Population Health Efforts in CKD Screening

Screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, each playing a critical role. Primary care providers are often the first point of contact, identifying at-risk patients and ordering baseline labs such as eGFR and uACR. Nephrologists provide specialized assessment, confirm diagnosis, and guide management of more advanced CKD. Cardiologists, endocrinologists, and pharmacists contribute by optimizing cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, medication management, and patient education. Nurses and care coordinators support adherence, lifestyle counseling, and monitoring. Population health strategies can leverage lessons from USPSTF colon cancer screening efforts by implementing standardized, risk-based CKD screening protocols, outreach programs, and quality metrics. Electronic health records (EHRs) play a pivotal role by flagging high-risk patients, prompting timely lab testing, tracking results, and facilitating follow-up, ensuring that CKD is detected early, managed effectively, and integrated into broader preventive health initiatives.