MDNews - Greater Kansas

collaboration in Helping Patients: Partnering Primary Care Physicians and specialists By Dennis L. Ross, M.D. Dennis L. Ross, M.D. Joe Davison, M.D., West Wichita Family Practice 14 | Greater Kansas md news ��� mdnews.com K a devastating illness that leads to high mortality and major adjustments in a patient���s life. Although there have been significant improvements in the treatment of kidney disease during the past 20 years, the illness still carries a high mortality and significant disability rate. We know from studies conducted on patients who have progressive kidney failure that earlier recognition, education, placement of a vascular access and transplant evaluation have led to improved outcomes. Accomplishing this goal requires the primary care physician to become a partner with the specialist and the dialysis company to improve overall outcomes for these patients. We have put together a partnership with primary care physicians and the dialysis company to take the first step toward collaboration in improving patient care. Clinical pathways that will allow the patient to get education early, an access placed for dialysis and transplant evaluation have been developed for the primary care physician to follow. We believe this will lead to more patients getting kidney transplantation, being started on home dialysis therapies ��� which have better outcomes ��� and receiving treatments that may slow the progression of their disease. While this is not an accountable care organization, it is the first step toward this concept, and we believe it will enhance the lives of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). As far as I know, this type of collaboration has never been done before. The following questions were asked of Joe Davison, M.D., West Wichita Family Practice, in regard to the collaboration with Kansas Nephrology Physicians. Idney faILure Is

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