FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On the forefront of nutritional education and patient self-care management, Kenneth Kleinman M.D., FACP, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, with the help of a team of renal-dietitians, nurses and patients with kidney disease, has created RenalTouch^TM - a cutting-edge, interactive touch-screen multimedia software program for the nutritional education of dialysis patients.

“The dietary requirements and restrictions of kidney disease patients are exceptional, as it directly affects their health progress, amount of time spent in and out of the hospital and lifespan. That is why we designed RenalTouch^TM as another means to assist doctors, dietitians and dialysis staff in communicating critical nutritional guidance and information,” says Dr. Kleinman, also president of the Nephrology Educational Services and Research Inc., and medical director of the South Valley Regional Dialysis Center, both in Southern California. “It is estimated that only 50% of dialysis patients adhere to their treatment regimen. This complex diet includes multiple dietary and fluid restrictions, often with the requirement for multiple medications,” he continues. “Compliance cannot be expected unless the individual understands the basic components of the renal diet and the medical risks of non-compliance, including increased hospitalization and pre-mature death.”

“RenalTouch^TM gives patients a basic understanding of the component breakdown in their diet and food choices and their effect upon the management of kidney failure. The program, used at the patient’s chair or bed during dialysis treatments, also allows the medical staff the ability to assess their patient’s knowledge and proficiency and deficiencies,” adds Kleinman. Although the majority of the program is devoted to nutritional education, RenalTouch^TM also communicates core knowledge relating to adequacy of dialysis, assessment and maintenance of vascular access and information on treating anemia and bone disease management.

RenalTouch^TM is a 10-section program, which uses touch screen technology to enhance the patient’s knowledge of nutritional therapy for kidney disease. The patient’s goal is to master the initial components of the renal diet, emphasizing basic mineral, electrolyte and fluid information. Patients are advised to study each section in order, but can also access individual sections at any time for special study or reinforcement. In Café Gourmet, a cyberspace cafeteria, the patient’s tray is loaded with breakfast, lunch and dinner foods. At checkout, they receive immediate feedback about the proper or improper dietary components in their selections, as well as information as to whether or not they are within or have exceeded their dietary prescription.

The 10 sections include:

1. Introduction
2. Protein
3. Sodium and Fluid
4. Phosphorous, Calcium, Vitamin D and PTH
5. Potassium
6. Vascular Health
7. Anemia
8. Vitamins and Herbs
9. Calories
10. Café Gourmet

The program is individualized for each patient, remembering information such as height, weight, and dietary prescription. In addition, patients take a short quiz at the end of each section to help them commit to memory the new, or perhaps forgotten, information. “We hope that this knowledge will introduce or reinforce proper food choices in the patient’s home environment or out in public,” says Dr. Kleinman.

RenalTouch^TM is all-inclusive, containing the hardware, software, accessories, installation, user documentation, technical support and built-in touch screen. It is simple to use for all patients, especially those who may have poor literacy skills. The program will be available lease. RenalTouch^TM will debut at the National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology meetings in San Francisco, California, in October of 2001.

“The pre-dialysis population with chronic renal disease feeds a rising dialysis populace by 6-8% a year. It is estimated that this group of patients may range from 6-20 million patients in the U.S. alone. Potentially, educating pre-dialysis patients earlier and more effectively will contribute to a significant slowing of this number,” concludes Dr. Kleinman. The doctor is already in development with his team on a similar RenalTouch^TM software program for pre-dialysis patients, expected to be available in early 2003.

For more information or to lease RenalTouch^TM, please call 866-9KIDNEY or visit www.renaltouch.com.