🏅Your Path to Certification
Earn your way up three evidence-based tiers. Each builds on the last. Finish all three and receive your Certified Prepared Patient · CKD badge and printable certificate, recognized across the FFH Network.
Aware · Identity: Self-Advocate
You know your body and your disease. Layer 1 — Condition Literacy.
- Complete Modules 1–4 (Condition Literacy)
- Pass the "What CKD Is" quiz (≥80%)
- Identify your CKD stage (G1–G5 + A1–A3), eGFR trend, UACR, BP target, and current med stack
- Build your home BP + weight log + lab-trend tracker with the FFH "Notice and Name" framework
Active · Identity: Care Team Member
You partner with your team and navigate the system. Layer 2 — Care & System Literacy.
- Complete Modules 5–7 (Make Every Visit Count · When to Call vs ED · Comorbidity Awareness)
- Demonstrate teach-back on your treatment plan, sick-day medication-hold rules, and your "when to call vs 911" decision rule
- Complete one "great visit" prep + debrief
- Build your When-to-Call plan + Care Team card
- Successfully resolve one prior auth (SGLT2i / finerenone), copay-help application, or nephrology care-navigator engagement
Certified Prepared Patient · Identity: Ambassador
You teach, mentor, fight stigma, and shape research & policy. Layer 3 — Advocacy & Ambassadorship.
- Complete Modules 8–10 (Family & Care Team · Talk to Kids/Partner/Employer + Mentor · Mastery & Graduation)
- Mentor 1 newly-diagnosed person or family via NKF Peers OR present at a dialysis-unit / transplant-clinic / faith-community education session
- Sign the Prepared Patient Pledge
- Complete advance care planning (POA, proxy, advance directive, POLST/MOLST, will) — important across the long CKD arc
- Submit one advocacy action (story, feedback letter, transplant-evaluation experience, policy comment on dialysis access)
📋Master Pre / Post Assessment
Where You Stand — Confidence Before & After
Seven dimensions of being a Prepared Patient. Answer once at the start of your journey and again at the end. Your goal is to see real growth across understanding, self-management, communication, and optimal utilization — knowing when to call your team, when to use Day Hospital, and when to go to the ER. Your answers stay on this device unless you choose to share with your clinician.
📈 Your Pre→Post Growth
📞Know Who to Call — Before the ER
CKD care runs as a long arc — early detection, slowing progression, preparing for transplant or dialysis, then post-transplant or on-dialysis maintenance. Most days are routine. Some days bring lab/medication calls. Rare moments are true emergencies. Knowing the right number to call — your nephrology team, the NKF helpline, or 911 — saves time, dignity, and unnecessary ED visits. Save these numbers in your phone today. The numbers below are placeholders — your institution will fill in the right ones for you.
🚨 Severe BP, sudden swelling, decreased urine output, or post-NSAID/contrast symptoms — call same day; severe symptoms = ED
BP >180/120 with chest pain, severe headache, vision change, or shortness of breath = 911. Sudden severe swelling + rapid weight gain >2 lb/day + decreased urine output after a new medication, NSAID exposure, contrast scan, or illness with vomiting/diarrhea = same-day call to nephrology. Symptoms of severe high potassium (muscle cramping, weakness, palpitations, irregular heartbeat) = call now or ED if severe. Confusion, severe shortness of breath, chest pain = 911.
🧭 New swelling, BP changes, lab-result questions, sick-day rules — call before the ED
For new swelling, BP that runs higher than your usual baseline, lab-result questions, or to confirm sick-day rules (whether to hold ACE/ARB, SGLT2i, diuretic, metformin during vomiting/diarrhea/can't keep fluids down), call your [Nephrology Triage Line: (555) 123-4567]. Before any contrast CT or angiogram, call nephrology to discuss pre-hydration. Most issues are addressable in clinic.
💬 Routine questions, refills, scheduling, caregiver support
Use [MyChart portal] first — most messages answered within 1 business day. For SGLT2i / ACE-ARB / finerenone refills or copay help, call [Specialty Pharmacy: (555) 222-9050]. For peer mentoring, transplant-pathway questions, and local resources, call the NKF helpline 1-855-NKF-CARES (1-855-653-2273) or visit peers.kidney.org — free, real humans, weekdays.
