Afleveringen
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For some patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), active medical management can offer better quality of life than dialysis or kidney transplantation without necessarily compromising life expectancy. Yet conversations on whether to forego or withdraw from other treatment options can be challenging for patients and clinicians. In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. Bobby Muthalaly, president of Kidney Care of Oklahoma, sheds light on this often-overshadowed topic to help other healthcare professionals better support their own patients through these complex and deeply personal care decisions.
Dr. Muthalaly shares how his practice assesses patient needs and initiates thoughtful, compassionate discussions about modality options that honor the patientâs preferences and circumstances. He emphasizes the importance of trust, early engagement with patients, and involving families in shared decision-making.
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Jessica Prohn, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in renal nutrition, says a renal-friendly diet plays a critical role in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD).
In the latest episode of Kidney Health Connections, Prohn highlights the value of early dietary intervention, emphasizing its impact on slowing disease progression and improving patient quality of life.
Maintaining a healthy diet can be confusing for CKD patients, especially when they are also managing other conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. As Prohn explains, there is no one-size-fits-all kidney diet, as nutritional needs depend on the stage of CKD and treatment modality. An individualized approachârooted in each patientâs unique medical history, lifestyle, and comorbiditiesâis essential when crafting dietary recommendations.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. Carney Taylor, former co-president of Eastern Nephrology Associates in Greenville, NC, shares how the practice achieved a perfect quality score in the governmentâs value-based Kidney Care Choices Model and an impressive 84 percent optimal start rate during his tenure. Dr. Taylor highlights the importance of care coordination and data, as well as how the practice drove cultural and leadership changes to realize the full potential of value-based care in improving patient outcomes. In addition, he discusses how Eastern Nephrology navigated the challenges of caring for patients across a large, mostly rural, area in a fragmented healthcare system.
Dr. Taylor sat down with Interwell Chief Medical Officer Dr. George Hart to record this episode ahead of the 2024 Interwell Health Partner Summit, where the company first announced that Dr. Taylor would be transitioning from his seat on Interwellâs board to a full-time role on the medical office leadership team. During the conversation, Dr. Taylor also shares how he plans to champion value-based kidney care and a patient-first approach in his role as associate chief medical officer of Interwell.
Disclaimer:
The statements contained in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CMS. The participants assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this podcast.
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In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. George Hart and Jessica Demaline, senior vice president of healthcare operations at Interwell Health, discuss the critical issue of managing depression among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). People with CKD are at a significantly higher risk for depression, which can severely impact their ability to manage their kidney disease and related comorbidities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of screening for depression regularly, the role of primary care providers in supporting patients, and tools to assess depression and anxiety symptoms.
The episode also explores the advantages of value-based care over fee-for-service models in enabling healthcare providers to take a more comprehensive approach to patient care, addressing not only kidney disease but also mental health, social determinants of health (SDoH), and overall well-being. This holistic approach includes offering additional resources like counseling, social work, and community support, which can help improve patientsâ mental health and treatment adherence.
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Dr. Kareen Simpsonâs nephrology practice, Associates in Nephrology, serves the minority community on the southeast side of Chicago. She joins Kidney Health Connections for a discussion on the critical social determinants of health (SDoH) that impact patient care, including limited access to healthcare, transportation difficulties, financial barriers, and systemic challenges. This episode also delves into the complexities of kidney transplantation for minority communities, including issues of healthcare literacy, distrust, and the need for early education and referral to improve patient outcomes.
Sharing stories from her own experience caring for patients, Dr. Simpson advocates for a more holistic approach to healthcare, moving away from "sick care" to true healthcare that focuses on prevention and comprehensive support. She sees value-based care as a promising model that allows for more personalized patient navigation, access to care team members who can spend time understanding patients' individual needs, and the ability to connect patients with additional services such as nutrition and social work support.
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In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. George Hart interviews Alex Ruterbories, Director of Data Science at Interwell Health, on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing kidney care. They discuss how machine learning and predictive analytics are helping personalize treatment by predicting patient risks, such as hospitalization or disease progression. Ruterbories elaborates on various types of AI, explaining how these tools can improve decision-making by synthesizing vast amounts of patient data into actionable insights to help clinicians provide better care while reducing burnout from excessive documentation.
The conversation also touches on key challenges in AI, such as bias and the importance of human oversight to prevent errors, particularly in generative AI, where systems may "hallucinate" or produce inaccurate information. Ruterbories emphasizes the need for transparency and continuous monitoring to ensure trust in AI models, as well as the importance of collaboration between clinicians and AI developers to ensure that AI tools are practical and serve to augment, not replace, human expertise.
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Up to one in four patients âcrashâ into dialysis unexpectedly, often with a catheter, which poses health risks and diminishes quality of life. This episode of Kidney Health Connections explores the challenges of patients starting dialysis treatment urgently and without proper preparation and education. Registered Nurse (RN) Emily Morey, a care manager at Interwell Health, describes the traumatic impact of these emergencies on patients, noting their fear, loss of independence, and increased vulnerability to infections and other complications. However, she emphasizes that patients can recover and regain independence with proper care and trust in their healthcare team.
