A Comprehensive Quality Assurance Platform in Canada for National Point-of-Care Chronic Kidney Disease Screening: The Kidney Check Program
Sarah A. Curtis, AbdulRazaq Sokoro, Heather Martin, Lorraine McLeod, Caroline Chartrand, Barry Lavallee, Cathy Woods, Michelle Di Nella, Adeera Levin, Paul Komenda
Abstract
Indigenous peoples often endure significant health disparities fueled by historic and ongoing marginalizing policies and practices. In many cases, Indigenous groups are isolated from mainstream health care services (geographically, economically, or culturally) and lack the preventive health benefits associated with continuity of care.1 In Canada, this manifests in disproportionately high rates of chronic disease, often diagnosed at a younger age and greater severity than non-Indigenous groups. Of these, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, and hypertension are highly prevalent, reaching epidemic levels in many communities.