Tennessee Kidney Foundation Inc

Preventive services and Community Education - provides free prevention kidney health screenings throughout Middle Tennessee at workplaces, churches, community health fairs and other places it can reach individuals who are most at risk for kidney disease. A kidney health screening includes a medical history questionnaire, blood pressure reading, height and weight measurements, A1C test, and a urinalysis. Every participant talks one-on-one with a physician or health educator to understand their results, possible risks and action steps. TKF provides exhibits at community events and public education presentations at workplaces, churches, health fairs and civic groups to educate the community about kidney disease and identifying possible risk factors. In 2024-2025, TKF held 22 education and preventive screening events, helping 162 people identify health risks and more than 50% of participants showing abnormal screening results and receiving information about how to ensure follow-up care is received.

Professional Education - provides administrative support related to the coordination of transportation, community education and prevention program services. TKF participates in and hosts professional education events alongside kidney health professionals to maintain the most current level of knowledge about kidney health trends. TKF offers education and prevention programming through free in-person kidney screenings and outreach events. Each screening consists of a urinalysis, blood pressure reading, and height and weight calculations. Screenings help identify health issues such as hypertension and diabetes that can lead to CKD and ESKD. Medical Professionals are on-site to offer education and resources and encourage participants to seek follow-up care. Many attendees of TKF screenings do not participate in regular doctor visits, have limited knowledge of their health status, and often do not know their numbers. These screening events provide life-saving information. In the past year, TKF has held seven screenings throughout our 42-county service area with over 150 individuals screened in total. Of those, 70 of our participants had abnormal results the result of an elevated blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine causing an abnormal urinalysis or both and were referred for follow-up care. Early detection is the key to kidney health. Also, TKF also hosts a Health Equity Patient Focus Group and Health Equity Roundtable series, working with selected healthcare professionals, community members, and patients to examine how trust is established and cultivated with patients and their providers, what steps can be taken by both patients and providers to improve communication and trust, and what resources can be provided for patients and providers to foster.