Development of a chronic kidney disease patient navigator program

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Translational Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) presents a significant public health challenge.
• There is a lack of translational research in type 2 CKD that includes educational interventions.
• Patient navigators have demonstrated success in reducing disparities and improving outcomes in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a CKD Patient Navigator program.
• The program aims to coordinate patient care, overcome systemic barriers, and enhance patient education and motivation.

Main Methods:

• The program is based on the Chronic Care Model for chronic disease management.
• A multidisciplinary research team, augmented with IT and data management specialists, developed the program.
• Key phases included hiring lay navigators, comprehensive training (general navigation, CKD education, EHR), and implementation with defined care barriers and EHR templates.

Main Results:

• Two CKD patient navigators have been hired to support patients in a clinical trial.
• Navigators received training in patient navigation, CKD-specific education, and electronic health record (EHR) systems, including privacy and research protocols.

Conclusions:

• Novel approaches, such as the CKD patient navigator program, are crucial for improving CKD care.
• The program emphasizes team-based care and health information technology to adapt to evolving healthcare systems.