A Vital Patient Service George Kelly talks with a dialysis patient at the University of Michigan Dialysis Center.
Renal patients can provide a sympathetic ear and an experienced voice to others facing the disease.
PRC volunteers are positive role models with whom other renal patients can relate to, identify with and learn from. They can provide a level of hope and understanding that other members of the health care team may not be able to provide. George Kelly of Ann Arbor has been a PRC for about a year. His social worker recruited him for the PRC program because of his positive attitude about his disease. Seven years ago, George received a liver transplant.