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These links are for informational or educational use only. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or approval by the Alpha-1 Association of any organization listed.

Program Partners

The Alpha-1 Foundation (www.alphaone.org)The Alpha-1 Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with headquarters in Miami dedicated to providing the leadership and resources that will result in increased research, improved health, worldwide detection, and a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.


AlphaNet (www.alphanet.org)

AlphaNet is a not-for-profit health management company providing comprehensive services exclusively to the Alpha community.

Alpha-1 Research Program (http://www.alphaone.ufl.edu/)A joint venture of the Alpha-1 Foundation and the University of Florida, the A-1 research program is constantly adding to the Alpha-1 body of knowledge.

Alpha-1 Kids (www.alpha1kids.org)

Alpha-1 Kids is an organization developed by affected families and their physicians to provide information, support and awareness. It is overwhelming and frightening to hear that your child is Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficient, but they hope to help you understand what the diagnosis means to you and your family through current information, an open dialogue with professionals, and meeting other families like your own.



Detection, Prevention, and Management

AlphaNet's Big Fat Reference Guide on Alpha-1 Disease Management is now online. Visit their newly redesigned website at (www.alphanet.org)

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (www.goldcopd.com).
GOLD is a website dedicated to effective COPD management and prevention, increased awareness of COPD, and decreased morbidity and mortality from COPD.

International Alpha-1 Organizations and Links

Alpha-1 Deutschland (www.alpha1-deutschland.de)

Alpha-1 Canada (www.alpha1canada.ca)
Alpha-1 Canada is committed to providing information to people affected by alpha-1antitrypsin deficiency (alpha-1) and to generating broad awareness about this genetic liver, lung and skin disease.

La Fundación Alfa-1 de Puerto Rico (www.alfa1.org)
Es una organización sin ánimos de lucro que tiene como misión brindarle apoyo y educación a todas aquellas personas cuyas vidas han sido afectados por la Alfa-1.

Informação Alfa-1 em Português (www.alfa1.org/portugues_pagina_principal)
São organizações sem ânimos de lucro e têm como missão brindar-lhe apoio e educação a todas aquelas pessoas cujas vidas tenham sido afectadas pela Alfa-1.

Alpha-1 Ireland (www.alpha1.ie)
Alpha One Foundation (Ireland) is a clinical research and patient services development organisation. The main focus of the Foundation is to research and develop therapies and services for people with Alpha 1 deficiency in a national centre of excellence in Beaumont Hospital and to develop/establish a clinical services network throughout Ireland

Alfa-1 Italia (www.alfa1at.org)
L'Associazione Nazionale dei pazienti portatori del deficit di alfa1-antitripsina (AAT).

Alpha-1 Awareness (www.alpha1awareness.org.uk)

The alpha-1 patient group is an association of people interested in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. It includes patients, relatives and friends. The group has strong links with many people and organizations such as European patient groups, pharmaceuticals and clinicians.


Related Patient Advocacy Organizations

American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org)
The Alpha-1 Association originally began as a subunit of the ALA's Better Breathers Groups.

American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org).
ALF provides research, education and advocacy for those affected by liver diseases

Children's Liver Disease Foundation (www.childliverdisease.org)
A British national charity dedicated to fighting all liver diseases of childhood. It fights by funding pioneering research, providing education and giving professional, caring support to the families and patients.

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Inc. (www.nahhh.org)
NAHH is a non-profit corporation serving facilities that provide lodging and other supportive services to patients and their families when confronted with medical emergencies.

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (www.nord.org)
A federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare diseases.

Love Your Lungs Breathe for Life (www.loveyourlungsbreatheforlife.com)


Patient Support Resources

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network (www.netnet.net/mums/index.htm)
A national network whose mission is to help parents who have a child with any disorder make connections with other parents whose children have the same or similar condition.

COPD ALERT (www.copd-alert.com) A support and advocacy group for people living with COPD.

Children's Liver Association for Support Services [CLASS] (www.classkids.org).
CLASS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the emotional and financial needs of families coping with childhood liver disease and transplantation.

Airlifeline (www.airlifeline.org)
Airlifeline is a national volunteer network for patient air transportation.

