Optimizing care delivery models for persons with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing healthcare burden globally, driven by increasing incidences of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. With an ageing population and attrition of nephrology workforce, managing CKD has become challenging across multiple healthcare settings. Despite increasing availability of novel treatment options with organ-protective benefits for CKD, implementation of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) had been sub-optimal due to the rapidity of growing clinical data, clinical inertia and resource limitations. Consequently, it is timely to review how care delivery models of CKD might be optimized.

An integrated, multidisciplinary approach, with collaborative framework between primary care physicians, nurses, pharmacists, community health workers and nephrology oversight has demonstrated efficiency in delivering care to CKD patients. Reliance on accessible and low-cost technology have complemented provision of CKD care, especially in low-resource settings. Value-based care models are important in focusing on a patient-centric approach to CKD, with the aim of improving patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.

Care models for CKD need to evolve to meet the growing needs of the disease burden, i.e. improve screening and diagnosis, increase implementation of GDMT, optimize triaging of specialist care and overcome complexities of clinical care.