Conservative Care for Kidney Patients

Hot Topics in Kidney Health

In today’s episode, we're finishing up our series on kidney failure treatment options with a discussion on conservative care. What exactly is conservative care and who can benefit from it?
Christine Corbett, Associate Chief Nursing Officer and nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care is here to answer that question and more. Sara Hicklin and Bobbie Reed who have firsthand experience with conservative care in their families are also here to share their perspectives on this treatment option.

Christine Corbett, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNN-NP, FNKF is the newly appointed Assistant Research Professor at George Washington University and Executive Director for the Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients. She is a practicing Nurse Practitioner specializing in kidney palliative care, and a Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath Certified Practitioner. Dr. Corbett has over 25 years of nephrology experience and four years of experience in Palliative Care. Her doctoral focus was shared decision-making, advance care planning and appropriate palliative care referral for select patients with chronic kidney disease. In the past four years she developed, implemented, and managed the Comprehensive Conservative Kidney Care Clinic for patients who choose to forego dialysis at an academic safety net hospital in Kansas City.

Bobbie Reed is on a mission for her son and for the millions of others living with chronic kidney disease. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Family Consumer Science degree, Bobbie is the office manager at her family's insurance business. She wants to pay it forward by helping others with their struggles in dealing with kidney disease. As part of the NKF’s Kidney Advocacy Committee, Bobbie is not only the Pennsylvania Liaison, but is the immediate past Region 2 leader for the group. She continues to help her son navigate his kidney disease journey and, in addition, use her experience to benefit and advocate for many others afflicted with kidney disease.

Sara Hicklin and her family has a genetic kidney disease called Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD. With this family and personal history, Sara is passionate about educating others about kidney disease, along with recruiting and educating potential organ donors. She is also fascinated by the advances in treatment options in three generations and wants to contribute in a small way to what may become available for treatment of kidney disease in generations to come.

Additional Resources

Coalition for Supportive Care

Palliative Care Resources

Palliative Care Resources

Advanced Directives

The Patient Will See You Now by Eric Topol

Palliative Care in Nephrology

Definitions from the episode:

• Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)
• Portable Medical Orders (POLST): https://polst.org/

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