The goal of the CKD Centers of Excellence program is to improve outcomes for patients with CKD by promoting early diagnosis and treatment through educational outreach to patients and health care professionals.

As a participant in the Centers of Excellence program, you are invited to join a series of Best Practices Webcasts that will involve participants from across the country. Each Webcast will be facilitated by a physician (or group of physicians) from a different Center of Excellence. The goal of these Webcasts is to provide a forum for discussion and the sharing of “best practices” regarding:
 
  		• Patient identification
     
  		• Diagnosis of complications associated with CKD
     
  		• Treatment algorithms
     
  		• Physician education
     
  		• Patient education
     
  		• Other topics of interest to the participants

    Each live 60-minute Webcast will consist of 20-30 minutes of presentation by the host institution followed by Q/A and open discussion for all Webcast participants.


    ARCHIVED WEBCASTS
      WEBCAST #1: STREAMLINING CKD PATIENT CARE
      Date: Recorded on Tuesday, November 7, 2006
      Register: Click here to access the Webcast archive
      Facilitators: Dr. Jerry Yee and Dr. Gregory Krol, Henry Ford Hospital System
               Discussion Topics:
  		• Educating primary care physicians
  		• Incorporating automated eGFR on lab reports
  		• Developing and implementing treatment algorithms
  		• Managing patient flow – frequency of appointments, role of the clinic staff, communication with referring physicians and billing procedures
      WEBCAST #2: MANAGING MINERAL AND BONE DISEASE IN YOUR CKD CLINIC
      Date: Recorded on Wednesday, January 24, 2007
      Register: Click here to access the Webcast archive
      Facilitator: Dr. Stuart Sprague, Northwestern University/Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
             Discussion Topics:
  		• Differences between osteoporosis and CKD-Mineral and Bone Disease
  		• Screening of patients for CKD-Mineral and Bone Disease
  		• Approaches to therapy of CKD-Mineral and Bone Disease
      WEBCAST #3: IMPROVING CKD PATIENT CARE: BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE TEAM
      Date: Recorded on Wednesday, June 6, 2007
      Register: Click here to access the Webcast archive
      Facilitators: Dr. Charles Foulks and Laurie Benton, RN, PA-C, BS, MPAS, Scott and White Hospital
             Discussion Topics:
  		• Effective utilization of mid-level practitioners
  		• CKD Survival Guide
  		• Patient education booklets
  		• Impact of nephrologists/fellows in CKD patients progressing to dialysis
  		• Outreach involvement/teamwork initiatives in dialysis clinics
  		• Online training programs for fellows, nephrologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners

    Supported by an educational grant from Abbott