Abstract: FR-PO060
Institute of Nephrology
Session Information
- Educational Research
November 03, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 1000 Educational Research
Authors
- Naljayan, Mihran V., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Cecil, Mackenzie, DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Mcdevitt, Tim, DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Weinstein, Adam J., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
Background
Home dialysis has shown to have potentially positive clinical and lifestyle impacts for many patients such as preserving residual kidney function or flexibility with schedules when compared to in-center hemodialysis (ICHD). However, peer-reviewed research suggests that nephrologists receive inadequate exposure to home dialysis during their fellowships, creating a barrier to increasing the use of home dialysis. Moreover, use of home dialysis in the US is lower than in many other developed countries. It is therefore crucial to improve nephrologists’ competence in home dialysis as a way to improve patient care and access. We are addressing these challenges with a new virtual educational platform for nephrologists, advanced practice providers and nephrology fellows: the Institute of Nephrology (IoN).
Methods
IoN offers online courses on a variety of home dialysis topics, selected based on numerous interviews and surveys of practicing nephrologists. Content is self-paced to accommodate physicians’ busy schedules and aligns with nephrologists’ preference for interactive, case-based content. Nationally-recognized home dialysis experts developed the content on subjects such as mitigating peritoneal dialysis (PD) transfer to ICHD, peritonitis, Home dialysis prescription optimization, embedded PD catheters, and urgent start PD. Additionally, the courses are accredited for Continuing Medical Education and Maintenance of Certification credit, allowing nephrologists to satisfy licensure requirements while building knowledge in home dialysis.
Results
In the first three months after the launch, 600 of nephrologists have accessed IoN. The most popular topic has been Urgent Start PD, an important area for increasing the number of patients starting on PD and helping patients be successful on that modality. IoN users have varied widely in their familiarity with home dialysis: while 2/3 of users have > 20% of their patients on home dialysis, 25% of users have no patients treating on home dialysis.
Conclusion
The early results of IoN suggest that there is appetite in the nephrologist community for more education on home dialysis. Nephrologists play a vital role in supporting their patients’ modality selection and treatment; resources such as IoN empower nephrologists to address gaps in nephrology fellowships in a single platform dedicated to home dialysis education and may improve the utilization of home dialysis in the US.