The National Patient Air Transport Helpline (www.patienttravel.org)
The National Patient Air Transport Helpline provides information about all forms of charitable, long-distance medical air transportation and provides referrals.

Caringbridge (www.caringbridge.org)

Caringbridge is a nonprofit organization that offers free personalized Web pages to those receiving care. You can use it to keep loved ones and friends up-to-date on treatment and condition.

 

Educational Resources

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/alpha1.html).
An educational resource provided by National Jewish Medical and Research Center. (See also www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/medfacts.html).

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (www.emedicine.com/med/topic108.htm).
Discussion of the disorder by Dr. Paul Fairman at emedicine.com.

Breathin' Easy (www.oxygen4travel.com).
This is a resource provided by the American Association of Respiratory Care. It provides information on traveling with supplemental oxygen.

Pulmonology Links (www.mdlinx.com/pulmonologylinx/index.cfm)
This is a healthcare providers' site that provides information on lung disease.

GastroHep (www.gastrohep.com). The global online resource for all aspects of gastroenterology, hepatology and endoscopy.

Spiderspun (www.spiderspun.net). An Alpha-1 haven. Noreen James, one of A1A's support group leaders, has put together this awesome informational resource.

Your Lung Health (www.yourlunghealth.com).


End of Life Issues and Planning

AARP's End of Life Guide (http://www.aarp.org/life/endoflife/). Get information on estate planning, powers of attorney, hospice and palliative care.

End-of-Life Decision Making (http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=401). This guide from the Family Caregiver Alliance has helpful content for caregivers and patients alike.

Department of Health and Human Services' Guide to End of Life Planning (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/hospiceps/end_of_life.php). This guide contains lots of practical information about how to get one's affairs in order.



Professional Societies of Allied Healthcare Providers

American College of Chest Physicians (www.chestnet.org).
The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) is a medical specialty society of professionals who specialize in diseases of the chest.

American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org).
The professional society for pediatricians. AAP publishes the medical journal Pediatrics (www.pediatrics.aappublications.org).

American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (www.aasld.org).
AASLD provides a "find a hepatologist" search feature on their website, as well as publications on liver disease and transplantation.

American Thoracic Society (www.thoracic.org)
A scientific society which focuses on respiratory and critical care medicine.


Transplant Links

United Network for Organ Sharing (www.unos.org)
UNOS assists in placing donated organs for transplantation. They serve as the clearinghouse to the transplant community regarding organ-sharing policies.

Transplant Recipients International Organization (www.trioweb.org)
TRIO provides transplantation and organ donation information to transplant candidates, recipients, donors, and their families.

Second Wind (www.2ndwind.org)

A site for lung transplant recipients. The site is informative and provides supplementary information that makes UNOS's site easier to understand.


Industry Partners

Zemaira (www.zemaira.com)
Alpha-1 replacement therapy from ZLB Behring (www.zlbbehring.com)

Prolastin (www.prolastin.com)
Alpha-1 replacement therapy from Talecris Biotherapeutics (www.talecris.com).

Aralast (www.aralast.com)
Alpha-1 replacement therapy from Baxter Healthcare (www.baxter.com).

Please note: the Alpha-1 Association does not endorse products.

 

Financial/Insurance Assistance

ACCESS (www.accredohealth.net/ati/access/access)
ACCESS is a program of Accredo Therapeutics (www.accredo.net). Helps educated consumers on Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare and Medicaid.

Insurance: A Consumers Guide to Your Rights (www.healthinsuranceinfo.net)
A Consumer Guide that tells you how to buy and keep health insurance in each state. A service of Georgetown University Institute for Health Policy.

Financial Help for Children (www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/consumerfam.php)
Resources from the government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Insure Kids Now (www.insurekidsnow.gov)
A program of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kids that do not currently have health insurance are likely to be eligible for health insurance, even if the parent is working.

Medicare Assistance (www.medicare.gov)
Government resources for healthcare and prescription assistance.

The Medicine Program (www.themedicineprogram.com)
Free prescription medication is available to patients who qualify.

NeedyMeds.com (www.needymeds.com).
NeedyMeds offers resources designed to teach about patient assistance programs and other programs designed to help those who can't afford their medicines.