🚑 Call 911 right away for any of these
Chest pain · sudden severe shortness of breath · confusion · fainting · seizure · signs of severe hyperkalemia (palpitations + muscle weakness/paralysis) · severe BP elevation with end-organ symptoms (severe headache, chest pain, vision change, neurologic deficit) · severe injury · suspected sepsis (fever + rigors + low BP, especially if on dialysis with a catheter or after transplant on immunosuppression) — 911.
📚Condition Literacy & the 10 Prepared Patient Competencies
A Prepared Patient builds three kinds of health literacy — and grows into three identities. Each competency works through the FFH three pillars: Learn It · Live It · Share It.
Advocate for Self
You speak up for your own care, plan, pain, and goals.
Care Team Member
You partner with your team — not above, not below.
Ambassador
You teach, mentor, and shape research, policy & access.
🧬 Condition Literacy Learn It · Tier 1 Aware
"I know my body and my disease." The foundation. Without this, nothing else holds.
What CKD Is
Gradual loss of kidney function over months or years. Stages G1–G5 by GFR + A1–A3 by albuminuria (KDIGO heat map). Often silent until G4–G5 — that's why screening matters in HTN, T2D, AA/Hispanic/Native families, and prior AKI.
Know My Numbers & Risk Factors
eGFR (race-free 2021 CKD-EPI), UACR (A1/A2/A3), BP (target <130/80 in CKD), A1c if diabetic, K+, phosphorus, bicarb, hemoglobin, PTH. Family history. AA/APOL1 risk variants in ~13% of AA adults. NSAID and contrast exposure history.
Lifestyle Force Field — DASH, NSAID Avoidance, Hydration Sense, Smoking, Sleep
DASH-style eating with sodium <2300 mg/day. NSAID avoidance for life. Sensible hydration (2 L/day) — do NOT "flush" kidneys with extra water. Smoking cessation, alcohol moderation. Adequate (not high) protein. Restrict K+/phosphorus only when labs require. Renal-dietitian referral is gold.
Medications — The SGLT2 Revolution + ACE/ARB + Finerenone + Statin
ACE/ARB (1990s foundation, never both together). SGLT2 inhibitors (the 2020s revolution — ~30–40% progression reduction with or without diabetes; CREDENCE, DAPA-CKD, EMPA-KIDNEY). Finerenone adds ~17% in diabetic CKD. Statins for CV protection. Late-stage agents (phosphate binders, ESAs, vitamin D, K+ binders). Adherence is everything.
🤝 Care & System Literacy Live It · Tier 2 Active
"I'm part of the team. I navigate the system." Where most preventable ED visits, AKI episodes, and frustration happen — and where this course pays off the most. Optimal utilization lives here.
Make Every Visit Count — SHARE Approach + Teach-Back
AHRQ SHARE Approach (Seek, Help, Assess, Reach, Evaluate). Teach-back at every visit. 3-question max written priority list. Numbers card + med list + second pair of ears. Oncology visits are complex; preparation multiplies value.
When to Call vs Go to ED — AKI Triggers, Severe BP, Hyperkalemia
BP >180/120 with end-organ symptoms → 911. Severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion → 911. Hyperkalemia symptoms (cramping + weakness + palpitations) → call now / ED if severe. Sudden swelling + rapid weight gain + decreased output (especially after NSAID or contrast) → same-day nephrology call. Sick-day rules: hold ACE/ARB + SGLT2i + diuretic + metformin if vomiting/diarrhea.
Comorbidity Awareness — CV Equivalent, Anemia, CKD-MBD, Hyperkalemia, Mood, Sleep, Frailty
CKD-specific Module 7. The renal outcome arc of the unified vascular cluster — HTN + T2D drive the inputs (cluster module CROSS-REFERENCED, not embedded). CKD itself is a CV risk equivalent. Anemia from low EPO. CKD-MBD bone disease. Hyperkalemia common (limits ACE/ARB). Depression >30%. Sexual dysfunction. Sleep apnea. Frailty/sarcopenia rises with stage.
