Patients and healthcare professionals are excited about AAKP’s new Web site www.aakp.org , unveiled at its National Convention in Orlando, Fla. During the last six months the organization has been revamping its Web site. All of the information AAKP offers, including magazine articles, electronic newsletters and free brochures have been moved to the new site. The site also includes an extensive library which contains past and present published information from AAKP; specific pages dedicated to chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis, transplant and pediatric kidney disease information; and a Renal Links Mall, which links to other Web sites in the renal community.

The most exciting portion of the new site is the AAKP My Health™ section sponsored by Roche. “ AAKP My Health allows patients to monitor their lab values and tells them what the values may mean for each specific condition. Patients will also be able to ask more informed questions of their healthcare team and increase their general knowledge of kidney disease,” says AAKP Executive Director and CEO Kris Robinson. “It is the first Web site of its kind in the renal community.” You will be required to register for AAKP My Health as a CKD patient, dialysis patient or transplant recipient. This is important because the charts and lab value feedback you receive is based on the type of modality you select.

Here are just some of the features of the new site. Patients can track:

• the progress of their lab results

• information about their medications

• doctor visits and prepare information for upcoming doctor visits

• contact information for their healthcare team

AAKP My Health provides the ease and convenience of monitoring your healthcare from anywhere Internet access is available. “In the wake of natural disasters such as historical devastating hurricane Katrina and the massive wildfires in California, AAKP My Health provides patients with a method to maintain and subsequently provide documentation and information about their medical history,” says AAKP President Donald Dowe. “We want to give patients every opportunity possible to be the leaders of their healthcare team,” says Robinson. “I believe this new site is another step in that direction.” This is a free service for renal patients. Only the patient who enters the information into the site will have access to it unless he shares his username and password with someone else. Internet users at every skill level will be able to navigate through the site easily.

Here’s how to register:

Step 1 . Log on to www.aakp.org. Click on the AAKP My Health button in the left navigational bar. Scroll down to the green box at the bottom of your computer screen that states “New to My Health.” Click on the blue Click here to register button. Fill in the information required. Your username is your full email address. Make sure you write down your password and place it in a secure location. When registering, you will have the chance to sign up for any of the FREE AAKP Electronic Newsletters. When you have finished completing this form, click on the Submit button. After submitting the registration form, you are given immediate access to AAKP My Health.

Step 2 . Click on the My Health Check button. Your healthcare provider performs a number of tests during your doctor visits. The tests are part of a routine checkup to monitor your health. In this section of the Web site you will be able to keep a record for yourself of these lab values. Just click on the appropriate test name, enter the values you received from your healthcare provider and click Submit. Once you submit your lab results, you will view a pop-up screen with information on whether your results are below normal, normal or above normal. If you are outside the normal range, the pop-up screen will give you information on what effects you may experience from being outside the normal range. You are also encouraged to discuss your results with your healthcare team. Your lab results are stored automatically in My Health Record.

Step 3. Click on My Health Record button. Record the appropriate information in the top three items ( My Medical Information, My Health Team Information, My Activity Status ). When you want to view your full charts with your previous entered lab values click on the appropriate chart at the bottom of the screen. The charts are a great way to monitor your progress over time. All charts are printable, so if you have questions about your lab values, print the chart and take it with you to your healthcare provider.

• The My Medical Health Information section allows you to store information about medications you take and why you take them.

• The My Health Team Information section stores contact information for your doctors, nurses, insurance, pharmacist and emergency contact.

• My Activity Status is a form you can complete online and print. It is an effective way to monitor how you’re feeling. Take this form with you to your next doctor appointment for further discussion.

AAKP My Health is geared toward your specific needs and modality. To gain the most from this tool, it is essential to maintain your account information in the My Information section of the site. Remember, the charts and lab value feedback you receive is based off of the type of modality you select. If you originally registered as a chronic kidney disease patient and you are now on dialysis, you will need to change your modality selection to ensure you receive access to the charts you require as a dialysis patient.

If you need to change your password or modality, click the Edit Profile link. You will gain access to your entire profile. Make whatever modifications are necessary and click the “submit” button at the bottom of the form. A page will notify you the changes have been made.

AAKP My Health also allows you to record information from your doctor visits in the My Doctor Visits section and you can test your knowledge of your medical condition in the My Health Quizzes section. When you answer all questions in a quiz correctly, you are provided with an official Certificate of Accomplishment.

Sign up today for AAKP’s My Health . Log on to www.aakp.org, it’s FREE. You can also call the National Office at (800) 749- 2257 if you have any questions. AAKP would like to thank Roche for sponsoring the AAKP My Health .

Jerome A. Bailey is the Communications Coordinator for AAKP.