UHIN Supports Statewide Effort to Improve Chronic Kidney Disease Detection and Care in Utah.
The Utah Health Information Network (UHIN) is collaborating with Comagine Health, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the One Utah Health Collaborative to relaunch the Utah Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Coalition. The coalition is focused on improving early detection and management of CKD across the state, using data to inform and support its strategies.
UHIN’s Utah Clinical Health Information Exchange (CHIE) is being used to help develop an alert system that will notify primary care providers when lab results suggest CKD but no diagnosis has been recorded. This alert system is designed to help improve follow-up and diagnosis rates—addressing the reality that 50% of individuals screened for CKD currently do not receive a formal diagnosis or follow-up care.
Additionally, UHIN is evaluating aggregate health data to support early intervention strategies based on methodologies from the National Kidney Foundation. The coalition is exploring the potential for DHHS grant funding to support the implementation of these strategies if data and provider interest support it.
The broader initiative also includes supporting local health districts and clinics in their CKD care efforts and expanding awareness and education around treatment options for end-stage renal disease, such as home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
UHIN’s involvement is centered on providing the data and tools needed to help health care partners make earlier, more informed decisions in CKD care.