Carolina Nephrology and Columbia Nephrology Host First Annual Carolina Kidney Alliance Summit
July 28, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Pioneers of the Carolina Kidney Alliance are the two largest Nephrology practices in South Carolina, Carolina Nephrology PA, in Greenville and Columbia Nephrology PA, in Columbia. These two groups formed the organization in November 2014 with the vision and desire to strive for excellence in the delivery of chronic kidney disease (CKD) care. The Carolina Kidney Alliance plans to develop strategic partnerships among South Carolina Nephrology practices.
The Carolina Kidney Alliance held its first annual statewide conference in April. Over 45 Nephrologists and advanced practice providers representing 85% of South Carolina’s End-Stage Renal Disease community attended the Alliance Summit.
This inaugural meeting provided a platform for discussing issues ranging from kidney transplant, quality measures, patient centered pre-dialysis education and end of life issues as well as political action implications in Columbia and Washington, DC. National speakers from Washington, DC to San Francisco, CA attended the conference to provide expertise.
One in eight South Carolinians have kidney disease and South Carolina is fifth in the nation per capita in the number of patients on dialysis. However, the Southeast has the lowest kidney transplant rates in the nation. Therefore, one primary goal of the alliance is to break through barriers that have caused this region to fall behind, allowing South Carolina to lead in the kidney transplant field.
The alliance plans to focus on patient centered, cost driven objectives that align with the hospitals in each community. The alliance will also provide a breadth of opportunities to develop new strategies to overcome barriers limiting patients’ access to care. As it moves forward, the goal is to create better alignment with the many statewide Nephrology practices, our various dialysis partners and the multiple hospitals we serve. By working together, the CKD patients within the state of South Carolina will be exposed to the highest quality of kidney care available.
About Carolina Nephrology
Carolina Nephrology specializes in the treatment of kidney disease and hypertension as well as interventional nephrology. Carolina Nephrology is located in six areas throughout the Upstate, with the main office in Greenville at 203 Mills Ave and satellites in Easley, Simpsonville, Laurens, Greer and in 2015, Spartanburg. The practice has 13 nephrologists are all board certified in Nephrology, as well as 3 nurse practitioners.
About Columbia Nephrology
Columbia Nephrology Associates, P.A. is centrally located in Columbia. Columbia Nephrology is the largest Nephrology practice in South Carolina and now specializes in all aspects of kidney disease management including Chronic Kidney Disease care, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, post-transplant care and interventional nephrology. The practice’s 16 physicians are certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology. The practice has dialysis clinics in the Columbia area as well as Camden, Lugoff, Elgin, Batesburg, Newberry and Winnsboro.
