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In his opening talk at the American Society of Nephrology's 2012 Kidney Week, ASN president Ronald J Falk, MD, FASN urged nephrologists to consider the treatment possibilities of the future.
"We nephrologists hardly ever use the word cure. When was the last time you even let the concept permeate your consciousness?"
Falk encouraged nephrologists to consider practicing nephrology in the future with a platform better than dialysis. He said: "Why can't we restore health? With all the nanoscience and biotechnology, why can't we build a better platform?" He thinks we can, at least eventually. "We must think that we can cure kidney disease, even if we don't know how to do it today."
How will nephrology push into the realm of better restoring patient health? According to Falk, through collaboration and research. That is the point of the American Society of Nephrology's new Kidney Health Initiative. Nephrologists must work with industry innovators to promote scietific discoveries.
Nephrologists must work with pharmacists, social workers, nurses, and researchers to restore the health of their patients. And, according to Falk, "the only definition of restoration of health that really counts is that annunciated by the patient." Patients must be happy and able to interact with their family and the outside world. Perhaps patients should not feel chronically held down by treatment, but empowered by it.
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American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week / Dialysis / Renal News / American Society of Nephrology (ASN) / Kidney Health Initiative / Kidney Care Community / Top News Stories
American Society of Nephrology looks to the future at Kidney Week
Recent Articles by Rebecca Zumoff
Renal dietitian
November 2, 2012
I agree with the statement that "Patients must be happy and able to interact with their family and the outside world"... many of my home hemo and PD patients do just that. They are more empowered by doing it themselves at home. I also agree with more nanoscience and biotechnology involvement in finding the cure. Let's not forget; however, the two main causes of kidney damage: DM and HTN, these two when treated earlier and better managed can extend a patients' early CKD for many years. There is a lot of work to be done in this country with grass roots education, access to medical care, medication affordability,etc. etc. which can definitely slow the progression and/or prevent complications of poorly controlled DM and HTN.
