Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO0425

Early Implementation Experience with AKI Communication Guides

Session Information

• AKI: Biomarkers, Diagnostics, and Risk Prediction
  October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Acute Kidney Injury

• 102 AKI: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

• May, Heather P., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Heather P. May, PharmD, MS, MSc

• Manresa-Cumarin, Karem P., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Karem P. Manresa-Cumarin, MD, MPH

• Bandi, Satya Sai Sri, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Satya Sai Sri Bandi, MBBS

• Addani, Mohamed Ahmed, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Mohamed Ahmed Addani, PhD

• Boehmer, Kasey, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Kasey Boehmer, PhD, MPH

• Griffin, Joan M., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Joan M. Griffin, PhD

• Kattah, Andrea G., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Andrea G. Kattah, MD, MS

• Kwong, Yuenting Diana, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Yuenting Diana Kwong, MD, MAS, FASN

• Abdel-Rahman, Emaad M., UVA Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Emaad M. Abdel-Rahman, MD, PhD, FASN

• Gewin, Leslie S., Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Leslie S. Gewin, MD, FASN

• McCoy, Ian Ellis, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Ian Ellis McCoy, MD, MS, FASN

• Neyra, Javier A., University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Javier A. Neyra, MD, MS, FASN

• Ng, Jia Hwei, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, New York, United States

Jia Hwei Ng, MD

• Silver, Samuel A., Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Samuel A. Silver, MD, MS, FASN

• Vijayan, Anitha, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah, United States

Anitha Vijayan, MD, FASN

• Barreto, Erin F., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Erin F. Barreto, PharmD, PhD, MS, FASN

Background

AKI survivors frequently experience poor coordination of kidney-related care, limited awareness of kidney health, and fragmented care transitions that impede follow-up. Structured communication tools may improve information transfer during care transitions. To address these gaps, an ASN workgroup developed clinician- and patient-facing AKI communication guides that require evaluation in real-world settings.

Methods

This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, usability, and preliminary effectiveness of the ASN AKI Episode Communication Guide for Healthcare Professionals and the AKI Patient Education Guide among adults with Stage 2–3 AKI discharged home from Mayo Clinic Rochester. Study team members completed both guides on behalf of care teams to support standardized pilot implementation, with consulting nephrologists reviewing and approving content. Guides were delivered electronically and in hard copy to patients and outpatient clinicians at discharge. Guide content and workflow were iteratively refined during enrollment of approximately 20 participants. This interim analysis summarizes qualitative findings from the study team, six patient interviews and early implementation experience.

Results

Qualitative data noted barriers related to discharge timing, workflow integration, and care transitions. Key challenges included uncertainty in discharge readiness, uncertainty about prognostic content at discharge, limited integration with nephrology workflows leading to delayed review and rework, and ineffective patient and clinician handoffs at discharge. Limited engagement from patients and outpatient clinicians further constrained uptake, based on patient report, lack of responses to clinician surveys, and study team observations of EHR message interaction.

Conclusion

These findings suggest implementation is constrained by discharge timing and suboptimal handoffs. Refinements include acknowledging prognostic uncertainty, earlier inpatient engagement, and framing guides as communication tools, not static documents. Adjustments to workflow timing and outpatient communication may improve engagement.

Funding

• NIDDK Support