National Kidney Month is a reminder of the importance of early detection, consistent specialty support, and coordinated care for people living with kidney disease. With 1 in 7 U.S. adults affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), access to nephrology expertise plays a critical role in slowing disease progression and supporting better long-term outcomes.
At Access TeleCare, we partner with hospitals and health systems to expand access to nephrology care through teleNephrology, supporting both inpatient and outpatient teams with timely expertise that helps patients receive the right care at the right time, close to home.
Supporting Earlier Intervention and Continuity of Care
Chronic kidney disease is often described as a “silent” condition, progressing gradually and sometimes without obvious symptoms until later stages. Early identification, proactive management of contributing conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and consistent nephrology involvement can significantly influence outcomes.
Yet many hospitals face challenges maintaining consistent nephrology coverage due to workforce shortages, geographic barriers, and increasing patient acuity. TeleNephrology offers a practical way to extend specialty expertise into care settings where on-site coverage may be limited—without disrupting existing workflows or care relationships.
“With rates of chronic kidney disease rising across the country, it’s increasingly important for hospitals to have reliable nephrology coverage,” said Saurin Patel, M.D., chief of hospitalist medicine and emerging service lines, Access TeleCare. “Telemedicine allows hospitals to maintain continuity of care, reduce unnecessary transfers, and provide patients with timely access to specialty insight.”
TeleNephrology as an Extension of the Care Team
Access TeleCare’s teleNephrology program is designed to integrate fully with on-site teams. Rather than operating as a standalone consult service, teleNephrology functions as a collaborative extension of the local care team, supporting patients from admission through discharge and ongoing management.
TeleNephrology supports hospitals by helping to:
- Maintain consistent nephrology coverage despite workforce transitions or shortages
- Support earlier intervention for complex kidney conditions
- Reduce avoidable transfers and keep care in-house when appropriate
In one multi-hospital health system, Access TeleCare partnered with facilities facing the retirement of their only on-site nephrologist. With teleNephrology, the hospitals transitioned to a sustainable coverage structure while maintaining continuity of care. The results included:
- 36% reduction in length of stay for nephrology patients
- 18% reduction in readmissions
- 24% increase in retention of high-acuity patients, supporting both quality outcomes and program stability
Read the full case study here.
Advancing Kidney Care Through Partnership
National Kidney Month is an opportunity to recognize the progress being made in kidney care and the evolving care models that make specialty expertise more accessible.
Learn more about Access TeleCare’s teleNephrology services and how they support high-quality kidney care across care settings.
