A Program Designed to get the Patient Through the Most Vital Days
By Kasia Michalik
RV CARE is a program that focuses on the decrease in mortality, improvement of outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and helps patients adjust to dialysis by empowering them to take care of themselves and be advocates in their own health care.
The program is based on the RightStart Program that Dr. Raymond Hakim, of Fresenius Medical Care, implemented. Almost three years ago, Tom Parker, MD, chief medical officer of Renal Ventures Management, started brainstorming how to apply a program like RightStart in his facilities, but with his own twist.
"Dr. Parker stated that it would be beneficial if we had a person dedicated to the program," said Naveena Reddy, lead care partner for RV CARE.
Reddy was hired to start the program when it was nothing more than a concept in their heads.
"When I started with Renal Ventures, along with the RV CARE director, we developed the materials, designed the program and implemented the program," she said. "After we got the program started, we gave it six months to see where it would take us. It did get the results we expected, better than we expected."
