Fresenius Medical Care Showcases Global Research Leadership at World’s Largest Gathering of Kidney Professionals

GLOBAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP SHOWCASED AT 2017 KIDNEY WEEK SYMPOSIUM | FMCNA

Fresenius Researchers and Clinical Experts from across the Globe Present More Than 75 Abstracts at the American Society of Nephrology’s 2017 Kidney Week Symposium, Demonstrating Commitment to Innovating Healthcare through Science

WALTHAM, MASS. – Nov. 1, 2017 – Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the premier health care company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions, today announced that company researchers and clinical experts from across the globe will present 77 research abstracts at the 2017 American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Kidney Week Symposium, the largest and most influential gathering of kidney professionals in the world. Scheduled from Oct. 31 – Nov. 5, 2017, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the annual symposium draws more than 13,000 physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals from over 100 countries, this year accepting a total of 92 abstracts of research work conducted or sponsored by Fresenius Medical Care.

“The scope of our research and quality improvement builds on our strength as the world’s largest, vertically integrated health care company,” said Bill Valle, chief executive officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America. “The data we collect allows us to use sophisticated predictive analytics to further enhance patient care at a personalized level and improve outcomes for our patients.”

With a focus on chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and adjacent medical conditions, the company’s research crosses seven diverse categories:

• Using science and technology to characterize and improve patient outcomes
• Driving advancements in management paradigms through value based care models
• Using predictive modeling for clinical decision support and better outcomes
• Characterizing the impacts of CKD options education on outcomes and modality selection
• Leveraging coordinated care initiatives to improve patient outcomes
• Defining outcomes related to the management of bone mineral metabolism in renal disease
• Identifying the influences of social determinants of health on clinical measures

“The breadth and depth of our leadership in advancing science into clinical practice underscores our mission to improve the lives of people with kidney and chronic diseases,” says Franklin W. Maddux, MD, chief medical officer and executive vice president of clinical and scientific affairs for Fresenius Medical Care North America. “In blending patient perspectives with real world evidence and traditional research, we are able to translate science into clinical practice that ultimately improves the lives of the patients who entrust us with their care.”

Highlights of key Fresenius Medical Care presentations at the 2017 ASN Kidney Week include:

• Association of Peridialytic Systolic Blood Pressure Change and Pre-dialysis Systolic Blood Pressures on Mortality among Hemodialysis Patients. This research investigated if blood pressure patterns before and changes during hemodialysis alter mortality rates. This oral presentation will be given by Hanjie Zhang, MS on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 5:42 p.m. in room 277 (TH-OR007).
• Quasi-continuous Monitoring of Intraperitoneal Volume Using Segmental Bioimpedance in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients. This research explored whether bioimpedance techniques can be used to monitor the dynamics of intraperitoneal volume. This oral presentation will be given by Fansan Zhu, PhD on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 5:54 p.m. in room 290 (TH-OR095).
• Impact of Transition of Care Visits on Readmission Rates in Dialysis Patients. This study investigated if introduction of value based transition of care visits after hospital admissions are associated with improved readmission rates. This oral presentation will be given by Terry L. Ketchersid, MD, MBA on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. in room 292 (SA-OR036).
• Factors Associated with Gastrointestinal Bleeding in End Stage Renal Disease Patients. This research investigated if demographic and clinical characteristics are predictive of gastrointestinal bleeding. This poster presentation will be given by Thomas C. Blanchard, PhD on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (TH-PO777).
• Effects of Predictive Modeling Assisted Care Interventions on Hospitalization Rates in Hemodialysis Patients. This research investigated the impacts of a pilot program that utilizes predictive modeling to assist in identification of patients at risk for hospitalization thereby allowing clinicians to intervene in a timely manner. This poster presentation will be given by David F. Sweet, MSN on Friday, Nov. 3 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (FR-PO897).

In North America alone, Fresenius Medical Care’s research efforts involve the contributions of more than 1,200 employees, and the company’s contract clinical research division comprises a network of over 450 principal investigators at more than 260 sites representing 160 medical practices. The nature of dialysis care allows FMCNA to collect substantial amounts of data during routine treatments, including data on more than 1 million patients, more than 250 million dialysis treatments and billions of medication administrations and laboratory results.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius Medical Care North America is the premier health care company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities, outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, and urgent care centers, as well as the country’s largest practice of hospitalist and post-acute providers, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated health care services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world’s largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com.

Additional Information

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