Field Notes

Laura Kemper, Head of Federal Government Affairs, and Nate Elias, Head of U.S. State Government Affairs, join Field Notes to give a behind-the-scenes look at the efforts to forge a one-of-a-kind partnership with the federal government to procure and distribute the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to dialysis centers across the country.

This National Donate Life Month, hear directly from a former dialysis patient and beneficiary of a kidney transplant. Bridgette Chandler, HTRN, discusses her journey coming full circle from home dialysis patient to home dialysis nurse with Fresenius Kidney Care.

Last year in the U.S., home dialysis reached 14% of all treatments by Fresenius Kidney Care, and home hemodialysis with the NxStage system grew at an incredible 37%. Joe Turk, former president of NxStage Medical and current president of home and critical care therapies for Fresenius Medical Care North America, provides an inside look at how FMCNA's merger with NxStage Medical is helping evolve and grow technology for home dialysis and critical care.

Originally developed to treat diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors are potentially groundbreaking in slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dr. Robert Kossmann, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Renal Therapies, and Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America joins Field Notes to examine how this class of drug can be used to intervene earlier with patients and is a key tool within value-based care.

When kidneys do not work, a cycle of damaging health events is started that can ultimately lead to significant bone damage for patients. Dr. Michael Anger, Chief Medical Officer of the Renal Therapies Group, joins Field Notes to discuss the methods used to prevent bone damage, preventing the need for additional and expensive therapies for patients.

Nephrology has been under-represented in clinical research, even as we have witnessed rapid progress in precision medicine in other specialty areas. A new initiative to build the world's largest renal-focused genomic registry of Fresenius Medical Care, aims to change that. Dr. Frank Maddux, Global Chief Medical Officer, joins Field Notes to explain how this groundbreaking registry will impact the future of kidney care for years to come.

While the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines continues across the country, the FDA has also recently granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for new monoclonal antibody therapies specifically for COVID-19 patients living with chronic kidney disease. Chance Mysayphonh, PharmD, clinical pharmacist for Fresenius Medical Care North America, joins Field Notes to discuss how these exciting new therapies will be used in Fresenius Kidney Care centers.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of dialysis nurses and technicians working inside hospitals and other major care facilities has been critical as a significant percentage of COVID-19 patients battle acute kidney injury. Gina Sharkey and Tana Waack, both registered nurses who work closely together as Vice Presidents of Inpatient Services at FMCNA, join Field Notes to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the front-lines inside some of the hospitals hit hardest by COVID-19.

With both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech distributing their COVID-19 vaccines across the country to battle the ongoing pandemic, Phaneth Keo, Pharm.D., Vice President of the Medical Strategies for Innovative Therapies at FMCNA's Renal Therapies Group, joins Field Notes to discuss the science and process behind the groundbreaking emergency use authorizations by the FDA.

With the ability to provide patients greater control over their own treatment and improve their quality of life, home dialysis is a core component of the care model at Fresenius Medical Care North America. Even the federal government is pushing to see more patients treated at home. Dr. Michael Kraus, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Kidney Care, joins Field Notes to break down the benefits of home treatment and provide insight into the company's strategy and approach.