Southwest Nephrology Conference

13th Annual
Southwest Nephrology
Conference

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: This conference spans two days and presents physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, dietitians, social workers and dialysis technicians with courses of multidisciplinary interest along with discipline-specific presentations. The overall theme for this year’s conference is the triple threat: kidney failure with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Topics of interest to physicians, advanced practitioners and nurses include preserving residual renal function, morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients, reducing inflammation, and managing diabetic nephropathy. Several courses address issues related to transplantation: patients with HIV, islet cell transplantation, ABO incompatible living donor transplants, and comparing outcomes in kidney and pancreas transplant patients. Dietitians will learn about obesity in renal patients, nutrients and improving outcomes, and self-management of chronic disease. Social workers will learn about renal palliative care, and psychosocial evaluation in dialysis and transplant settings. Topics of interest to all disciplines include the triple threat, early detection in hard-to-reach populations, renal care in Mexico, developing collaborative practice and resilience for health care professionals.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT / PRACTICE GAPS: Previous educational activities, current research, a literature review and expert opinion were used to assess needs. The Practice Gaps addressed at this conference are: 1) the need to review, update and improve knowledge of the interaction of multiple chronic conditions on kidney failure; 2) the need to improve practice-based learning in order to reduce morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients, preserve residual renal function and reduce inflammation; 3) the need to address evolving standards of care in the management of diabetic nephropathy along with the application of those standards to American Indians; 4) the need to improve competencies in systems-based practice with regard to a) bringing preventive health screenings to hard-to-reach populations, b) renal care in Mexico and c) improving care for patients with multiple chronic conditions through the development of collaborative practice; 5) the need to improve competencies in the care of obese renal patients with complications due to diabetes and hypertension; 6) the need to increase awareness of post-transplant complications due to diabetes and cardiovascular disease; 7) the need to improve outcomes for transplant recipients with ABO incompatible living donors and for patients with HIV; and 8) the need to improve medical knowledge by comparing outcomes with regard to kidney, pancreas and islet cell transplantation patients.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to: 1) Identify appropriate and effective treatments for patients with multiple chronic conditions as they relate to kidney failure 2) Advise renal professionals about reducing morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients by preserving residual renal function and reducing inflammation 3) Apply evolving standards of care to the management of diabetic nephropathy and apply those standards to American Indians 4) Demonstrate improved competency in systems-based practice with regard to bringing preventive health screenings to hard-to-reach populations and engaging in collaborative practice both at home and abroad in Mexico 5) Promote improved competency in the care of obese renal patients with complications due to diabetes and hypertension 6) Demonstrate awareness of post-transplant complications due to diabetes and cardiovascular disease 7) Advise colleagues about improving outcomes for transplant recipients with ABO incompatible living donors and for patients with HIV 8) Discuss differences in outcomes with regard to kidney, pancreas and islet cell transplant patients.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and Fellows: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the Joint Sponsorship of the University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center (UACOMAHSC) and the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. The UACOMAHSC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The UACOMAHSC designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses and Patient Care Technicians: The National Kidney Foundation of Arizona is approved as a Continuing Education Provider by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 14523. NKF AZ designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 contact hours. Participants should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Credit Determination Pending: For social workers, application for approval of continuing education credits is submitted to the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. For dietitians, up to 12 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) units are available. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance to submit with your Professional Development Portfolio to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Board of Behavioral Health Examiners: This program is designed to satisfy the requirements of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners for ethics and cultural diversity continuing education credits.

DISCLAIMER: Attendance at this course does not indicate nor guarantee competence or proficiency in the performance of any procedures, which may be discussed or taught in this course.