MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 30, 2026 /For U.S. healthcare systems, clinical and financial stability can be achieved when we look beyond treatment options for individual disease states and instead take a more holistic approach that also addresses the pathological mechanisms that extend across multiple disease states
The American Heart Association definition of the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM syndrome), a systemic overlap of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, is one important step in advancing integrated care. According to the American Heart Association, nearly nine out of 10 U.S. adults have at least one of the risk factors that make up CKM syndrome, but most people have not heard of CKM syndrome and don’t know how closely these health issues are connected
This knowledge gap highlights a critical blind spot in American healthcare. The result is a tidal wave of preventable adverse health outcomes – from undiagnosed hypertension to end stage kidney disease – that are often first identified during a hospitalization rather than being proactively identified and treated in outpatient care settings
By treating conditions like heart disease and diabetes early and together, providers can proactively help manage risks to support healthier futures for their patients.
Breaking the Cycle of Siloed Care
Cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic conditions don’t progress independently – they compound each other. Risk accumulates across systems, not solely within the purview of a given specialty. When care is fragmented, these compounding risks can go unmanaged. Conversely, when care is integrated, these risks can be addressed earlier, more effectively and at lower cost
This clinical reality is what makes integrated care uniquely powerful for CKM health. Models that treat cardiac care, kidney care and metabolic care in tandem are not simply better coordinated – they are structurally better suited to manage shared risk, intervene earlier and prevent downstream complications
“CKM conditions don’t exist in silos, and care shouldn’t either,” says Michael O’Shea, MD, vice president for DaVitaIntegrated Kidney Care. “When we address comorbid conditions together – rather than one at a time – we create better outcomes for patients and more sustainable systems of care.”
When care teams take a cohesive, interdisciplinary approach, they can unlock three critical advantages:
Precise Risk Stratification: Breaking down data silos to view comorbidities holistically, enabling more accurate identification of potential adverse events
Optimized Therapeutics: Leveraging earlier identification to initiate organ-protective therapies (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs) that offer multi-system benefits and help slow disease progression
Reduced Total Cost of Care: Mitigating the clinical and financial burden of downstream complications, including end stage kidney disease (ESKD) or heart failure
How DaVita is Broadening Access to Integrated Care
Integrated care relies on robust infrastructure, advanced technology and a reimagined clinical culture. DaVita is working to bridge care gaps through key innovations and investments:
Multidisciplinary teams are working to improve transplant rates and clinical outcomes. Read about our nephrology-led care models
Strategic investments in AI platforms, like Linea, help enable earlier intervention, reducing heart failure readmissions by 50%. Read more about our AI investment in chronic care
DaVita’s chief information officer, Madhu Narasimhan, explains how data interoperability can help enhance the patient experience. Read the Q&A on health tech innovation
Taking Action: The American Heart Association’s CKM Health Initiative
Accelerating this shift requires system-wide standardization. To further establish integrated care from concept to practice, the American Heart Association launched its groundbreaking CKM Health Initiative
Sponsored by DaVita and other industry leaders, this four-year effort offers clinicians evidence-based tools to help operationalize new standards:
Goal: Establish best practices for interdisciplinary care impacting 250,000+ patients
Focus: Implementing evidence-based guidelines to bridge the gap between specialty practices
Scope: 150 healthcare sites across 15 regions
“Expanding access to integrated care is an imperative,” says Dr. O’Shea. “The American Heart Association’s initiative provides health systems with a framework and equips clinicians with actionable, cross-specialty insights to help drive more precise interventions and support improved population health outcomes.”
3 American Heart Association Tools for Clinicians
The American Heart Association offers evidence-based tools to help clinicians implement integrated CKM care models:
PREVENT online calculator: Estimate risk for cardiovascular disease over the next 10 or 30 years
Life’s Essential 8: Discover evidence-based guidance that can help patients improve multiple health conditions
CKM Health Implementation Guide: Adopt the latest evidence-based CKM care
DaVita is a Champion Sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Health Initiative
Find more stories and multimedia from DaVita at 3blmedia.com
Contact Info:Spokesperson: DaVitaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/davitaEmail: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE:DaVita
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
The articles, information, and content displayed on this webpage may
include materials prepared and provided by third parties. Such
third-party content is offered for informational purposes only and
is not endorsed, reviewed, or verified by Morningstar
Morningstar makes no representations or warranties regarding the
accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any third-party
content displayed on this site. The views and opinions expressed in
third-party content are those of the respective authors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of Morningstar, its affiliates, or employees
Morningstar is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or delays
in this content, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Users are advised to exercise their own judgment and seek independent
financial advice before making any decisions based on such content.
The third-party providers of this content are not affiliated with
Morningstar, and their inclusion on this site does not imply any
form of partnership, agency, or endorsement
These dividend stocks offer the best of all worlds: high yields, appreciation potential, and dividend stability.
Susan DziubinskiJul 29, 2026
Plus, what stood out in the latest earnings reports from Tesla, Alphabet, and Intel.
David Sekera, CFA and Susan DziubinskiJul 27, 2026
When fund fundamentals and performance get ugly.
Vedran BeogradlijaJul 30, 2026
This AI leader qualifies as a GARP stock today.
Brian Colello, CPAJul 30, 2026
Artificial intelligence stocks maintain their appeal, thanks to industry momentum and appealing valuations.
Tori BrovetJul 27, 2026
