Kidney Health Resources

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…

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…

After decades of relatively little progress, patients with CKD are finally getting access to promising new kidney drugs. We’re optimistic about a new chapter in kidney disease management, fueled by an active pipeline of new and innovative medications. Here are a few notable drugs that have been making headlines in the kidney care industry. SGLT-2…

With a chronic disease like CKD, it’s easy to feel out of control. Is there anything you can do to change your future and avoid kidney dialysis? The answer is a resounding “YES.” Click above to watch the full episode with Dr. Gibney and host James Fabin on DadviceTV. Learn more about kidney health on…

Where do you feel safe and secure? What makes you feel out of control? How do these different situations affect your confidence? Your anxiety? Your ability to enjoy life? The American healthcare system is not very good at providing control. So many people feel helpless in the exam room or forgotten in the hospital. It’s…

This month marks a significant milestone for Empowered Kidney Care and the patients at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Richard Gibney joined the faculty with an audacious goal to preserve kidney function and keep patients off dialysis. One year later, the results are in and even better than anyone…

On Monday, Dr. Gibney appeared in a new live episode of DadviceTV discussing kidney disease diagnosis and the most important next steps. This is one of the scariest times for kidney patients, but you can regain confidence and control over your health with a little knowledge and the right healthcare team. Building your healthcare team…

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…

Empowered Kidney Care exists to improve outcomes and quality of experience throughout the kidney care industry. We help healthcare providers create a culture of collaboration, offering control, dignity, and hope to all patients. EKC Founder Dr. Richard Gibney has been in the kidney care industry for over four decades. For most of his career, Dr.…

On Wednesday, Dr. Gibney appeared in a new live episode of DadviceTV discussing kidney tests and labs. When your numbers are good, you’ll feel better today, and you’ll increase your chances of staying healthy in the future Learn more about kidney tests and lab work Kidney disease may be SILENT, but lab work reveals a wealth of…

Watch as Dr. Gibney introduces Empowered Kidney Care, which seeks to turn nephrology on its head by moving “upstream” of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and empowering patients to preserve kidney function. Instead of going downstream to dialysis and transplant, we use coaching, training, and powerful new medications to help patients to preserve kidney function. Empowered…

If you have kidney disease, you know that it can come with quite a barrage of tests and lab work. “We drive everything we do based on lab work. That’s the gold standard,” says Dr. Richard Gibney, a nephrologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. “How are you doing today compared to…

On Thursday, January 20, Dr. Gibney appeared in a new live episode of DadviceTV. During this one-hour live YouTube broadcast, Dr. Gibney spoke with show host James Fabin about promising new medications and empowered healthcare methods that are preserving kidney function and keeping CKD patients off dialysis. Meet James Fabin, Kidney Health Coach At just…

At Empowered Kidney Care (EKC) we believe the right medications and patient empowerment are the keys to preserving kidney function. Historically, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often don’t get proper treatment until it’s too late, but now Dr. Richard Gibney and his team at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio…

Preserving kidney function is all about empowering the patient, and that’s why Empowered Kidney Care is turning the traditional approach to nephrology on its head. Rather than focusing solely on dialysis and end stage renal disease (ESRD), EKC is moving “upstream” to treat early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and preserve kidney function. This concept isn’t…

At Empowered Kidney Care, we continue to pioneer a shift from reactive renal replacement (dialysis and transplant) to preventive kidney care. By moving upstream to preserve kidney function, we can help patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stay healthy and stay off dialysis altogether. Successful CKD management depends largely on empowered patients and a collaborative…

The American healthcare system is the biggest in the world, employing millions of doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff around the country. With all these people dedicated to better care, why is it still so easy for patients to feel alone? To feel lost in the system? The solution is often simpler (and closer to…

Through the past six months at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Richard Gibney and the Empowered Kidney Care team have published a first draft of their official empowered CKD Management Protocol. Already, the first six month’s results are inspiring, demonstrating a promising start to a complete empowered kidney…

Over the past year, the Empowered Kidney Care team has been shifting its focus from end stage renal disease (ESRD) to early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). By moving “upstream,” we can help preserve kidney function and prevent patients from having to go on dialysis. Now, after six months at the University of Texas Health Science…

What kidney medicines do you take? How do you take them? Why do you take them? Medications can be difficult to keep track of, but with a little knowledge and teamwork, they don’t have to be. This article is designed to give you a basic introduction to kidney medications so you can better understand and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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.”…

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…

On September 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their final rule for End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model. This document previews the changes that will go into effect on January 1, 2021, impacting kidney disease patients and healthcare providers across the United States. What is the ETC Model? The ETC…

There is a clear link between empowered kidney care practices and improved outcomes and experiences. Self-care dialysis saves lives, but what about cost? Data from a 4-year study in central Texas clearly shows that the qualitative improvements of empowered care come hand-in-hand with quantitative benefits as well. Payers see significant savings from reduced hospitalizations, and…

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…

Dr. Richard Gibney again joins Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO of the Texas Kidney Foundation, for another installment of On The Record with Tiffany. In this episode, Dr. Gibney talks about the evolution of the kidney care industry, including recent changes in how the government views and incentivizes different care strategies. Check out the episode video and…

Dr. Richard Gibney again joins Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO of the Texas Kidney Foundation, for another installment of On The Record with Tiffany. In this episode, Dr. Gibney talks about empowered management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Check out the episode video and audio below!

Dr. Richard Gibney again joins Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO of the Texas Kidney Foundation, for another installment of On The Record with Tiffany. Check out the episode video and audio below!

A big thank you to Tiffany Jones-Smith, CEO of the Texas Kidney Foundation, for hosting Dr. Richard Gibney on the latest episode of On The Record with Tiffany. Check out the episode for a great conversation on social determinants of health and empowered kidney care. You can watch the two videos or the full episode…

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…

Most kids don’t want to spend four hours in a hospital chair, three to five times a week, but for many young Americans with chronic kidney disease (CKD), routine dialysis is a huge part of their lives. Marcus* is a 16 year-old CKD patient at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He’ll tell you that dialysis makes him…

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…

A 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.