NORTHAMPTON, MA — July 30, 2026 — U.S. healthcare systems can achieve better clinical and financial results by moving away from treating diseases in isolation. A more holistic approach that looks at the underlying issues affecting multiple conditions can be highly beneficial.
The American Heart Association (AHA) describes a serious issue known as the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. This syndrome includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity, and it is a significant step towards providing integrated care. Alarmingly, nearly 90% of adults in the U.S. have at least one risk factor linked to CKM syndrome. Despite this, many people are unaware of the syndrome and how these health problems are interconnected.
This knowledge gap points to a significant issue in American healthcare. Unfortunately, many health problems—ranging from unrecognized high blood pressure to advanced kidney disease—are often only discovered during hospital stays, rather than being treated in outpatient care.
By treating conditions like heart disease and diabetes together and early, healthcare providers can manage risks more effectively, ensuring healthier futures for patients.
Breaking Down Fragmented Care
Conditions involving the heart, kidneys, and metabolism do not develop in isolation. They can worsen each other, leading to increased health risks that need coordinated treatment. When care is separated into different specialties, these risks can be overlooked. However, by integrating care, providers can address these issues earlier and more efficiently, ultimately reducing costs.
Integrated care for CKM health is particularly powerful. Models that offer combined cardiac, kidney, and metabolic care can not only coordinate treatment better but also manage shared risks more effectively, preventing further complications down the line.
“As CKM conditions are interconnected, care should not be fragmented,” states Dr. Michael O’Shea, Vice President for DaVita Integrated Kidney Care. “Addressing multiple conditions at once leads to improved patient outcomes and more sustainable healthcare systems.”
When care teams work together, they gain three key advantages:
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Better Risk Assessment: By looking at related health issues together, providers can identify potential problems more accurately.
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Improved Treatment Options: Early identification allows for the initiation of therapies that can benefit multiple systems and limit disease progression.
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Lower Overall Healthcare Costs: Addressing complications early can reduce the burden on healthcare providers and patients, decreasing the occurrence of severe diseases, such as end-stage kidney disease or heart failure.
How DaVita is Enhancing Integrated Care Access
To support integrated care, DaVita is making significant investments in technology and clinical practices. Here are some of their key initiatives:
- Multidisciplinary Teams: Focusing on improving transplant rates and clinical outcomes.
- Technology Investments: Utilizing AI platforms to facilitate early interventions; for example, studies show heart failure readmissions can decrease by 50%.
- Data Interoperability: Enhancing patient experiences through better data sharing.
The AHA’s CKM Health Initiative
To further promote integrated care, the American Heart Association has launched the CKM Health Initiative, a four-year program designed to set new standards in healthcare.
Supported by DaVita and other industry leaders, this initiative offers healthcare professionals evidence-based tools to improve patient care:
- Objective: Develop best practices for interdisciplinary treatment benefiting over 250,000 patients.
- Focus: Implement guidelines that connect various specialties.
- Scope: Engage 150 healthcare sites across 15 regions.
“Providing better access to integrated care is essential,” emphasizes Dr. O’Shea. “The AHA’s initiative creates a framework that empowers health systems to offer better interventions and improves overall community health.”
AHA’s Resources for Healthcare Providers
The American Heart Association also provides several tools for clinicians to help implement integrated CKM care models:
- PREVENT Calculator: Helps assess the long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.
- Life’s Essential 8: Offers guidance for patients to manage several health conditions.
- CKM Health Implementation Guide: Provides the latest approaches for CKM care.
As a proud Champion Sponsor of the CKM Health Initiative by the American Heart Association, DaVita is committed to enhancing integrated care in the community.
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