Practicing health equity in kidney care by establishing improved access to timely disease management and kidney replacement therapy options: from providers to patients

Abstract

Purpose of review The aim of this article is to review the current understanding of disparities in healthcare experienced by people living with kidney disease and emerging approaches to address root causes. Health equity for any disease state is an aspirational goal commonly sought out by the medical community, but all too often lacking the understanding and support required to improve the outcomes of people with complex conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent findings The main themes of the literature covered in this article include a review of the structural drivers of healthcare outcomes, a description of research in the fields of health literacy and patient activation for patients with CKD, and an analysis of the examples of healthcare disparities in CKD patients that include involuntary discharges from dialysis facilities as well as the toll taken from dialysis populations during natural disasters. The National Forum of the ESRD Networks is a coalition of 18 congressionally mandated ESRD network organizations committed to equitable access to home and in-center dialysis modalities and preemptive kidney transplantation. We conclude with the patient-centered story of a patient living with end-stage kidney disease for over 40 years and how her journey has helped shape her view on what she believes should encompass a ‘call to action’ to provide more equitable healthcare to people living with kidney disease. Summary The overarching implications of this article focus on improving the understanding of present-day healthcare inequality within the community of people living with kidney disease and providing a roadmap of resources and ideas that will help achieve more equitable outcomes. The National Forum of the ESRD Networks is committed to the effective implementation of ‘Practicing Health Equity in Kidney Care’ and improving access to dialysis modalities including home dialysis as well as kidney transplantation including preemptive transplant options.