📣 Advocacy & Ambassadorship Share It · Tier 3 Certified
"I speak up. I lift others. I shape the future." This is what turns a Prepared Patient into a force multiplier for the whole community.
Family, Caregiver, and the Care Team — Long-Arc Trajectory + Transplant Pathway
The family caregiver helps with BP cuff, daily weight, medication tracking, NSAID-avoidance vigilance, and renal-friendly meal planning. Multi-specialty team: nephrology + PCP + RN care manager + renal dietitian (essential!) + pharmacist + social work + behavioral health + NKF peer mentor + vascular access surgeon (plan early) + transplant team (start by GFR ~20). Pre-emptive transplant before dialysis is the gold-standard outcome.
Sharing — Talk to Kids, Partner, Employer; Donor Conversation; Mentor
Kids/adult children (especially in AA/Hispanic/Native families): family eGFR + UACR test by their 30s. Partner: kidney donation conversation deserves time and honesty — living donation is the gold-standard outcome. Employer: ADA covers CKD; dialysis is a 3×/wk 4-hr commitment, transplant recovery 6–12 weeks. Most patients return to work. NKF Peers for mentoring. FFH "Notice and Name" — observation, never diagnosis.
Mastery & Graduation — Slow Progression, Transplant Readiness or Comfortable Dialysis, ACP, Peer Mentor
Slow progression with the SGLT2/ACE-ARB/finerenone/statin stack. Pre-emptive transplant readiness or peace with planned dialysis pathway. Advance care planning while capacity is clear. Caregiver wellness plan. NKF peer mentoring active. Story contributed to the AA / Hispanic / Native equity arc. Earn Certified Prepared Patient · CKD.
👥My Care Team
Your team is bigger than just the doctor — and the care partner is part of it. Click any card to edit, or click the + tile to add a new team member. Saved on this device. The Force Field Emergency Card below auto-syncs from this list. Starter roster pre-populated for CKD — your institution can edit any row. The Force Field Emergency Card auto-syncs from this list.
📖Glossary — words you'll hear
Plain-English definitions for terms doctors and labs use. Tap to expand.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
UACR (Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio)
KDIGO heat map
ACE inhibitor / ARB
SGLT2 inhibitor
Finerenone (Kerendia)
APOL1
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Sick-day rules
Hyperkalemia
CKD-MBD (Mineral & Bone Disorder)
Pre-emptive kidney transplant
Dialysis modalities (HD vs PD vs home)
🧪Lab Test Tutor — what your numbers mean
Lab Test Tutor — what your numbers mean
Don't just see a number — know what it means and what to ask. Your "normal" may be different from a friend's. Ask your team to write your personal baseline in the column on the right.
| Test | What it measures | Typical adult range | What to ask if it's off | My baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eGFR (race-free 2021 CKD-EPI) | Estimated kidney filtration in mL/min/1.73m². The single most-tracked CKD number. Trend matters more than one value. | ≥90 normal · 60–89 mild ↓ · 45–59 G3a · 30–44 G3b · 15–29 G4 · <15 G5 | What is my trend? Are we losing >5 mL/min/year? On SGLT2i? | [fill in] |
| UACR (urine albumin/creatinine ratio) | Protein leak from the kidneys. As predictive of outcomes as eGFR, sometimes more so. Should be checked annually in HTN, T2D, and known CKD. | A1 <30 · A2 30–300 · A3 >300 mg/g | What's my A stage? Is ACE/ARB at the right dose? On SGLT2i? | [fill in] |
| BP (home + clinic) | Home BP averages over 7 days predict outcomes better than office readings. Use a validated upper-arm cuff. | Target generally <130/80 in CKD; lower if heavy proteinuria | Am I at goal on home averages? Are my meds optimized? | [fill in] |
| A1c (if diabetic) | 3-month average glucose. Target individualized in CKD — usually ~7%; 7.5–8% may be appropriate in advanced CKD or older adults to avoid hypoglycemia. | <7% common target · individualized | What is my individualized A1c target given my CKD stage and age? | [fill in] |
