Sensing Savvy

(Gleaned from 2018 USRDA Data Volume 2: ESRD in the United States)

Incidence is the ratio of total new cases in a population divided by total population. Incidence refers to new cases of the disease in the population in a year.

Incidence rates of treated ESRD have remained relatively stable since 2002-2003 in most high-income countries, but have actually declined by 2 percent to 10 percent in Austria, Finland, Sweden, Scotland, Denmark and Iceland.

Prevalence is the ratio of the total number of patients diagnosed and getting treatment of a disease to the total population. It tells how widespread disease is in a population.

By 2025, the telemedicine market is projected to exceed $130 billion. This growth is driven by the growing need to remove geographic boundaries and provide patients with a way to connect with physicians in real-time. Doximity gauged physician interest in telemedicine by how many physicians interacted with job postings that listed telemedicine as a skill. The company also found that the number of physicians who reported telemedicine as a skill doubled between 2015 and 2018. Here is more on what they found:

(Gleaned from the 2018 USRDS Annual Data Report: Volume II: Chapter 2)

Given the high morbidity and mortality of individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are receiving dialysis, quality improvement of renal replacement therapies (RRT) initiatives has long been a priority. Notable efforts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) include assessment and reporting of provider performance through Dialysis Facility Reports and Dialysis Facility Compare, as well as the Quality Incentive Program (QIP), which ties Medicare reimbursement to the achievement of selected quality targets.

As a physician leader, your head is often swimming with innovative ideas for solving complex challenges within your organization. But while you know making these changes can help your team meet crucial goals, your colleagues may not always share your enthusiasm.

(Gleaned from the 2018 USRDS Annual Data Report: Volume II: Chapter 12)

According to the 2018 USRDS Annual Data Report, a total of 1,397,039 ESRD patients died between 2000 and 2015. Their mean age was 68.6 (±13.6) years; 55 percent were male. Overall, 67 percent were White, 27 percent African American, 1 percent American Indian or Alaska Native, 3 percent Asian, 1 percent were Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 1 percent were of other race or multiracial. Twelve percent were Hispanic, 55 percent were Non-Hispanic White, and 26 percent Non-Hispanic African American. The median cost per person under Medicare Parts A and B were $103,932 over the last year of life, $19,734 over the last 30 days of life, and $7,687 over the last seven days of life.

(Gleaned from the 2018 USRDS Annual Data Report: Volume 1, Chapter 6: www.usrds.org)

A comparison of all children and those with CKD within the 1,970,375 privately insured children in the United States in 2016 indicates that overall, CKD was present in 2.7 cases per 1,000 children. CKD was most common in children under 4 years of age and adolescents age 18 to 21.

With an ever-growing demand for physicians, a quickly aging population and a dwindling number of practicing physicians, there’s no denying the physician shortage is looming. In fact, projections from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) predict a shortfall of 46,900 to 121,900 primary and specialty care physicians by 2032.

(Gleaned from the 2018 USRDS Annual Data Report: Volume II: Chapter 6)

Kidney transplantation is the renal replacement therapy (RRP) of choice for the majority of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Successful kidney transplantation is associated with improved survival, improved quality of life, and healthcare cost savings when compared to dialysis. In 2014, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network conducted major revisions of the kidney allocation system in order to reduce discards of potentially usable donor kidneys, decrease access disparities, and decrease unrealized life-years from the available organ supply. Changes included the following:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July  designed to “improve the lives of Americans suffering from kidney disease, expand options for American patients, and reduce healthcare costs.”

Fresenius Invests in BioIntelliSense

Fresenius Medical Care North America has invested in BioIntelliSense, a remote, continuous health monitoring data platform that provides predictive analytics, clinical insights and real-time data through a medical-grade sensor. With its investment, Fresenius hopes “to improve monitoring, treatment and outcomes for patients with kidney disease.”

Source: Nephrology News & Issues