Meeting Patients Where They Are: The Value of Innovation & Collaboration in Expanding Kidney Care Access

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, affecting nearly 850 million people worldwide.¹ The burden is particularly heavy in low- and middle-income countries, where access to optimal care remains severely limited.² With CKD projected to become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2040,³ we face a critical imperative to transform how kidney care is delivered.

The stark reality is that millions of patients who need life-sustaining kidney therapies cannot access them – or encounter significant difficulty and disruption throughout their course of treatment. Geographic barriers, healthcare infrastructure limitations, and economic constraints create devastating gaps in care delivery. Considerable inequities in kidney care exist in many countries, which can pose profoundly difficult challenges to patients who need dialysis to not only receive it, but to maintain their therapy long-term.⁴

That’s why the future of kidney care isn't just about developing innovative therapies, or focusing on where care happens; it is about fundamentally reimagining how we deliver care to reach those who need it most. This requires leveraging technology and partnerships in new ways to break down traditional barriers, designing therapies to fit more seamlessly into patients’ lives, and creating more equitable access to life-sustaining treatments.

Today, we have more tools than ever to reach patients where they are, including at home. Digital health technologies are proving transformative in addressing many of the challenges associated with home dialysis.⁵ Remote patient monitoring platforms, telemedicine solutions, and connected care systems are revolutionizing how we monitor and manage kidney disease progression. These technologies can help bridge geographic gaps by enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients more effectively, intervene earlier when problems arise, and provide vital support without requiring frequent in-person visits.⁵

Solutions like these are helping make the journey less demanding for clinicians and less daunting for patients, while also extending specialized care into underserved communities. Across a range of clinical studies, these technologies have been associated with improved patient adherence to therapy as well as lower incidence of all-cause mortality, reduced hospitalization rates and reduced drop-out rates. ^{6, 7}

And, we firmly believe there is even greater potential ahead. We're seeing promising developments in predictive analytics and machine learning that could help identify at-risk populations earlier and enable more proactive interventions before a situation becomes critical.⁸ Truly redefining kidney care means reaching towards a future where geography and resources no longer determine who receives optimal care.

Significant to this transformation is the role of patient advocacy organizations and community partnerships; these groups are helping bridge knowledge gaps between technological innovations and the communities they serve. Understanding the lived experiences of patients and caregivers is critical in ensuring technological solutions are addressing real-world needs and the social, emotional, and practical challenges patients face.

Success will require continued collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem – from technology companies and healthcare providers to policymakers and patient advocacy groups. Together, we must work to ensure that technological advances translate into meaningful improvements in care access and outcomes for all patients, regardless of their location or circumstances.

This is more than just an aspiration – it is a responsibility. As the global burden of kidney disease continues to grow,¹ we must accelerate our efforts to harness technology's potential to democratize access to vital therapies. Only by working hand-in-hand with patient communities and advocacy organizations can we create a more equitable future in kidney care – one where every patient has access to the treatment options they need to live fuller, healthier lives.

The article was originally published in MedCityNews.