To help those living with CKD navigate their condition and achieve optimum outcomes, the approach must be a holistic one that focuses on the continuum of care, addressing the physical, emotional and social needs of the patient throughout their journey.

Thanks to advances in renal science, patients diagnosed with CKD can live fulfilling lives. Additionally, with the increase in renal dialysis facilities made available by healthcare providers, lifesaving dialysis treatment becomes more accessible to a wider number of patients. 

Renal dialysis treatment has a significant physical and psychological impact on patients’ lives. Therefore, best practice for holistic chronic kidney treatment must also involve a well-trained team of healthcare professionals to support the patient on their treatment journey and ensure continuity of care. 

Life Healthcare, a private healthcare provider and one of South Africa’s leading hospital groups, has more than 20 years of renal care expertise, providing specialised renal care services through its Life Renal Dialysis units across southern Africa.  

“We acknowledge the complex needs of patients living with CKD and are committed to transforming renal care to ensure improved patient experience and outcomes”, says Dr Noeleen Phillipson, senior manager, Life Renal Dialysis. 

The company’s renal integrated care programme (ICP) prioritises the patient, offering a multidisciplinary approach tailored to individual needs, ensuring a personalised and effective renal care experience. 

The ICP is currently being rolled out in a phased approach across all Life Renal Dialysis units. The aim is to have this standardised programme available for all Life Renal Dialysis chronic kidney dialysis patients. 

Continuum of care 

An important aspect to the continuum of care includes patient education. 

“This provides valuable insights for patients into managing their kidney health. Our programme’s educational resources will assist in empowering patients with knowledge and practical tips for a better quality of life (QoL),” she says. 

The programme also includes QoL assessments where patients complete periodic health-related surveys. 

“This enables us to refine and improve our services based on valuable patient feedback,” adds Dr Phillipson. 

Care co-ordinators provide support 

One of the very successful aspects of the integrated approach is the inclusion of care co-ordinators* who provide guidance and ensure patients get all the support they need, from both a clinical and emotional support perspective. 

“The care co-ordinator relationship is based on an understanding that patients living with CKD require more than just dialysis treatment. Our co-ordinators create a collective understanding between the patient and the teams of clinicians involved in their care,” explains Moses Habimana, regional manager: Care Coordination, Life Healthcare. 

Dr Shoyab Wadee, a nephrologist practicing at Life Healthcare, agrees. 

“Care co-ordination involves an additional person who co-ordinates a patient’s care, simplifying their journey and stream-lining clinical processes for the doctors.” 

Dr Wadee goes on to explain that the care co-ordinator is also more available to patients, spending longer periods of time with them and linking them to other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. 

Where fully integrated, Life Healthcare’s renal ICP is seeing positive results. Patients enrolled in the programme say it has given them a better understanding of their condition, and their treatment, and it makes them feel they are not alone on their dialysis journey. 

“My care co-ordinator has helped me understand my renal journey and made it seem far less overwhelming,” says a patient. 

“My care co-ordinator has really helped me, especially with my wound care journey. My kidney condition affected my circulation, and my foot almost had gangrene. But she referred me to the wound clinic and now my foot has healed completely,” says another. 

Dedication to value-based care 

Life Healthcare’s renal ICP reflects the company’s dedication to value-based care, eliminating fragmentation and providing patients with a clear understanding of their journey. 

“With defined points of interaction and transparent cost information, we ensure a seamless care experience,” adds Dr Phillipson. 

Managing CKD is no small feat. 

“Our approach involves comprehensive disease management programmes, multi-disciplinary healthcare teams, and leveraging data and technology,” highlights Habimana. 

Life Healthcare is a preferred funder network provider with South Africa’s leading medical schemes partnering with the Company.  

“We believe this is a testament to our ability to offer quality care and patient experiences. One of the reasons for this is because of our wide range of hospitals, clinics and allied healthcare facilities, which makes professional healthcare more accessible to more patients,” adds Phillipson. 

“The recent expansion of the Life Renal Dialysis footprint in Southern Africa, through an acquisition of additional renal dialysis clinics, has several profound benefits for patients. Patients now have broader access to a network of facilities countrywide, which provides peace of mind whilst travelling. A patient can arrange to have their dialysis at alternate facilities, assured that their treatment team will engage with the receiving unit, ensuring a seamless treatment transition,” she concludes. 

About Life Renal Dialysis 

Life Renal Dialysis operates more than 70 chronic renal dialysis units across southern Africa as part of Life Healthcare’s comprehensive renal service offerings. Services support patients in renal failure who require out-patient based chronic renal dialysis or home-based peritoneal dialysis or acute renal dialysis in hospital. Life Renal Dialysis facilities offer renal dialysis technology, including renal dialysis machines and comfortable dialysis chairs. Ease of access is ensured to hospital specialists, physicians, x-ray departments and laboratory. Life Renal Dialysis encourages and emphasises the importance of education about the harmful consequences of obesity, hypertension and diabetes and its association with kidney disease, early detection and a healthy lifestyle to increase awareness and prevention of kidney disease. For more information about renal dialysis and Life Renal Dialysis services: https://www.lifehealthcare.co.za/patient-information/patient-services/complementary-services/life-renal-dialysis. 

* Care coordination is available at selected units only – please refer to the Life Healthcare website for more information.