title: Perspectives on optimizing care of patients in multidisciplinary chronic kidney disease clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize a jointly held symposium by the Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN), the Canadian Association of Nephrology Administrators (CANA), and the Canadian Kidney Knowledge Translation and Generation Network (CANN-NET) entitled "Perspectives on Optimizing Care of Patients in Multidisciplinary Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Clinics" that was held on April 24, 2015, in Montreal, Quebec.
  
  
  METHODS
  The panel consisted of a variety of members from across Canada including a multidisciplinary CKD clinic patient (Randall Russell), nephrology fellow (Dr. David Collister), geriatrician (Dr. Josee Verdon), and nephrologists (Dr. Monica Beaulieu, Dr. Adeera Levin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The objectives of the symposium were (1) to gain an understanding of the goals of care for CKD patients, (2) to gain an appreciation of different perspectives regarding optimal care for patients with CKD, (3) to examine the components required for optimal care including education strategies, structures, and tools, and (4) to describe a framework and metrics for CKD care which respect patient and system needs. This article summarizes the key concepts discussed at the symposium from a patient and physician perspectives. Key messages include (1) understanding patient values and preferences is important as it provides a framework as to what to prioritize in multidisciplinary CKD clinic and provincial renal program models, (2) barriers to effective communication and education are common in the elderly, and adaptive strategies to limit their influence are critical to improve adherence and facilitate shared decision-making, (3) the use of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) improves efficiency and minimizes practice variability among health care practitioners, and (4) CKD scorecards with standardized system processes are useful in approaching variability as well as measuring and improving patient outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perspectives provided may not be applicable across centers given the differences in patient populations including age, ethnicity, culture, language, socioeconomic status, education, and multidisciplinary CKD clinic structure and function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge transmission by collaborative interprovincial and interprofessional networks may play a role in facilitating optimal CKD care. Validation of system and clinic models that improve outcomes is needed prior to disseminating these best practices.
authors.affiliation: Section of Nephrology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collister
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON Canada.
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada.
authors.forename: Josee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verdon
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada.
authors.forename: Adeera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levin
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Clinics; Communication; Multidisciplinary; Scorecards; Standardized operating procedures