How Nephrology Can Lead
Dr. Nassar noted that nephrology is uniquely positioned to thrive in a value-based environment.“ We are already longitudinal caregivers,” he said.“ We see our patients frequently, we manage multiple aspects of their care and we are often the first to notice when things go wrong.”
He emphasized several core strategies for implementing value-based care in nephrology:
· Integrated Care Teams: Collaborating with primary care physicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists and other specialists to manage complex patients more holistically.
· Patient Education and Engagement: Empowering patients to manage their conditions through consistent education and decision-making support.
· Data-Driven Insights: Using predictive analytics and EHR data to identify high-risk patients and intervene early.
· Alternative Payment Models( APMs): Participating in CMS initiatives such as the Kidney Care Choices( KCC) model and Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting( CKCC), which incentivize outcomes over services.
Technology as a Catalyst
Another dimension of Dr. Nassar’ s talk touched on technology’ s growing role, particularly artificial intelligence( AI) and machine learning in predictive modeling, care coordination and clinical decision support. He suggested that nephrologists should not view technology as a threat but as a tool to enhance efficiency and precision.
Dr. Nassar shared examples of how his own practice uses data dashboards to monitor patient trends, flag potential complications and reduce avoidable hospitalizations. These tools allow nephrologists to shift from reactive to proactive care— exactly the kind of transformation value-based systems seek to encourage.
Barriers and Solutions
While optimistic, Dr. Nassar acknowledged several barriers: regulatory complexity, patient compliance, physician burnout, data fragmentation and the lack of interoperability between EHR systems. To overcome these, he advocated for physician-led change, saying,“ If we don’ t lead this shift, someone else will do it for us— and probably not in a way that aligns with how we practice.”
He encouraged practices to begin small, perhaps by piloting new workflows or participating in a single value-based program, rather than waiting for systemic mandates.
A Call to Action
As the health care landscape evolves, Dr. Nassar’ s message was clear: nephrologists have a choice to lead or lag behind. By embracing value-based models, clinicians can deliver more personalized, efficient and sustainable care. Beyond the financial incentives, Dr. Nassar sees value-based care as a moral imperative to do right by patients navigating chronic kidney disease and other life-altering conditions.
His presentation offered both vision and pragmatism, making a compelling case that nephrology can— and should— be at the forefront of health care transformation.
On behalf of the Senior Physician Committee, we want to congratulate Dr. Nassar and his group on what they have accomplished in the last five years, embracing new technology, such as AI. Incorporating this in the medical field will be essential in the future in all specialties.
This summary was generated by AI transcription software based on the live presentation delivered during the GLMS Foundation’ s Senior Physician Speaker Series. Thank you to Dr. Sam Yared for reviewing and adding insights to this summary. Final editing provided by Dr. Mary Barry.
GLMS Foundation Senior Physicians Speaker Series
Make sure to add these dates to your calendar so you don’ t miss out! June 3rd | August 5th | September 2nd | October 7th | December 2nd
All meetings will take place at noon via Zoom. The program is free and open to GLMS members and their guest. Please contact us for more information on the programs and how to access the meetings. Senior Physicians Committee Chair, Dr. Sam Yared, has several speakers already lined up, but is always looking for new ideas. If you have suggestions on potential speakers or topics, please reach out, we would love to hear your ideas! Missed a recent program and want to catch up? Contact us for a link to the recordings. foundation @ glms. org | 502-736-6366
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