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THE BEAN:
Kidney Empowerment

Demographics: What are They and Why are They Important?

1/26/2023

 
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Your demographic information is a vital part of your care. It is protected by HIPAA and therefore cannot be shared or altered without patient consent. 

What is considered demographic information?
  • Name
  • Date of Birth (DoB)
  • Address
  • Phone Number(s)
  • Email address(es)
  • Insurance information
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender

Why is it important?
Demographic information is vital for medical billing, insurance, communications, and patient identification. Out-of-date demographic information can lead to:
  • Missed appointments due to failed reminder calls
  • Insurances being unable to pay for appointments
  • Missed statements and letters from our office that may contain sensitive information
  • Missed information or inability to leave voicemails regarding medical questions or updates from your physician

How you can update your information:
  • In-office with our annual chart review or new patient paperwork
  • Download the paperwork from our website to mail in or bring at your next appointment (https://www.jaxnephrology.com/patient-forms.html) 
  • Through the patient portal (view only on the Healow App) (https://mycw28.eclinicalweb.com/portal2741/jsp/100mp/login_otp.jsp)
  • Call our office at (904) 260-9898
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We try to update this information on an annual basis. You can review our previous post on HIPAA (Be HIP(PA) and Know Your Rights) to learn how we protect your information. If you have questions, concerns, or any changes in the new year, please do not hesitate to call our office. 

2022 Quarter 4 KUDOS+ Employee of the Quarter: Samantha

1/20/2023

 
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We believe in recognizing and acknowledging the growth and hard work our team has shown. To do this, we began a program within the office we call KUDOS+. Our team is able to give praise and acknowledge exemplary work by their teammates throughout the quarter. At the end, the teammate with the most KUDOS+ given by their team is appointed the teammate of the quarter. Samantha, our Remote Patient Monitoring Care Coordinator is our fourth quarter teammate of the Quarter for 2022. We had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about what makes her an outstanding employee.


What is your schooling, background and experience?
  • I have an AA degree and I'm working toward my Bachelor’s degree in aviation maintenance. I spent the past 10 years in the Army as a helicopter mechanic serving all over the world.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
  • I love spending time with my family, enjoying all aspects of food, and listening to podcasts about true crime. 
What got you interested in healthcare?
  • I love to help others. Being able to build relationships with people and help them through their health journey has been a pleasure.
What are your passions? What drives and motivates you?
  • I enjoy problem solving and brainstorm solutions.
Do you have any special certifications or achievements? If so, what are they?
  • I have various certifications from the Army that helped me develop my career there. I hope to continue my education in the future. 
Do you have any other fun facts about yourself you’d like your team and our patients to know?
  • I am full of a variety of “useless” information about a wide range of topics and a self-professed true crime expert and aficionado. 
What do you enjoy most about being part of the team?
  • The environment that Danae and Dr. Munjal have created fosters opportunities for growth, development, and fun each day. We are able to learn from our mistakes and train to help one another. ​

​We are so thankful to have Samantha on our team, empowering our patients every day. Way to grow, Sam! 

January 19th, 2023

1/19/2023

 
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Did you know that your electrolytes play a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance?

What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are substances that hold a positive or negative charge and can thus conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Electrolytes (and their charges) found in the body are:
  • Sodium (+)
  • Magnesium (+)
  • Potassium (+)
  • Calcium (+)
  • Chloride (-)
  • Phosphate (-)
  • Bicarbonate (-)

What do electrolytes do?
Electrolytes assist in regulating the fluid balance in the body and muscle contraction through chemical reactions.

What can cause changes in electrolytes?
  • Sweating
  • Poor diet and hydration
  • Medications
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  • Diabetes
  • Heart failure
  • Blood pH levels

How Dr. Munjal Helps:
Dr. Munjal can order a Basic or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (BMP/CMP) to measure the electrolytes’ levels present in the blood. From there, more specified tests can be ordered to determine a precise cause or imbalance. Supplements, infusions, or dietary recommendations can be ordered. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to monitor progress and changes. 

Munjal’s Musings:
The electrolyte levels in your body are not necessarily a reflection of your nutrition or intake, but a measurement of their balance in your blood. In the next Kidney Korner installations, we will be going into more detail on sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. 

If you have any concerns about your electrolyte levels, contact your Primary Care provider or nephrologist. As always, stay safe and healthy! 

​Resources:
 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369961/

This website is for informational and educational purposes ONLY. While we strive for accurate, general medical information, this does not replace professional medical advice. Do not rely solely on this information. Please consult with your physician for more information regarding your specific needs. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.

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New Year's Goal Ideas

1/12/2023

 
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“The best time to do something significant is between yesterday and tomorrow.” Zig Ziglar

With the start of the New Year comes the start of new personal and professional goals. We want to help you set and reach and exceed them. We have provided a list of goal ideas from all areas of life. We also have downloadable goal sheets on our website to help you kick-start your plans.

Health Goals
  • Weight management
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Eat a healthier diet (incorporate more whole foods, reduce sodium, monitor fluids, etc.)
  • Exercise more regularly (walks, yoga, water aerobics, etc.)
  • Quit smoking/drinking (attend support group meetings, consult physicians, go to therapy, etc.)
  • Cook more at home (try new recipes, bring our old family recipes, bake, etc.)
*Before making any significant health choices, consult your physician(s) to ensure your goals are safe for you.*

Personal Goals
  • Be more positive (write daily gratitude lists, go to therapy, speak more positively to yourself and others, meditate, etc.)
  • Spread more kindness through compliments or random acts of kindness
  • Pick up a new hobby (knitting/crocheting, scrapbooking, painting, etc.)
  • Save more money (open a new savings account, $5 challenge, reduce spending, etc.)
  • Travel more (plan a vacation, visit family, explore your local area, etc.)
  • Read more (try new genres!)
  • Spend more time with friends and family (organize a family reunion, schedule dates with friends, plan parties, etc.)
  • Get involved with and support the community (volunteer, go to religious/community events to learn about the culture in your area, eat at local restaurants, etc.)
  • Talk less, listen more

Professional Goals
  • Learn more skills at work
  • Cross-train in other positions
  • Find a new job in a different field
  • Go back to school to pursue a dream career
  • Become a better teammate or leader
  • Create more learning opportunities for staff (webinars, training events, book clubs, etc.)

Check out our previous post, New Years Preparations, to learn more about goal setting!

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    About The Bean 

    The Bean is a blog on a mission to share valuable information in the world of Nephrology.  We believe in empowering through education and The Bean is a great place to find resources and information on topics related to high blood pressure, kidney disease, dialysis, and topics that enhance the kidney minded lifestyle.    Enjoy and be sure to subscribe!

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13241 Bartram Park Blvd., Suite 305
Jacksonville, FL  32258
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Tel: (904) 260-9898
​Fax: (904) 260-9891
Interested in joining our team?  Jacksonville Nephrology is dedicated to compassionate patient care through teaching and giving our team the tools needed to go above and beyond.  Learn more about current openings.  Learn More​
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Empowering Through Education.

  • Home
  • Your Team
  • How We Help
    • Dialysis
    • Hyperkalemia
    • Hypertension
    • Hyponatremia
    • Kidney Disease
    • Nutrition
    • Proteinuria
    • Remote Patient Monitoring
    • Transplant Managment
  • Dialysis
  • Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Book List
  • Online Access
    • Connect Health Tracker
    • Healow App
    • Patient Portal
  • Contact Us
  • The Bean