Patients and patient care within the greater Chattanooga area is the primary focus of The Kidney Foundation. It is our belief that all patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease have every opportunity to continue their everyday life and give them the helping hand they need to get back on their feet. Emergency grants are available to renal patients for medical and non-medical needs. Grant requests can be submitted for such items as medication, utilities, rent/mortgage payments, food, nutritional supplements, transportation, and medical equipment. Eligibility for these programs is determined by an evaluation of financial need and all requests are reviewed by a committee to ensure that no other sources are available.

Medical Assistance Program—Through this program, The Kidney Foundation assists needy kidney patients with the purchase of life-supporting medications. These individuals have no other agency to turn to for their expensive and numerous medications. 

Nutritional Supplements—Protein and nutritional supplements are provided to renal patients.

Medical Alert Tags are provided free of charge to all kidney patients within the greater Chattanooga service area.

Transportation—Emergency transportation is provided to kidney patients whose normal means of transportation becomes unavailable or who have an extra burden because of necessity of regular trips to dialysis. 

Kidney Kare—Fellow patients help new patients better understand and cope with kidney disease and give sensitive, non-threatening support.

Patient Retreats—Workshops, information, and a chance to communicate with other renal patients are provided on patient retreats.

Discovering Dialysis books are offered to each new patient. (available in pdf format)