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Diabetic Patients Vulnerable Population

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Dialysis Patients: Vulnerable Population
Dialysis patients are part of an extremely vulnerable population. And they have to be given special attention (Pavlovic, 2010). They are susceptible and vulnerable to developing other chronic diseases. Cardiovascular disease along with end-stage renal disease usually develops and accounts for over 50% mortality rates. With this chronic disease spouses becomes caregivers. Depression and negative emotions can settle in. This can lead to abuse or neglect. It is important to ask the patient how they are being treated in their relationships. The nurse must show concern, and listen closely to the patient, and look for nonverbal clues. Many of these patient do not have the money or transportation to and from dialysis. They have to rely on others to get them to and from dialysis. Many of these vulnerable patients end up living in a nursing home. They are also vulnerable due to living in low income housing. Some are unable to get to the store to buy the foods, they need a special diet. When you are hungry then you take what you can get. The goal is to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these high risk patients. These patients usually die from SCD which is sudden cardiac death (Schlieper, 2015).
Many have no insurance, and other have insurance like Medicare, which there has been many cuts in the past. Cuts which threaten them from getting good quality care. Medicare accounts for over 85% coverage for over 400,000 dialysis patients and it is estimated that costs will continue to get higher (Kidney Care Provisions, 2013).

References
Pavlovic, D., Jankovic, N., Orlic, L., & Heinrich, B. (2010). Dialysis Patients: Vulnerable Group of Patients. Kidney International, 77(1), 72. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ki.2009.361
Schilieper, G., Hess, k., & Floege, F., Marx, N. (2015). The Vulnerable Patient

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