Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation

Who We Are

Mission Statement

The Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN) functions as a professional council within the framework of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and networks with other organizations to support the National Kidney Foundation's goal of making lives better for those with chronic kidney disease through education, outreach and research in the field of nutrition as it pertains to prevention, eradication and treatment of kidney and urologic diseases.

CRN 5-year Goals and Accomplishments

GOALS

Promote and encourage quality nutrition care of all patients with CKD
1. Develop, review, and revise standards of practice for renal dietitians to promote quality nutrition care.
2. Promote continuous quality improvement activities by providing renal dietitians with guidelines for implementation.
3. Develop, review and revise continuing education programs and materials for non-renal dietitians and dietetic students.
4. Support renal nutrition as a specialty area of nutrition practice.
5. Encourage the role of nutrition research in defining quality nutrition care.

PROGRESS

Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance (SOP_SOPP) for Registered Dietitians in Nephrology Care under development
Continue the collaboration with ADA-RPG to promote the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and nutrition diagnostic terminology
Renal Dietitian Orientation Checklist
Strategies I & II
Discussion at EC meetings of standardized terminology for nutrition diagnosis and intervention; presentations at Clinical Meetings on this topic, and consideration of plan to reach out to membership to support implementation of standardized terminology
Research - see goal #4
RRD and Kopple awards in support of achievements in renal nutrition
Regional RRD award to support achievements in renal nutrition at the local level
New award: Susan Knapp Excellence in Education award to recognize achievements in exceptional contributions in renal nutrition through education
Support State legislation for RD licensure and other professional issues
Support and participate in the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition

GOALS

Support the profession of the renal dietitian and promote professional education
1. Conduct a needs assessment through membership surveys every five years and through scientific meeting program evaluations.
2. Develop, review, revise and market educational materials, programs, and seminars for renal dietitians in all subspecialty areas of renal nutrition.
3. Liaison with the American Dietetic Association - Renal Practice Group (RPG) to enhance and promote the ongoing review of renal specialization.
4. Encourage representation of the renal dietitian on NKF national committees; its divisions, affiliate boards, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network boards, other Federal regulatory agencies and renal editorial boards.
5. Support and promote the Journal of Renal Nutrition (JREN) as the peer-reviewed publication for the specialty of renal nutrition.

PROGRESS

Prepare for the 2008 Membership Survey
Pocket Guide under revision — 4th edition
Authors Bureau
Clinical Meeting — Renal RD program
Collaborative effort with ADA-RPG to publish A Clinical guide to Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease in 2004.
JCAHO CKD Management Certification Task Force participation
Collaborative effort with ADA-RPG to develop Renal SOP_SOPP (see Goal #1)
Collaborate with EDTNA/ERCA on two projects:
1. European Consensus Statement on Nutrition Support for in Adults on RRT
2. Nutritional Supplement Recommendations in Kidney Failure Patients
Support ASPEN Renal Section in development of guidelines for IDPN
Contribute to ANNA-NNJ Issues in Renal Nutrition column and ANNA Core Curriculum
JREN has increased to 6 issues per year in 2007.
CPE Provider Accreditation through CDR approved; 2 units of CPE are offered per issue of JREN
KDOQI workgroup involvement and KDOQI draft guideline reviewer participation

GOALS

Develop and promote patient and public education
1. Conduct needs assessment by conducting a membership survey every five years, and by utilizing the summary of the NKF Public Education Committee's "Needs Assessment Survey”.
2. Develop, review, revise and market patient education materials and programs for the general public, the at-risk population, and the patients.
3. Coordinate CRN projects, conceptually and fiscally, with the appropriate NKF committees and approval processes.
4. Provide professional consultation and representation to NKF, its divisions, its committees, its affiliates, and local CRN Councils about patient and public education materials related to nutrition. Network with other organizations and media contacts, with emphasis on coordination with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the ADA-RPG, in the promotion of normal nutrition toward the eradication of kidney disease.

PROGRESS

Prepare for the 2008 Membership Needs Assessment Survey
Develop and update Nutrition brochures and fact sheets.
Spanish translation of Nutrition fact sheets
Work closely with NKF-KLS division on all patient and public education materials

GOALS

Stimulate, support, encourage and disseminate nutrition-related research
1. Expand marketing of CRN Research Grants.
2. Conduct renal nutrition research needs assessment.
3. Establish and support a national nutrition research question.
4. Become involved in editorial boards of other NKF publications.
5. Encourage publication of all CRN Research Grant manuscripts in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.
6. Develop and oversee an interactive website to guide CRN members through the research process.

PROGRESS

CRN provides research grants totaling $30,000 annually, with emphasis on supporting research by renal dietitians in clinical practice.
National research question conducted in 2005: National Subjective Global Assessment Validation Project
Research Bulletin Board
Research Grant manuscripts are consistently published in JREN
Support KDOQI Guidelines

GOALS

Impact regulatory and legislative issues
1. Strengthen liaison with the American Dietetic Association RPG Legislative Chair and develop a committee to improve communication to membership through the CRN Telephone Contact Tree, Renal RD Listserv and through the JREN.
2. Encourage dietitians' involvement and networking in ESRD Network Organizations, NKF Patient Empowerment Initiative, and other federal regulatory agencies, in coordination with the NKF National Office.
3. Encourage representation on the NKF National Impact Committee
4. Assist in identifying patients to enroll in “People Like Us!”
5. Provide recommendations to the NKF National Office regarding legislative issues.
6. Participate in the development and implementation of NKF public policy initiatives through the National offices.

PROGRESS

Contributions to Medicare Conditions of Coverage for ESRD Providers, Proposed Rule for Transplant Centers, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule of 2006/MNT via Telehealth Services
Participation in Trip to Capitol Hill (2005) and letter writing in support of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, funding for a CKD control program at the CDC and sponsorship of the Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005.
Nutrition labeling petition to the FDA to mandate phosphorus, potassium and calcium in milligrams on food labels.
Support NKF testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in dispute of Medicare Part D exclusion of renal vitamins and oral iron.

GOALS

Maintain and increase Council membership
1. Promote formation of new Councils and maintain communication among existing Councils.
2. Explore additional membership services and benefits.
3. Identify and support members practicing in renal nutrition subspecialties.

PROGRESS

Re-affiliation of local councils every two years
New councils formed: West Tennessee CRN
Recognized Council Awards in support of outstanding activities and achievements of local councils
"Members' Only" benefits on CRN Website (i.e. Electronic Pocket Guide)
Up to 12 units of free CPE units are offered through JREN
Membership promotions offering cost savings incentives for dues and Clinical Meeting registration

GOALS

Maintain fiscal accountability within the NKF structure in support of CRN goals
1. Work cooperatively with the Health and Scientific Affairs Division and the Development Division of NKF.
2. Seek outside funding for projects when deemed appropriate.

PROGRESS

Fiscal accountability maintained.
Sponsorship of projects by pharmaceutical companies.
Revenue generated through royalties from CRN publications, such as A Clinical guide to Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease, and participation in Focus Groups sponsored by pharmaceutical company.