National Quality Forum Releases Practical Resource to Advancing Patient-Centered Renal Care 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEP 20, 2019

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National Quality Forum Releases Practical Resource to Advancing Patient-Centered Renal Care
NQF provides actionable recommendations to improve the quality of care for Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease through shared decision making


WASHINGTON, DC
- The National Quality Forum (NQF) recently published its latest NQP Playbook™: Supporting Shared Decision Making for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease – a practical resource with guidance and tools that healthcare systems, providers, and patient advocacy organizations can utilize to improve the quality of care through shared decision making in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Approximately 30 million individuals, or 15 percent of adults in the United States, suffer from chronic kidney disease and nearly 726,000 of these individuals live with end-stage renal disease, the final and most severe stage of the condition.1,2 As a patient’s renal health status deteriorates, treatment options become increasingly limited and personally disruptive. Yet fewer than half of patients surveyed say their clinician asked about their personal goals and concerns in the decision-making process.3 This gap emphasizes the importance of engaging early in education and conversations on renal disease management and treatment options as well as a significant opportunity to improve the quality of care for these patients.

Developed with a diverse group of experts and patients, the latest NQP Playbook™ outlines evidence-driven strategies for critical stakeholders to adopt shared decision making as a proven, patient-centered approach to arrive at well-informed, optimal healthcare decisions by engaging patients as active partners in making decisions that align with personal goals, preferences, and values.

“Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease are complex in nature and present unique challenges for those faced with determining the best route of care, often under time-sensitive or other extenuating circumstances,” said Kathleen Giblin, Senior Vice President of Quality Innovation, National Quality Forum. “Early inclusion of the patient voice is imperative in improving the quality and type of care that reshapes the lives of those affected.”

“We recognize the importance of shared decision making in renal care and are proud to champion the transformative role it plays in our latest Playbook.” continued Giblin. “To advance patient-centered care, clinicians and the healthcare community-at-large can utilize the resource to take action, reduce knowledge gaps and empower patients in important care decisions.”

Access the NQP Playbook™: Supporting Shared Decision Making for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease. This project was sponsored by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.

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About National Quality Forum
The National Quality Forum (NQF) works with members of the healthcare community to drive measurable health improvements together. NQF is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that gives all healthcare stakeholders a voice in advancing quality measures and improvement strategies that lead to better outcomes and greater value. Learn more at www.qualityforum.org.

About National Quality Partners™
National Quality Partners™ (NQP™), an NQF initiative, is an active forum for NQF members to connect, collaborate, and provide thought leadership on quality improvement strategies to achieve national health and healthcare quality goals. NQP addresses the nation’s high-priority healthcare issues by engaging stakeholders from across the care continuum. NQP leads practical, action-oriented initiatives to drive meaningful and lasting changes for patients and their families.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the vision: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. is an indirect subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 47,000 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 11.7 billion in 2018. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka.co.jp/en/.


United States Renal Data System. Annual Data Report Highlights.
United States Renal Data System. Incidence, prevalence, patient characteristics, and treatment modalities.
Morton RL, Tong A, Howard K, et al. The views of patients and careers in treatment decision making for chronic kidney disease: systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. BMJ. 2010;340.