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National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings offer opportunities for APs, nurses
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The National Kidney Foundation 2016 Spring Clinical Meetings Advanced Practitioner program will provide attendees with the latest information and updates on relevant practice guidelines, as well as tools to directly impact management of the nephrology patient along the continuum of kidney disease.
Pre-Conference Courses – Wednesday, April 27
The Critical Care and Nephrology course will offer insight into treating patients who are critically ill and the impact this has on kidney disease. Morning topics include shock and acute kidney failure associated with cardiovascular complications and multi-organ failure; respiratory acid-base disorders; poisonings in nephrology; and advances in the hepato-renal patient. The afternoon session will cover topics such as critical electrolyte and fluid treatment; extracorporeal therapies; principles in pharmacology and managing the unstable hemodynamic patient.
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The special vascular access course is designed to offer the attendee a comprehensive understanding behind the technical and practical aspects of arteriovenous (AV) access planning and placement, as well as different cannulation practices. Attendees will be able to identify early and ongoing problems with AV access and implement appropriate interventions.
The half-day Chronic Kidney Disease course will provide the AP with the fundamental tools needed to practice in the CKD clinic. Topics will focus on CKD staging, primary and secondary causes in the CKD patient, and serve as a general guide of what pathophysiologic processes to expect in each stage of chronic kidney disease. This course also highlights a lecture focusing on diabetic kidney disease. Several case studies will be presented and discussed.
General Program highlights: Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1
Another exciting new highlight at the Spring Clinical Meetings this year is a discussion of dialysis adequacy measurement called Quality Renal Metrics. This topic features leaders from the top agencies in dialysis quality measurements that influence the standardization, tracking and payment rates relating to dialysis efficacy. Representatives from the National Quality Forum will discuss how quality indicators are chosen, measured and tracked. Joel Andress, a leader from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will then discuss how these quality initiatives are incorporated and bundled into payment services.
Tushar Vachharajani, MD will be presenting a talk on dialysis access options, which will cover the methods and criterion regarding choosing the right dialysis access placement site. This difficult topic is cover daily in many dialysis centers and with this presentation, may allow for better planning and outcomes. Dr. Vachharajani is an interventional nephrologist who is skilled in all aspects of dialysis access management.
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In an interactive environment, renowned speaker Harvey Feldman, MD, will present on acid-base interpretation and treatment options in respiratory and metabolic disorders in the session titled, “Electrolytes and Acid-Base.”
Other hot topics covered in the Advanced Practitioner program include ethical dilemmas in nephrology; challenges in antibiotic stewardship; cardiorenal pathology; case studies in renal pathology, and peritoneal dialysis. -by Beth Evans, RN, MSN, DNP; Darlene Dobkowski, PA-C