do which of the tasks associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) or home hemodialysis (HD) treatments.

MEI Releases NEW Chronic Kidney Disease Education Booklets for National Kidney Month

In conjunction with National Kidney Month, the non-profit Medical Education Institute (MEI) is releasing two new educational booklets to help people slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) and improve their health.

The Medical Education Institute Welcomes Dr. Ebony Boulware to Board of Directors

L. Ebony Boulware, MD, MPH has agreed to become the newest member of the non-profit Medical Education Institute’s Board of Directors.

Schatell Receives ADC Special Recognition Award

Dori Schatell, MS, MEI Executive Director received a Special Recognition Award during the 35th Annual Dialysis Conference.

MEI Dialysis Decision Aid Receives Aesculapius Award of Excellence

My Life, My Dialysis Choice (MyDialysisChoice.org), a free, online decision aid, has received the 2014 Aesculapius Award for Excellence.

MEI Dialysis Decision Aid Receives 2014 GOLD Web Health Award

My Life, My Dialysis Choice (MyDialysisChoice.org), a free, online decision aid, has received a 2014 GOLD Web Health Award in the Web-based Resource/Tool category.

My Life, My Dialysis Choice Decision Aid 2.0 is Here!

The Medical Education Institute has updated its innovative My Life, My Dialysis Choice Decision Aid. Decision Aid 2.0 is a free, web-based tool designed to help people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) see which type(s) of dialysis will be the best fit for their lifestyle and health values.