Chronic kidney disease is an under-recognized public health risk, causing more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer. Kidney disease ranks as the ninth leading cause of death in America, and approximately 20% of dollars in traditional Medicare—$114 billion a year—are spent addressing kidney disease in Americans. One of the best ways to reduce the prevalence of kidney disease, and to slow its progression once the disease takes hold, is through high-quality education and training.
In this report, we address four specific aspects of kidney care that could be enhanced with high-quality education and training. These include high-quality education and training around:
Kidney Structure and Function: What it does, how it works and where it fits more broadly in the renal system.
Kidney Problems: The warning signs and nature of kidney disease, and ways to mitigate risk.
Kidney Treatment: Treatment options, including the pros and cons of in-clinic dialysis versus at-home dialysis.
Dialysis Machine Care, Maintenance, and Use: The care and maintenance of home dialysis machines and step-by-step knowledge of how to use the systems.