OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.—The Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic at University of California San Diego Medical Center is the first organization in the country to be certified under The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program in Chronic Kidney Disease.
UC San Diego Medical Center’s CKD clinic opened in 2007 to provide support, encouragement and education for those dealing with this life-threatening situation. The clinic relies on a multidisciplinary approach with a team of five specialists—pharmacists, dietitians, case managers, nurse practitioners and physicians—treating each individual patient.
“The CKD Clinic staff at UC San Diego Medical Center voluntarily pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation,” said Tom Jackiewicz, CEO of UC San Diego Medical Center. “We are very proud of what the team has accomplished, once again highlighting our mission to enhance the safety and quality of care we provide.”
The Joint Commission program melds the National Kidney Foundation’s clinical practice guidelines with The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care (DSC) certification program to raise the quality of care provided to the growing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
One in nine American adults—or about 26 million people—have kidney disease and millions more are at increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Organizations seeking chronic kidney disease management certification undergo an on-site evaluation of their compliance with national standards and the management of chronic kidney disease patients through clinical guidelines that cover care from the time of diagnosis to ongoing management.
The evaluation also includes an assessment of performance improvement activities that use outcomes data to continually enhance existing treatment plans and clinical practices. In addition, organizations are assessed regarding the qualifications and competencies of practitioners; processes established to encourage patient self-management; demonstrated leadership support for the program; and use of clinical information systems to monitor and continually enhance patient care management.
Organizations eligible for certification include hospital-based clinics, multi-specialty clinics, renal clinics, independent disease management companies and nephrology group practices.
“The Joint Commission commends UC San Diego Medical Center for achieving CKD certification,” said Jean Range, MS, RN, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “Certification signifies that the services provided by UC San Diego Medical Center have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to the community that the organization provides quality care and is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of chronic kidney disease patients.”
