“Competency is a critical factor in every practice as health care in America shifts from what we have understood historically as a volume-based approach to delivery, to now a value-based delivery system,” says Martin Schreiber, MD, chief medical officer of home modalities for DaVita Kidney Care. Listen to this podcast, in which Ashley Henson interviews Dr. Schreiber on what competency hubs are and why they are important within nephrology. Dr. Schreiber also discusses how physicians or care team members can successfully create or improve a competency hub in their practice. Listen and read more DaVita Medical Insights here (https://blogs.davita.com/medical-insights/?utm_source=blubrry&utm_medium=social&utm_term=display_organic&utm_content=dmi_podcasthost&utm_campaign=davitapulse20).
Podcast Transcript:
Ashley Henson: 00:27 Hi, this is Ashley Henson, Senior Manager of Communications for DaVita Kidney Care. I'm joined on the phone today for the DaVita Medical Insights podcast by Dr. Martin Schreiber, Chief Medical Officer of home modalities for DaVita Kidney Care. Welcome, Dr. Schreiber.
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 00:42 Thanks, Ashley. It's great to be here today.
Ashley Henson: 00:45 We have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Schreiber to learn more about competency hubs and why they're important within nephrology. So Dr. Schreiber, tell me, what is a competency hub?
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 00:56 Ashley, when I talk about competency hub, I specifically am referring to what will be required of providers or physician practices going forward in this new environment of health care delivery.
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 01:10 It's fascinating because competency is a critical factor in every practice as health care in America shifts from what we have understood historically as a volume-based approach to delivery, to now a value-based delivery system. And, I see payers are designing care delivery networks that are focused on reducing costs, increasing the quality of care, and at the same time, optimizing the patient experience.
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 01:48 And, as we undergo this shift in American medicine, practices need to recognize the need to also educate the patient as a priority in providing this care. And, they need to think more about embracing shared decision making, and wherever possible, do this in treatment decisions and create what I see as a true partnership with the payer in achieving this, and understanding what the payer brings to bear and what best practices the payer may have to offer to really help them along their journey.
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 02:25 And, really in order to accomplish this transformational change as I see it, narrow networks of geographically distributed providers will evolve to meet these goals that we just talked about. And it's amazing because the great example is highlighted by the executive order announcement on July the 10th, advancing American kidney health on nephrology practices. This will really force practices to examine their capabilities that lower the progression of kidney disease.
Dr. Martin Schreiber: 03:19 And considering the fact that most Nephrologists were not sufficiently trained in delivering either peritoneal dialysis, or home hemodialysis, not every provider or practice will be considered a competency hub for end-stage kidney disease care and delivery. This gap poses significant challenges to a number of practices today, I believe.
Ashley Henson: 03:44 Got it. So these competency hubs are really locations or areas where a practice has developed expertise.
