Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in General Practice 
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in General Practice Booklet(and the supporting Reference List ) endorsed by the RACGP and ANZSN, has been published by Kidney Health Australia to provide a comprehensive summary of current guidelines and recommendations from various sources on the management of CKD in general practice.
It is accompanied by a Laminated Reference Card for health professionals which highlights key points for easy access.
The aim of this booklet is to provide guidance and clinical tips to help identify, manage and refer CKD in your practice. We hope that General Practitioners and practice staff will consult these guidelines in order to ensure a high standard of care for their patients.
Health Professionals may order a free booklet by phoning the Medical Director's Office 08 8334 7555 or marie.ludlow@kidney.org.au
Kidney Health Australia's new KEY (Kidney Evaluation for You) program is a pilot program, which will be run initially in three Australian communities. KEY offers 'high risk' individuals a free targeted evaluation of your kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes.
Until now, a primary heath care program for early detection of Chronic Kidney Disease has not existed in Australia.
The Kidney Check Australia Taskforce (KCAT) is an educational program for all health professionals, but especially General Practitioners. Its goal is to improve their knowledge and understanding of 'who and how' to screen for CKD, the importance of early detection, and highlights best practice management to prevent further progression of chronic kidney disease.
KCAT also runs an eGFR education program to assist all health professionals to understand, interpret and correctly manage eGFR reporting. All KCAT GP workshops are accredited with RACGP and ACRRM.
Recommendation from the Australasian Creatinine Consensus Working Group for eGFR to be automatically reported with every serum creatinine test ordered in adults. (Medical Journal of Australia, 2005, 183: 138-141)
Quick Link for Health Professionals - MDRD eGFR Calculator
KCAT - Online Learning for GPs and Kidney Health Professionals
KCAT has worked with PriMeD to develop a series of KCAT online learning modules on CKD including eGFR. Find out more at www.kidney.primed.com.au
Read the Summary of our Australian CKD Strategy which supports principles that underpin the national Chronic Disease Strategy and National Service Improvement Framework. This important strategy also complements existing State/Territory and local service plans and clinical frameworks.
It provides a framework on which to base programs designed to reduce the prevalence of kidney failure, currently posing an increasing cost burden on the health budget, and impacting greatly on the lives of those affected.
The six National CKD Strategy priority areas are:
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Risk reduction and prevention
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Early detection and management of CKD
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Management of advanced CKD
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Dialysis
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Organ donation and transplantation
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
CARI (Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment) Guidelines
The CARI Guidelines commenced in 1999, and is a partnership project of the Australian & New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) and Kidney Health Australia (KHA).
These guidelines are evidence-based, a valuable educational resource and enhance the quality, appropriateness, consistency and cost-effectiveness of kidney health care. The guidelines were initially developed for use in Australia, but may soon become regional guidelines.
Kidney Health Australia Medical Research Funding Program
Our Medical Research Funding Program currently provides one million dollars annually to medical research in hospitals and universities. All applicants are encouraged to apply for matched funding, to make the most of the Australian research dollar.
Want to find out about recent 'Kidney' News?
Sign up to receive our quarterly online Kidney Health Professional Bulletin to keep you updated on recent progress within our various programs. Register by email with full contact details and area of interest in CKD teresa.taylor@kidney.org.au