KidneySmart is a comprehensive resource system for patients diagnosed with CKD, consisting of resource materials, virtual or in-person classes, and insurance assistance.

Kidney Smart education is about the patient. Kidney Smart empowers CKD patients to make better health decisions. By engaging patients through education, Kidney Smart can help make impact simply by preparing patients better for ESRD. Some benefits of KidneySmart education are:

• Lower hospitalization rate with higher rate of planned dialysis starts:

  • Patients feel more prepared for dialysis

• Higher rates of ideal accesses placed

  • Better prepared with accesses placed and working at a higher rate

• Higher rates of adoption for home modalities

  • Indicating patients are involved in their choices

• More likely to stay working/insured

  • Patients who continue to work have lower rates of depression and score higher on health and vitality tests

Educated patients are better prepared and more compliant. Nationwide a 6X increase in home modality starts, 2X more dialysis starts where the patient does not miss work, and a 29% reduction in day 1 CVC rate are seen in KidneySmart educated patients, versus patients without KidneySmart education. Studies have also found that Kidney Smart makes a difference once a patient does start dialysis. Kidney Smart educated patients have a 36% reduction in missed treatment rate and a 32% reduction in average hospitalizations.

SEP Officer Care Coordinators have additional information or you can call the SEP Care Management Help Line at 655-8813 or send an email to Care.Management@stelizabeth.com.