| Potassium (K+) | Often runs higher in CKD. Critical for ACE/ARB / SGLT2i / finerenone dosing. Severe high K+ is dangerous (cardiac). | 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; CKD often runs 4.5–5.5 | Is K+ blocking my kidney-protecting meds? Could a K+ binder help? | [fill in] |
| Phosphorus | Rises in advanced CKD as kidneys can't excrete it. High phos drives bone disease and vascular calcification. | 2.5–4.5 mg/dL (target may be lower in CKD) | Do I need a phosphate binder? With which meals? | [fill in] |
| Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) | Acidosis is common and progressive in CKD; replacement (sodium bicarbonate) modestly slows progression. | 22–28 mEq/L | Should I take sodium bicarbonate to slow progression? | [fill in] |
| Hemoglobin (Hgb) | Anemia of CKD from low EPO. Often appears around G3b–G4. Iron-stores check first; ESAs added if needed. | Men ≥13.5 · Women ≥12.0 (general); CKD often lower | Am I anemic from CKD? Iron studies done? ESA needed? | [fill in] |
| PTH (parathyroid hormone) + Vit D + Calcium | PTH rises early in CKD as part of CKD-MBD. Vit D is activated by the kidneys; deficiency common. Calcium often low or normal until late. | PTH 15–65 pg/mL (CKD targets are stage-specific); Vit D 25-OH ≥30 ng/mL; Ca 8.5–10.2 | Are my CKD-MBD numbers in target? Vit D analog needed? | [fill in] |
| Lipids (total, LDL, HDL, trig) | CKD itself is a CV risk equivalent. Statin almost always indicated unless contraindicated. | LDL to ASCVD goal · individualized | Am I on a statin? Is the dose right for my CKD stage? | [fill in] |
| Med list with renal-dose review | Many drugs need renal dose adjustment. Review with the pharmacist at every change. Always tell every clinician (dentist, urgent care, ED) about CKD before any prescription or scan. | Renal dosing tables (Lexicomp, Sanford, etc.) | Are all my doses correct for my eGFR? Any nephrotoxic drugs? | [fill in] |
➕Add-On Modules & Earnable Badges
Stackable modules that match your situation. Complete one to earn an extra badge on your certificate. Your institution can add their own.
🩺 Home BP Cuff Routine
Validated upper-arm cuff (validatebp.org), AM and PM readings, 7-day averages. Home averages predict outcomes better than office readings. The single highest-leverage daily habit in CKD.
⚖️ Daily Weight + Edema Check
Same scale, same time of day. Track ankles, legs, around the eyes in the morning. Sudden gain >2 lb/day = call. Especially important on diuretics or in advanced CKD.
🤒 Sick-Day Medication-Hold Rules
When vomiting/diarrhea/can't keep fluids: hold ACE/ARB + SGLT2i + diuretic + metformin + (always) NSAIDs. Resume after 24h of normal eating. Call the team early. Print and post on the fridge.
🚫 NSAID-Avoidance Audit
OTC + family-doctor + dentist + urgent care + ED — every encounter. Read OTC labels: ibuprofen, naproxen, hidden in many cold combos (Advil, Aleve, Excedrin, Goody's, BC, Motrin). Use acetaminophen for most aches.
💉 AV Fistula Care
If approaching dialysis. Vein mapping, fistula creation, maturation (months — plan early!), thrill check, bruit listening, vein protection (no IVs / BPs in the access arm), recognizing infection or stenosis.
🏠 Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Care
If choosing PD. Catheter insertion + exit-site care, sterile technique for daily exchanges or nightly cycler, recognizing peritonitis (cloudy effluent, abdominal pain, fever — call same day), travel routine.
🏠 Home Hemodialysis Routine
If choosing home HD. Machine training, water-system maintenance, partner training, telemetry monitoring, vascular access care, treatment scheduling for life flexibility.
🌱 Transplant Evaluation Pathway
The full list — labs, cardiac workup, dental clearance, financial review, social-work assessment, nutrition counseling, behavioral-health, surgical evaluation, listing, donor identification (living + deceased).
💊 Transplant Medication Regimen
Lifelong immunosuppression after transplant: tacrolimus (or cyclosporine) + MMF + prednisone (often). Adherence is everything. Drug interactions, infection prevention, cancer surveillance, BP/lipids/glucose monitoring.
