Primary Care Provider Perceptions of a Population Health Management Program to Improve Kidney Care: A Mixed Methods...

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Primary Care
• Population Health Management

Background:

• Primary care providers (PCPs) manage most chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients but face management barriers.
• The Kidney Coordinated HeAlth Management Partnership (Kidney CHAMP) trial tested a multidisciplinary population health management (PHM) intervention for nephrology co-management in primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather PCP perspectives on the Kidney CHAMP trial.
• To inform future system-wide implementation of similar interventions.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving surveys and phone interviews with PCPs exposed to the Kidney CHAMP intervention.
• The intervention included nephrology e-consults, pharmacist-led medication management, and nurse-led patient education.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts until data saturation.

Main Results:

• 90% of PCPs found e-consults and pharmacist recommendations useful.
• PCPs valued the team-based approach and improved access to nephrology specialists.
• Concerns included the appropriateness of e-consults for all CKD patients and the burden of implementing recommendations.

Conclusions:

• PCPs viewed the EHR-based PHM approach as valuable for enhancing nephrology care access and co-management.
• Future optimization should focus on a more hands-on nephrology team approach and improved PCP workflow facilitation.