Overview of Kidney Health Screenings
Kidney Health Screenings are the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin’s (NKFW) community-based educational initiative to raise awareness about kidney health, including risk factors for kidney disease and the steps needed to keep kidneys healthy and reduce risk. Typically, the early stages of kidney disease have little to no symptoms, which means early detection is critical, especially for at-risk populations. To aid early detection of kidney disease in Wisconsin, NKFW offers FREE kidney screenings in a variety of at-risk communities throughout the state.
For each participant, a screening takes about 15-20 minutes from start to finish, and includes a review of participants’ health history, basic vital signs, urine testing for participants with an elevated risk of kidney disease, and discussion with a medical provider. No advance preparation is needed to participate and there is absolutely no cost. Participants receive a copy of their results and are encouraged to discuss them further with their doctor.
Who Is At Risk?
1 in 3 American adults – 73 million people – are at risk for developing kidney disease. Affecting up to 33% of Americans, kidney disease is an under-recognized public health crisis and remains a leading cause of death in the United States.The most common risk factors include: history of diabetes and/or uncontrolled hypertension, a body mass index (BMI) measurement of 30 or above, a family history of kidney failure and being age 60 or older.
Interested in Volunteering?
We're always looking for volunteers to help with our community kidney screenings! Volunteers are needed for both technical and non-technical roles at screening events. There is a particular need for those with medical expertise, especially nurses in nephrology. To volunteer, please fill out the form linked below.
Bring a Kidney Screening to Your Community
Are you looking to bring a kidney screening to your area? We'd love to hear from you! Please review the necessary basic requirements below and fill out the Kidney Health Screening Request Form.
Screening Basic Requirements & Needs
- Access and close proximity to bathrooms
- Access to power / electricity
- Access to trash receptacles / dumpster
Screenings tend to be the most successful when...
- They are held in conjunction with an existing health fair or community event
- They are held in economically disadvantaged and traditionally underserved communities
- They are 2-3 hours in duration
Questions? Reach out to us directly by email or by phone at (414) 897-8669.
