For immediate release
Contact: Kerry Glenn
Smoak Public Relations
864-235-8330 or Kerry@SmoakPR.com
Carolina Nephrology and Columbia Nephrology Host First Annual
Carolina Kidney Alliance Summit
July 13, 2015 – Pioneers of the Carolina Kidney Alliance are the two largest Nephrology practices in
South Carolina, Carolina Nephrology PA, in Greenville and Columbia Nephrology PA, in Columbia. These
two groups formed the organization in November 2014 with the vision and desire to strive for
excellence in the delivery of chronic kidney disease (CKD) care. The Carolina Kidney Alliance plans to
develop strategic partnerships among South Carolina Nephrology practices.
The Carolina Kidney Alliance held its first annual statewide conference in April. Over 45
Nephrologists and advanced practice providers representing 85% of South Carolina’s End-Stage Renal
Disease community attended the Alliance Summit.
This inaugural meeting provided a platform for discussing issues ranging from kidney transplant, quality
measures, patient centered pre-dialysis education and end of life issues as well as political action
implications in Columbia and Washington, DC. National speakers from Washington, DC to San
Francisco, CA attended the conference to provide expertise.
One in eight South Carolinians have kidney disease and South Carolina is fifth in the nation per capita in
the number of patients on dialysis. However, the Southeast has the lowest kidney transplant rates in the
nation. Therefore, one primary goal of the alliance is to break through barriers that have caused this
region to fall behind, allowing South Carolina to lead in the kidney transplant field.
The alliance plans to focus on patient centered, cost driven objectives that align with the hospitals in
each community. The alliance will also provide a breadth of opportunities to develop new strategies to
overcome barriers limiting patients’ access to care. As it moves forward, the goal is to create better
alignment with the many statewide Nephrology practices, our various dialysis partners and the multiple
hospitals we serve. By working together, the CKD patients within the state of South Carolina will be
exposed to the highest quality of kidney care available.