Do you want to take more control of your own kidney health? In order to make smart decisions and lifestyle changes, you first need to have the right information. There are three basic types of health data that you can collect at home: Blood Sugar (Glucose) Levels Blood Pressure Body Weight These three data points…
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In the US, the end of the Covid-19 pandemic is drawing near, but the medical community is preparing for a global health event of a different sort. Most patients infected with COVID-19 get better within a few weeks, but certain individuals continue to experience symptoms related to the lungs, heart, or kidneys. What are these…
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Healthcare empowerment sounds like a great idea, but what exactly does it mean? It can feel like an intimidating goal for both patients and healthcare providers. Many doctors may walk into an exam room with the best of intentions but not know the right questions to ask. Patients too may want to take control of…
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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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If you have recently received a negative test result or chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis, you will have lots of questions! It can be quite alarming to receive any kind of diagnosis, and kidney disease is no exception. Although millions of Americans are living with some form of CKD, many of them don’t even know…
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Across the board, 2020 led to widespread innovation in response to the complex needs of work, school, and life amidst COVID-19. It was an incredibly formative year, squeezing perhaps decades of cultural and technological progress into the span of a few short months. “We were going at turtle speed towards 21st century skills… COVID forced…
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“Around people with disabilities, our natural reaction is to say, ‘let me help you… let me do that for you,’” explains Dr. Richard Gibney, who served patients with a variety of disabilities for over 40 years as a nephrologist. “That desire to help is certainly a good thing,” he continues, “but what happens when you…
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There is a common misconception that empowered healthcare practices like self-dialysis should be reserved for the very best patients — that people can only take control of their own healthcare if they are smart, competent, and responsible. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Empowerment is for everybody. Time after time, our doctors, nurses, and…
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For decades, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has received little attention until it’s time for a patient to begin dialysis. In fact, data from CMS shows that 92% of patients with CKD stage 1-3 are UNAWARE that they even have kidney problems. “92% of patients with CKD stage 1-3 are unaware that they have kidney problems.”…
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How can primary care physicians and teams empower patients to prevent and manage diseases like CKD? Dr. Richard Gibney is scheduled to present on patient empowerment at the IHI Primary Care Summit 2020 together with Maureen Bisognano, former IHI president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. “Engaging Patients in Self-Care Management Through Relationship-Building…
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