Patient Services Incorporated (www.uneedpsi.org)
Offers funding to Alphas and other groups to help cover insurance premium cost and co-pays for those on augmentation therapy.
 

Alpha-1 Community Groups and Support Lists

Alpha-1 International Support Mailing List
Information exchange, sharing and support for all alpha-1 patients and caregivers. To join, send an e-mail to ALPHA-1-REQUEST@home.ease.lsoft.com.

Alpha-1 Lungs & Life Mailing List
A social, support and information resource for people with lung disease caused by Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Anyone with, or just interested in, Alpha-1 is welcome to join. To join, send an e-mail Alpha1_Lungs_and_Life-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Alpha Liver E-Group
Help, advice and support for people and families affected by (or anyone who has an interest in) Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Liver Disease. To join, send an e-mail to ALPHA-LIVER-subscribe@egroups.com

Alpha Liver List
Information exchange, sharing and support for liver-affected patients, caregivers and family members. To join, send an e-mail to: ALPHA-LIVER-REQUEST@home.ease.lsoft.com
ALPHA-LIVER-REQUEST@home.ease.lsoft.com
 

Alpha-1 Network Chat Room (http://communities.msn.com/Alpha1Network)
Talk online with others affected by Alpha-1. The chatroom is available 24 hours a day but most active during the evening hours.

YoungLung Online Support Group (www.geocities.com/younglungz)
Provides support and information for the Teen and Young Adult Population living with various Chronic Lung Conditions.

 

Advocacy and Government

Patient Notification System (www.patientnotificationsystem)
Sign up for notification of Alpha-1 replacement products recall. A service of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association.

Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)
The regulatory agency that processes, approves and monitors drugs and drug safety for the US market.

FDA Recall Information (www.fda.gov/cber/recalls)
Biologics recalls listings

National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov)
NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. It is an Agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Department of Health & Human Services (www.hhs.gov)
The United States' principal agency for protecting the health of Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS runs over 3,000 programs.

House of Representatives (www.house.gov)
Locate and contact your representative in the US Congress.

Senate (www.senate.gov) Locate and contact your senators in the US Congress.

U.S. Department of Justice (www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)
Find out about the Americans with Disabilities Act


Genetic Information and Organizations

Genetic Alliance (www.geneticalliance.org)
Goal is to increase the capacity of genetic advocacy groups to achieve their missions.

Genetics Education Center (www.kumc.edu/gec)
University of Kansas Medical Center has put together an extensive range of resources designed to educate people about genetics.

Genetic Information and Patient Services, Inc (www.icomm.ca/geneinfo)
A comparative study of internet information concerning genetic disorders and birth defects.

National Human Genome Research (www.genome.gov)
The HGP was developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and begun in 1990 to map the human genome.

Genetic Counselors (www.nsgc.org/resourcelink)
Find a Genetic Counselor in your area.

 

Current Active Chat Room Links

Name: Spiderchat (Spiderspun’s chat room)

Link: http://www.spiderspun.net/chat.htm

Registration: none required

Who can chat: anyone affected by Alpha-1 (includes caregivers, family, parents, etc…)

User-friendly to: PC users or WebTV users

Open: 24/7 to public

Specific Topics: go to link for specific chat times

Name: Lung TX Chat Room

Link: http://groups.msn.com/TransplantSupportLungHeartLungHeart/chatschedule.msnw

Registration: none required

Who can chat: those affacted by lung transplants

User-friendly to: PC users only

Open: 24/7 to public

Specific Topics: go to link for specific chat times

Name: The Lung Club (MSN group chat)

Link: http://groups.msn.com/thelungclub/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-au

Registration: yes

Who can chat: members only

User-friendly to: PC users only

Open: 24/7 to members only

Specific Topics: to members only once they join

 

Information on Oxygen Travel

Link: http://www.sequal.com/Travel_connection.php

 

Sequal is the manufacturer of the Eclipse POC.  I do not know if the other manufacturer’s have such information on their website, but as you can see from this one, you simply click on the Approved Airline, it takes you to that airline’s documentation showing approval, a patient can then print that out and take it with them to the airport.  Many of our patients have been told by misinformed airline employees that a particular device is not approved, even when it is approved.  With this documentation in hand, it prevents delays in boarding for our patients.

 

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