📋 Contrast-Scan Pre-Medication Routine
If a CT-with-contrast or angiogram is needed: call nephrology first. Pre-hydration with isotonic saline, often N-acetylcysteine, hold metformin/SGLT2i, sometimes alternative imaging (MRI without gadolinium, ultrasound, non-contrast CT) avoids it entirely.
🧪 In a CKD Clinical Trial?
Protocol literacy, side-effect tracking, when to call the study coordinator vs your usual nephrology team. Trials currently enrolling in CKD include novel anti-fibrotics, RNA therapies, and trial extensions of existing meds.
📋 Advance Care Planning Workshop
POA, healthcare proxy, advance directive, POLST/MOLST, will, financial plan — done while capacity is clear. Important across the long CKD arc, especially before any decision about dialysis withdrawal or transplant evaluation.
👨👩👧 Family Kidney Testing (esp. AA/Hispanic/Native)
Encourage adult children, siblings, and parents to ask their family doctor for an eGFR + UACR test by their 30s. Simple, cheap, and high-leverage in families with HTN, T2D, or known CKD history.
+ Add Your Institution's Module
Drop in your own — local nephrology center onboarding, dialysis-unit intro, transplant-center mentor program, anything.
🛡️Force Field Emergency Card
🛡️ Force Field Emergency Card FRIDGE · WALLET · EMT-READY
A one-page emergency record for any EMT, ER, new doctor, or transition visit. Print one for the fridge, one for your wallet. Updates anytime. This is the document you hand to a stranger when you can't speak for yourself.
🤝 My Care Team — call list for any clinician picking up my care
📘My Health Passport
📘 My Health Passport PATIENT-OWNED JOURNAL
This is your record — not your hospital's. Log every visit, capture every question for next time, and watch your own trends. Many of you get care at more than one hospital, on more than one record system. This Passport travels with you. Future versions will let you import data directly from your patient portals (the "Blue Button" vision).
🩺Working With a Prepared Patient
Your patient is going through a structured, evidence-based course. Here's how to get the most out of every visit, reduce ED use, prevent NSAID-driven AKI episodes, support the caregiver, and partner well. Built on the AHRQ SHARE Approach, the IOM teach-back method, NKF / KDIGO 2024 guidelines, ADA Standards of Care (diabetic kidney disease), USPSTF kidney screening recommendations, and the landmark CREDENCE / DAPA-CKD / EMPA-KIDNEY / FIDELIO-DKD / FIGARO-DKD trials of the SGLT2 era.
The SHARE Approach — your 5-step playbook
Use these steps in any order. Cycle back. Use teach-back at every transition. Source: AHRQ Pub. No. 25-0005 (Oct 2024).
💬Teach-Back & Risk Communication
The two highest-yield, lowest-cost SDM techniques. Use both at every visit.
🔁 Teach-Back (1–2 min)
- "Just so I know I explained it well — what would you tell your spouse about why we're adding empagliflozin (or finerenone)? About the sick-day rules?"
- Open-ended ("what" / "how"), not yes/no.
- If they get it wrong: "I must not have explained it well — let me try a different way." Then teach-back again.
- Use it for: NSAID avoidance + sick-day rules + medication routine, when to call vs 911, transplant evaluation pathway, advance care planning while capacity is clear.
- Document teach-back in your note — it's a quality measure and a billable element of care.
🔢 Communicating Numbers
- Use absolute risk, not relative. "13 out of 100" beats "13%" beats "1 in 8" beats "low risk."
- Keep denominators & timeframes constant when comparing options.
- Show, don't tell: icon arrays, Wong-Baker FACES, written summary.
- For lab numbers: give the action threshold, not just the value. "Your eGFR dropped from 42 to 36 — under 30 we accelerate transplant evaluation. We're still well above that threshold."
⚠️CKD-Specific Clinical Guardrails
Detection & Staging
- Screen at-risk adults: eGFR + UACR in HTN, T2D, family history of kidney disease, age >60, prior AKI, autoimmune disease, AA/Hispanic/Native heritage, recurrent stones.
