March 2019
Welcome
It’s Spring! Well, in many parts of the country it’s starting to look and feel like Spring. Here in Minneapolis, we are experiencing a welcomed warm-up from the harsh reality of this past Winter and the polar vortex that hit us. We can’t tell you enough how we appreciate that you trust your clients’ medical supply needs to ActivStyle. We are here to help you and your clients as a full-service provider of high-quality, medical grade supplies for at-home use. We offer a wide variety of products including diapers, protective underwear, bladder control products, catheters, ostomy supplies, nutritional supplements, and more for adults and children.
Health News
March is National Kidney Month
March is National Kidney Month, and ActivStyle would like to help raise awareness of this a serious condition that affects more than 30 million American adults.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means the kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should. The damage to kidneys happens slowly over a long period of time and can cause wastes to build up in the body.
The kidneys’ main job is to filter extra water and wastes out of the blood to make urine. To keep the body working properly, the kidneys balance the salts and minerals—such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium—that circulate in the blood. Kidneys also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep bones healthy and strong.
Because there are little to no signs of the condition, most people are not even aware that they have kidney disease until it reaches the later stages, including kidney failure. If the kidneys fail, the person affected will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain proper health.
The sooner that someone knows they have kidney disease, the sooner they can make changes to protect the kidneys.
Who is at risk for CKD?
Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease and high blood pressure is the second leading cause, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. People with heart disease are also at risk for kidney disease. Research shows a strong link between kidney disease and heart disease. Family history of CKD can also be a risk factor. If a close family member like your mother, father, sister, or brother has/had kidney disease, you are also at risk for it. Age can also affect kidney function; chances of having CKD increase with age. Your ethnicity can also increase your risk of CKD. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, African Americans are nearly 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure compared to Caucasians. Other high-risk groups include Hispanics, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians.
The Mayo Clinic has published this informative video about CKD.
CKD usually does not have any symptoms until the kidneys are badly damaged. The only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get tested. Being tested for kidney disease is simple. Ask a doctor about these tests for kidney health:
- eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)
- Urine test
- Blood pressure test
Unfortunately, kidney damage is usually permanent. While the damage cannot be fixed, one can take steps to keep the kidneys as healthy as possible. One may even be able to stop the damage from getting worse. Here’s what you can do to help maintain kidney health:
- Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Keep a healthy blood pressure
- Follow a low-salt, low-fat diet
- Keep a healthy weight
- Exercise at minimum of 30 minutes on most days of the week
- Limit alcohol intake
- Do not smoke or use tobacco
- Talk to your doctor about medicines that can help protect the kidneys
If kidney disease is caught early, kidney failure may be avoided. However, CKD can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.
FAQs
Q: The doctor returned the prescription. Why has my client not received their product(s)?
A: Just because a doctor has returned a prescription does not mean we can automatically ship product. In some cases, the prescription is not valid. This maybe because all the information required by the insurance carrier (Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance) is not included on the prescription. If prescriptions are invalid, our team will continue to work with the doctor to obtain a valid prescription.
Q: How long does it take to get the first order shipped?
A: Getting the first order shipped can take 10-14 days. Most often, the products you’re your client needs require a prescription. To obtain a prescription, the team at ActivStyle will fax a prescription request to the doctor to complete and sign and send back to us. Medicaid programs have strict requirements for what information must be on a prescription, and those requirements vary by state. Once we receive a valid prescription, we will be able to process the order. If it has been less than 14 days since the request came in, we will ship right away. If it has been more than 14 days, we must contact the client to confirm that they still need the product. If the client agrees that they still need product, we will then ship the product to them.
We want to hear what FAQ topics you are interested in seeing! If you have questions or suggestions for future FAQs, please email us at .
If you have other questions for the ActivStyle staff, feel free to give us a call at 855-373-5141, Monday thru Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Central Time. We want to make your life easy, so you can provide the best service and information to those you serve.
Resources
Helpful Links to Incontinence Resources
Information is power. When someone has incontinence, they are sure to have a lot of questions and may not know where to go for answers and advice. To that end, we have complied the following list of resources to help those suffering from incontinence to live healthful and active lives.
American Urological Association (AUA)
Founded in 1902, the AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community. Their mission is to promote the highest standards of urological clinical care through education, research, and the formulation of health care policy.
Visit the American Urological Association
American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)
The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) is the premier non-profit organization representing professionals dedicated to treating female pelvic floor disorders. Founded in 1979, AUGS represents more than 1,900 members, including practicing physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, nurses and health care professionals, and researchers from many disciplines.
Visit the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)
Mesothelioma Guide
Mesothelioma Guide’s mission is to guide mesothelioma patients and their loved ones toward answers, care options, and free health solutions that improve their lives.
Men’s Health Network
Men’s Health Network (MHN) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men, boys, and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation.
Visit the Men’s Health Network
National Association for Continence
The National Association for Continence (NAFC) offers a wealth of information about urinary and fecal incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and related pelvic floor disorders. Visit NAFC’s site to read about causes, treatment, latest incontinence news, and to chat with others.
Visit the National Association for Continence
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency. The organization conducts and supports biomedical research, and disseminates research findings and health information to the public, and are part of the U.S. government under the Department of Health and Human Services.
Visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Cancer Institute
Information about prostate cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research, and statistics from the National Cancer Institute.
Visit the National Cancer Institute
Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research globally. PCF’s site offers free prostate cancer guides, prostate cancer news, and other helpful resources for patients and their families.
Visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Simon Foundation for Continence
The mission of the Simon Foundation is to: “Bring the topic of incontinence out into the open, remove the stigma surrounding incontinence, and provide help and hope to people with incontinence, their families and the health professionals who provide their care.”
Visit the Simon Foundation for Continence
Industry News
Watch for our booth if you are going to the Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) Conference & Expo, March 20-22 in Minneapolis, MN. We’ll be there with information on getting medical supplies from ActivStyle, how to refer clients to ActivStyle, and complete information on the supplies available from ActivStyle. We look forward to seeing you there!
Working with ActivStyle
Wouldn’t it be great if you spent less time mired in case-related paperwork and details and more time helping those who need you? ActivStyle is a full-service provider of high-quality, high-value home medical supplies serving thousands of practitioners and case managers across the United States. Our product expertise and knowledge of constantly changing state and federal regulations allow us to give you — and the clients who depend on you — the level of service you need and deserve.
Founded in 1997 in Minneapolis, MN, ActivStyle has grown to over 200 employees compassionately serving patients in 47 states with their medical supply needs. Specializing in incontinence, urological, and ostomy supplies, our trained Product Experts are available to discuss product options, insurance benefits, free delivery, or product samples. Feel free to call one of our Provider Services representatives toll-free at 855-373-5141, they’ll be happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have about our products, services, or take a referral over the phone. You may also conveniently make client or patient referrals online.
At ActivStyle, we’re dedicated to making your life easier.
Note: The content of this newsletter is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
