The Role for Nephrology Social Work in the New Kidney Disease Paradigm—Moving Ahead by Remembering How We Got Here

Abstract

2019 brings exciting changes to the delivery of kidney disease care in the United States and beyond. We have increasing attention to home dialysis and kidney transplantation as preferred treatment modalities for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), new organizations such as CVS Pharmacy and Cricket expanding leadership in chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment, innovative treatment options such as wearable and implantable kidneys on the horizon, and a new stream of funding for kidney disease innovation through
KidneyX. These changes are happening at the same time that patient-centered research is becoming the standard in outcomes evaluation. Nephrology social workers (NSWs) must act now to position ourselves as leaders in this new kidney disease paradigm; these opportunities present an exciting time for social workers to highlight how our interventions can help patients have the best outcomes as kidney disease care evolves.