- Race-free 2021 CKD-EPI equation is now standard. Use cystatin-C as confirmatory in select cases (low muscle mass, atypical creatinine).
- KDIGO heat map staging combines G stage and A stage. Both predict outcomes. Repeat to confirm CKD diagnosis at >3 months.
- Refer to nephrology by stage G3b–G4, persistent A3, or unexplained rapid progression (>5 mL/min/year drop).
- Investigate cause: HTN nephrosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy (~70% combined), glomerular disease (consider biopsy if A3 + active sediment), PKD, obstruction, NSAID/contrast injury history.
Disease-Modifying Therapy
- ACE inhibitor or ARB first-line for HTN + CKD (especially if proteinuric); titrate to maximum tolerated dose; never both together; monitor K+.
- SGLT2 inhibitor indicated for CKD with or without diabetes (eGFR ≥20–25, varies by agent). Counsel about expected initial creatinine bump (~10%, hemodynamic, protective).
- Finerenone indicated for diabetic CKD on top of ACE/ARB + SGLT2i (eGFR ≥25, K+ ≤4.8 to start).
- Statin: CKD itself is a CV risk equivalent — almost always indicated unless contraindicated.
- Sick-day rules: hold ACE/ARB + SGLT2i + diuretic + metformin + (always) NSAIDs during volume loss; resume after 24h normal eating. Patient-counseling item.
Complications & Late Stage
- Anemia of CKD: check iron stores first; ESAs (epoetin, darbepoetin) when Hgb <10 with goal 10–11.5; emerging HIF-PH inhibitors (daprodustat) oral alternative.
- CKD-MBD: monitor PTH, phosphorus, calcium, 25-OH vitamin D; phosphate binders, vitamin D analogs, calcimimetics per stage.
- Acidosis: sodium bicarbonate for serum HCO₃⁻ <22 modestly slows progression.
- Hyperkalemia: dietary review, loop diuretics, K+ binders (patiromer, sodium zirconium) often allow continued ACE/ARB/SGLT2i/finerenone use.
- Vascular access: refer for AV-fistula creation by GFR ~20–25 (months to mature; plan early).
- Transplant evaluation: refer by GFR ~20 (or earlier if rapidly progressing); pre-emptive transplant is the gold-standard outcome.
- Dialysis modality: discuss in-center HD vs home HD vs PD with patient and family well before need; modality choice affects life flexibility.
- Vaccinations: pneumococcal (PCV20 or PCV15+PPSV23), Hep B (essential before dialysis/transplant), influenza, COVID, RSV (60+), Shingrix.
- Avoid nephrotoxins: NSAID counseling at every visit; alert on every contrast scan; renal-dose every prescription.
🌍Cultural Competence & Trust
CKD is one of the starkest examples of health disparity in U.S. medicine. Black/AA adults are 3–4× more likely to progress to kidney failure than white Americans, and constitute about a third of dialysis patients despite being ~13% of the population. The story has both biological (APOL1) and social (SDOH, late referral, transplant access) drivers. Hispanic and Native American risk also elevated. The 2021 race-free CKD-EPI equation removed a "race correction" that had artificially raised AA patients' eGFR — delaying referrals, delaying transplant listing. Repair starts in your office.
- Use the race-free 2021 CKD-EPI equation. If your lab still reports a "race-corrected" eGFR for AA patients, push your institution to switch — it's a system correction with direct equity impact.
- Refer early. Don't wait for late stage. Referral disparities (later in AA / Hispanic patients) translate directly into worse transplant access. Refer by G3b or A3, sooner if rapid progression.
- Discuss APOL1 honestly when relevant — biology, not race-as-cause. Two high-risk variants raise FSGS and HTN-attributed CKD progression risk; the conversation should be careful, accurate, and non-deterministic. Meds work for everyone.
- Use qualified medical interpreters — never family, never minor children except in true emergencies. Transplant-evaluation, dialysis-modality, and donor conversations must be done in the patient's primary language.
- Invite the caregiver in. With patient consent — decisions about transplant evaluation, dialysis modality, family kidney testing, and donor-pair conversations are family decisions in many cultures.
- Name the bias. "I know access to transplant referral and SGLT2i has been uneven for AA / Hispanic / Native patients. We track that here, and you can tell me if anything feels off."
