A quality doctor-patient relationship is essential. Healthcare is a collaborative effort between the patient, the doctor, and the medical team. As a physician, I know certain things will make or break that relationship. Today, I want to share four essential factors — the four Ts — for any doctor-patient team. You can think through each…
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Sometimes doctors push patients toward dialysis at the first sign of kidney trouble, but is that the best path for everyone? Today, I want to take a transparent look at two alternative paths: palliative and hospice kidney care. “Hospitals often tell patients they must start dialysis or they are going to die. That’s not really…
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Have you or someone you care about received a kidney disease diagnosis? Now what? This is one of the scariest times for kidney patients, but you can regain confidence and control over your health with a bit of knowledge and the right healthcare team. How bad is it? Many patients are terrified to hear they…
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Chronic kidney disease represents a broad group of patients, ranging from those at risk of kidney disease (CKD 1) to those with advanced decline in kidney function (CKD 5). Whatever their stage, the ultimate goal in CKD treatment is to preserve kidney function as much as possible. Ultimately, this keeps patients out of the hospital…
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Today in the United States, an estimated 37 million people suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Many of them are required to supplement their bodies’ natural filtering capabilities through kidney dialysis. If you are one of these people, your first visit to the dialysis center can be overwhelming. You’ve…
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The past few months have been a whirlwind for the healthcare industry, just like the rest of the world. The Coronavirus pandemic and the death of George Floyd have turned our realities upside-down, and they both awaken us to a similar reality: every day, countless Americans are being left behind by flaws in our systems…
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The Coronavirus pandemic is turning the healthcare industry upside-down. Dialysis centers and kidney care programs are no exception. For better or worse, the times are forcing both patients and providers to reexamine the way they do things as they find a new normal. We firmly believe this setback is actually an opportunity to change for…
Read MoreA few years ago, I put together this article and video with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Early conversations and experiences with IHI were instrumental in thinking through the Empowered Kidney Care movement, and in this video, you will hear a brief introduction into how the Empowered Kidney Care model began.
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