CKD for Primary Care Practitioners: Can We Cut to the Chase Without Too Many Shortcuts?

Primary care practitioners (PCPs) must treat the majority of the estimated 26 million adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States because in this country, there are fewer than 10,000 practicing nephrologists and nephrology advanced practitioners combined1 (J.S. Davis, personal communication, January 2016). However, despite established clinical practice guidelines for CKD, PCPs may lack sufficient knowledge and understanding of the disease,2 and most feel unfamiliar with current recommendations.