DaVita endorses initiative to standardize outcomes in kidney care trials and research

DaVita Kidney Care has endorsed the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology initiative, which aims to standardize outcomes in kidney care trials and research while formally incorporating the patient perspective. The goal of the initiative is to help ensure research reports outcomes that are not only meaningful to clinicians, but also to patients with kidney disease and their families.

“The patient voice is essential to defining outcomes that reflect what is most important to them and help support their treatment decisions,” Allen R. Nissenson, MD, FACP, chief medical officer for DaVita Kidney Care, said in a press release from the company. “We’re proud to endorse an initiative that balances the needs of multiple stakeholders and closes the gap between clinical practice and patient experience.”

The Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology (SONG) initiative is composed of a multinational team that conducts conversations with patients, their families and care teams to create a set of core outcomes that are important from the patient’s perspective. SONG uses a process to define core outcomes based on validated methodology developed by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology initiative.

SONG is developing core outcomes for hemodialysis (SONG-HD), transplantation (SONG-Tx), peritoneal dialysis (SONG-PD), children and adolescents (SONG-Kids) and polycystic kidney disease (SONG-PKD).

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