The conversation highlights the critical role of early education and intervention in improving outcomes for patients with kidney disease. Optimal starts, which may involve preemptive transplants or planned dialysis with a functioning access, significantly enhance patientsâ quality of life and ability to maintain their lifestyle. As a nurse, Morey also stresses the value of family support and a team-based approach in managing chronic kidney disease. Her stories of helping patients through these transitions illustrate the transformative power of compassionate, patient-centered care.
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In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. George Hart and Sam Gopal, president of Acumen Physician Solutions, discuss the evolution and challenges of the electronic health record (EHR). Acknowledging the frustrations many physicians feel with record keeping taking time away from patient care, Gopal explains that EHRs are essential for capturing longitudinal patient data and analytics. He describes current efforts to make EHRs more user-centered, incorporating features like ambient listening and generative AI to streamline documentation and reduce administrative burdens, ultimately aiming to enhance physician-patient interaction at the bedside.
In a discussion on the future of healthcare, Gopal says we are at an inflection point. As EHR systems mature, they will evolve from mere digital repositories to essential tools for population health management. With decades of data now stored in EHRs enabling predictive analytics and proactive patient care, Gopal envisions EHRs evolving into supportive "copilots" that empower doctors by delivering relevant information while minimizing distractions. The goal is getting providers "back to the bedside" and restoring the focus on patient-centered care.
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This episode of Kidney Health Connections highlights the shift from fee-for-service, where nephrologists could focus mainly on the renal aspects of patient care, to value-based care models, where providers must take a more holistic view of the patient. Naz Urooj, senior vice president of quality and clinical documentation at Interwell Health, explains that risk adjustment models rely on ICD-10 codes to assess patient complexity and predict costs, meaning nephrologists need to thoroughly document all relevant comorbidities to paint a complete picture of patient complexity, ultimately enabling providers and payers to direct resources to the patients who need them most.
As Interwell Chief Medical Officer Dr. George Hart attests from his own experience caring for patients, clinical documentation is a new skill for nephrologists. This episode dives into tools and strategies to support clinical documentation, including specialized electronic health record (EHR) systems designed to make the right data easily accessible and provider training to ensure accurate coding.
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This episode of Kidney Health Connections features a conversation with Dr. Marc Brazie, a nephrologist at Metropolitan Nephrology Associates in Northern Virginia, about patient education in kidney care. Dr. Brazie discusses the evolution of his practice's approach to patient education and emphasizes the challenges of educating patients about chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly when many patients are referred late in their disease progression or are unaware that they have kidney disease.
The discussion highlights the importance of early intervention and education and the promise of new medications such as SGLT2 inhibitors in slowing disease progression. Dr. Brazie stresses the significance of breaking down education into manageable segments rather than overwhelming patients with information, and the benefits of using advanced practice providers and renal care coordinators to deliver education effectively. He also emphasizes the importance of using tools such as the kidney failure risk equation and Interwell Learning to help patients understand their condition and the potential benefits of various treatments.
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In this episode of Kidney Health Connections, Dr. George Hart, chief medical officer of Interwell Health, is joined by Ellen Lukens, deputy director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Lukens has played a pivotal role in developing specialty care models, such as the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model, which aims to improve outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Together, they delve into the mission and impact of CMMI, the progress and challenges of the KCC model, and the future of value-based kidney care. Lukens shares her insights on positive results from the first year of the KCC model â including increased home dialysis and optimal starts rates, CMMIâs efforts to address health equity and social determinants of health (SDoH), and the potential for innovative payment models to create a permanent pathway for coordinated, equitable kidney care in the U.S. healthcare system.
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Welcome to Kidney Health Connections, a groundbreaking new podcast hosted by Dr. George Hart, Chief Medical Officer at Interwell Health and a nephrologist with over 30 years of experience caring for patients. In this exciting series, we dive into the leading-edge advancements that are reshaping kidney care.
Join Dr. Hart as he explores value-based kidney care, a holistic approach revolutionizing how chronic kidney disease (CKD) is managed. Discover how healthcare providers and payers are shifting from fragmented care to comprehensive strategies that improve patient outcomes while reducing costs. From slowing disease progression and reducing hospitalizations to the transformative role of AI and electronic health records, this podcast keeps you informed and inspired by the latest innovations in kidney health.
Each episode features expert guests from across the healthcare spectrum, offering insights on topics ranging from managing depression in CKD to the future of kidney transplants. Whether youâre a healthcare professional, payer, caregiver, or simply passionate about medical innovation, Kidney Health Connections delivers the knowledge and strategies you need.
Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and join us as we uncover how value-based care is transforming kidney healthâone episode at a time!
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