IPRO is the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for New York State.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. An estimated 26 million Americans have CKD and around 20 million more are considered at risk. Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure, so it is critical to raise awareness among at risk populations---including African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and seniors---and increase knowledge of diagnosing and treating the disease among physicians.
IPRO is one of a select group of Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) working under the direction of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve early detection of CKD as well as improve care management to prevent and delay the disease.
Addressing the CKD Problem
As the prevalent causes of CKD --- especially diabetes and hypertension --- are on the rise, so is the number of patients affected by kidney damage.
Early screening and education for patients will save lives. The early stages of CKD often have no outward symptoms, and damage to the kidneys is irreversible. At IPRO, we and our partners are working to make statewide gains on key measures of quality for CKD care, including:
- Timely testing of urine microalbumin to identify early kidney failure due to diabetes
- Prescription of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocking (ARB) agents to slow the progression of CKD in patients with diabetes and hypertension
- Increased use of the Arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) as first choice for individuals who elect hemodialysis as their mode of renal replacement therapy.
What We Are Doing to Improve CKD Care
As the QIO for the state of New York, IPRO is engaging primary care physicians, nephrologists and other specialty physicians who treat patients with diabetes to improve on the quality measures listed above. Our methods to reach these healthcare providers include the development and distribution of targeted tools and resources, as well as providing presentations and educational sessions on CKD care.
We work with a group of statewide organizations and individuals with similar goals to ensure these efforts reach the broadest possible audience. In addition to our work with physicians and other healthcare professionals and community organizations, we compile and promote educational materials targeted at patients and at-risk populations that can be distributed through primary care physician offices to individuals across the state.
In addition to its work on CKD, IPRO serves as the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network of New York. Please visit our separate ESRD Network website if you would like to learn more about our work to improve care for patients with kidney failure.
Learn More
To find out more about the work IPRO is doing to improve CKD detection and care and how it might apply to you, please click one of the links in the sidebar to the right or at the top of this page.