🏥Customize for Your Institution
Clone this course and replace the highlighted blocks with your own information. Each editable field below is a placeholder — change it once and it propagates through the patient view.
📞 What Should Replace the When-to-Call Block
- 24/7 nephrology on-call number
- Nephrology center outpatient hours & address
- Specialty pharmacy line (SGLT2i / finerenone / iron / ESAs)
- Vascular access surgery line (AV fistula planning)
- Transplant center referral & coordinator contact
- Dialysis-unit phone lines (in-center HD + home programs)
- NKF local resources / chapter contact
- Patient portal login URL with caregiver proxy
👤 Who Is Your Nephrology Care Navigator?
- Name, role, photo, calendly/booking link.
- What teach-back / device check-ins they own (home BP cuff routine, daily weight, sick-day rules, NSAID-avoidance audit, vascular access prep).
- How patients and care partners reach them between visits.
- How they handle prior-auth navigation (SGLT2i, finerenone), copay help, and transplant-evaluation triage.
📚 Add Your Own Modules
- Your clinical trial protocols (anti-fibrotics, RNA therapeutics, novel agents in CKD).
- Renal dietitian onboarding letter — myths to dispel, individualized meal planning.
- Insurance & financial-aid pathways (especially SGLT2i / finerenone copay assistance, NKF Kidney Cars, foundation grants).
- Local peer support partners (NKF Peers chapter, transplant recipient + living-donor mentor pairs, AA / Hispanic / Native community partners).
🎨 Re-skin in 2 Lines of CSS
--inst-primary: your brand color- Replace the FFH × NKF × [Your Institution] cobrand in the hero
- Drop in your logo PNG (white version) — same 48px height as FFH logo
📚 Evidence Base — what this course is built on
- AHRQ SHARE Approach — 5-step shared decision making framework. AHRQ Pub. 25-0005, Oct 2024. ahrq.gov/sdm
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (3rd ed.) — teach-back, plain language, accessible materials. AHRQ Pub. 23-0075, March 2024.
- National Kidney Foundation — Patient + Family Resources — epidemiology, equity, NKF Peers, NKF helpline, transplant resources, financial assistance.
- KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of CKD — staging, evaluation, BP targets, ACE/ARB + SGLT2i + finerenone framework, transplant referral timing.
- NIDDK — Kidney Disease Information Clearinghouse — comprehensive patient and clinician summaries.
- USPSTF Recommendations on Kidney Screening — current statement and the case for screening in HTN + T2D + AA / Hispanic / Native populations.
- ADA Standards of Care 2026 — Diabetic Kidney Disease section — annual updated guidance on screening, ACE/ARB, SGLT2i, finerenone in DKD.
- 2021 NKF-ASN Joint Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease — the race-free 2021 CKD-EPI equation that corrects historic under-diagnosis in AA patients.
- CREDENCE (Perkovic et al., NEJM 2019) — canagliflozin reduced renal events in diabetic CKD; opened the SGLT2 era for kidney protection.
- DAPA-CKD (Heerspink et al., NEJM 2020) — dapagliflozin reduced CKD progression with or without diabetes.
- EMPA-KIDNEY (EMPA-KIDNEY Collaborative Group, NEJM 2023) — empagliflozin extended SGLT2i benefit to broader CKD populations including non-diabetics.
- FIDELIO-DKD & FIGARO-DKD (Bakris/Pitt et al., NEJM 2020/2021) — finerenone reduced renal + CV events in diabetic CKD on top of ACE/ARB ± SGLT2i.
- AHRQ PEMAT — Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool. Used to grade understandability & actionability.
- Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) — peer-led, self-efficacy backbone of the Tier 3 advocacy work.
- FFH Prepared Patient · Hypertension course & · Type 2 Diabetes course — the two upstream cluster courses whose unified Module 7 (canonical, MD5 7587a559b24ca8b9bab40b1756475d84) is CROSS-REFERENCED from this CKD course's Module 7, NOT embedded or modified.
Course content is educational and not a substitute for medical advice from your own clinicians. Institutions cloning this course are responsible for accuracy of all customized blocks.