Telehealth App Helps Connect Dialysis Patients Treating at Home

Publisher: The Insight Partners

DaVita Kidney Care achieved another industry first by incorporating a secure telehealth platform, DaVita Care Connect™, into its home dialysis program. DaVita Care Connect™ is one of many connective technologies in its suite of services designed to improve outcomes and the care experience for patients choosing to treat at home.

"Home dialysis is a better clinical option for many patients, but it is a big responsibility," said Dr. Martin Schreiber, chief medical officer for Home Dialysis at DaVita Kidney Care. "Care Connect gives our patients a convenient way to access connected care to help grow confidence in treating at home."

DaVita Care Connect™ is a mobile patient application that supports multi-way video visits, customized patient education, reminders, secure texting and image sharing. Patients can use DaVita Care Connect™ to schedule confidential appointments at convenient times and on demand if issues related to their home dialysis therapy arise, supporting real-time connections with physicians. Recognizing that access to high-speed internet varies throughout the U.S., the application is optimized for use across all types of bandwidth connections.

"Telehealth has given me more flexibility to work with my patients—both with increased frequency, off-cycle from their typical clinic visits, and when our schedules don't mesh. DaVita Care Connect™ provides an opportunity to be more engaged and connected with patients," said Dr. Adam Weinstein, nephrologist at Kidney Health Center of Maryland.

In the U.S., DaVita is the largest provider of home dialysis. DaVita Care Connect™ is one component of DaVita's Home Dialysis Connect™ technology suite, which has impacted nearly 18,000 patients since 2018. The company's home dialysis programs are growing at five times the rate of in-center treatments*.

"Our patients can count on us to bring them transformative technology and tools that can help them be successful at treating on their home therapy of choice," said Dr. Schreiber.