Analysis of multidisciplinary care models and interface with primary care in management of chronic kidney disease

Public policy efforts and education have led to an increased appreciation of the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in general outpatient populations. The complexity of the care of individuals with established CKD has led to the development of multidisciplinary care models, which have been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of those with CKD. The interface between specialty and primary care in various systems remains necessary and desired, albeit a continuing challenge. This overview reviews various models of specialty care for CKD patients, including those that emphasize multidisciplinary team approaches, and highlight the essential role(s) of primary care physicians. Importantly, there is a need for improved definition of CKD populations and individuals, review and refinement of proposed care pathways, and the need to define essential elements of care for the patient. Models of care often are not subject to the same rigor that other interventions applied to this population are; nonetheless, we offer here a framework for establishing and evaluating care models for the CKD populations at various stages of disease and with various comorbidities.