Professional Education & Outreach
This section describes education and outreach to health professionals of the Federal government related to chronic kidney disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Kidney Disease Initiative is designed to provide public health strategies for promoting kidney health. To help accomplish this goal, CDC convenes a consensus conference of kidney disease experts and other stakeholders to establish priorities and strategies in the public health approach to kidney disease prevention and control. For example, CDC hosted a conference in March 2007 to discuss comprehensive public health strategies for preventing the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Attendees included representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service agencies, universities, private and public institutions, and national organizations. The meeting summary with recommendations and the proceedings were published in the March issue and supplement of the American Journal of Kidney Disease.
CDC published articles related to CKD in the United States in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Contact Information
Nilka Rios Burrows, MT, MPH
Epidemiologist, CDC Division of Diabetes Translation
Phone: 770–488–1057
Email: NBurrows@cdc.gov
Web: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/kidney.htm
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS issued a 9th Statement of Work (SOW) for Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. One quality improvement effort required of the QIOs is to reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Each QIO is required to:
- Focus on three clinical areas, each with a corresponding clinical measure. These areas include detection of CKD in diabetic beneficiaries; appropriate medication treatment, such as angiotensin converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to slow the progression of CKD; and adequate counseling prior to initiation of dialysis as evidenced by placement of an arteriovenous (AV) fistula for hemodialysis patients.
- Use collaboration as a means of achieving sustainable CKD system level changes. All QIOs must monitor the effect of their CKD interventions on disparities and must take immediate corrective action if disparities in care are increasing. QIOs may opt to engage in the following three optional tasks: supporting companion CMS quality initiatives, improving CKD care via electronic health records, and decreasing CKD care disparities identified in their state.
CMS’ goal is to make sure that the QIOs are providing CMS beneficiaries with the best quality of care through the use of available tools as they work with consumers, primary care providers, hospitals, and other caregivers to refine the nation’s care delivery systems. QIOs began work on the CKD quality initiative in August 2008.
Other activities include the coordination of educational efforts to primary care providers and laboratories to encourage the reporting of eGFR testing to aid in early detection of CKD.
Contact Information
Yvette Williams
Phone: 410-786-6844
Email: Yvette.williams@cms.hhs.gov
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Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The US Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative (ODBC), which began in 2003 at the request of the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is a formal, concerted effort of the donation and transplantation community to bring about a major change to improve the organ donation system. Housed within HRSA’s Division of Transplantation, ODBC includes participation of the organ procurement organizations (OPOs) throughout the United States and the American hospitals with the largest organ-donor potential. Since 2003, the number of hospitals that have achieved the goal of transplanting 75 percent of eligible donors has increased from 55 to 301 (as of 2007).
HRSA is also launching a Primary Care Project to target and encourage primary care physicians and their professional staff to engage in discussions about organ donation with their patients. This initiative is based on survey data suggesting that the American public feels organ donation is a health care issue and that the primary care doctor is the professional with whom they want to discuss it.
Other activities include the development and dissemination of materials to encourage physicians to talk with their patients about organ donation and encourage physicians to see this as part of routine patient care. The Primary Care Donation Kit includes posters, table top displays, informational cards, tear-off pads, physician’s question and answer cards, and an instructional/informational DVD.
Contact Information
Richard Durbin
Acting Director, Division of Transplantation
Phone: 301–443–6804
Email: RDurbin@hrsa.gov
Web: www.ask.hrsa.gov/Organ.cfm
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Indian Health Service (IHS)
The IHS Kidney Disease Program implements continuing education programs for physicians, advanced practice nurses, physicians assistants, nutrition professionals, pharmacists, and laboratory professionals. IHS has also developed concise summaries of evidence-based guidelines on treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and complications, including Indian Health Diabetes Best Practices: Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes. IHS has also published a collection of 13 brief articles describing a primary care approach to how to treat a patient with CKD.
The program also promotes case management of CKD within the diabetes program. An annual three-day CKD case-management workshop was established and is open to any health professional who is interested and has the support of his/her supervisor to implement change. Additionally, several CKD case-management models, coordinated by a variety of health care professionals, were established throughout IHS. IHS also offers clinical guidelines, protocols for patient education, and treatment protocols for anemia, which are available online for health professionals to facilitate implementation of care.
Contact Information
Andrew S. Narva, MD, FACP
Chief Clinical Consultant for Nephrology
Phone: 301-594-8864
Email: narvaa@niddk.nih.gov
Web: www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/kidney/providers_index.asp
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) promotes messages and materials to primary care professionals to improve their knowledge and practice related to kidney disease detection, education, and treatment. Materials include the online glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculators, Quick Reference on UACR/GFR, Explaining GFR Tear-off Pad, and a tear-off pad on urine albumin (under development). NKDEP is also working to create materials for dietitians and other health educators interested in diet and CKD, as well as FAQs for pediatricians who care for children at risk for CKD. NKDEP also hosts webinars for health professional on various topics such as “Improving Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease.”
NKDEP and its Laboratory Working Group use a variety of channels to keep the clinical chemistry community informed about creatinine standardization and efforts to standardize measurement and reporting or urine albumin. Information is disseminated through the website, e-newsletters, and professional meetings.
Contact Information
Andrew S. Narva, MD, FACP
Director, NKDEP
Phone: (301) 594-8864
Email: narvaa@niddk.nih.gov
Web: www.nkdep.nih.gov
Eileen Newman, MS, RD
Associate Director, NKDEP
Phone: (301) 435-8116
Email: eileen.newman@nih.gov
Web: www.nkdep.nih.gov
This information was reviewed by KICC agency representatives. It may not reflect new or future agency activities. For more information, please contact the listed representatives. |
