Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : Because of the significant costs related to the treatment of end-stage kidney disease by dialysis, Belgian Health Care Authorities proposed in June 2009 to launch an early multidisciplinary care plan for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the form of a clinical care pathway (CCP) focusing on a combined follow-up by the general practitioner and the nephrologist. The objective was to increase nephro-protection measures, reduce patient morbidity and mortality, and delay admission on dialysis. Our Nephrology Department at Erasme Hospital took the opportunity of CCP to set up workshops on therapy education which promote CKD patients' compliance and autonomy regarding their treatment (" empowerment "). These workshops are conducted by a health professional together with a patient partner recruited by our team according to the model developed by the faculty of medicine at the University of Montreal. This model is based on the patient's valued experience of living with a chronic disease, a knowledge which is complementary to that acquired by any health professional. This patient partnership (PP) may also be implemented in teaching and research. In health care services, patient partners with a resource profile are involved not only in the organization of these services, but also in the development and management of health care political programs. The PP model currently developed in the Nephrology Department is part of the Quality project of our academic hospital and helps to further the co-construction of future health care networks.