An NKC clinical staff member checks a patient’s blood pressure, a routine step before dialysis treatment begins.

Through our partnership with the Kidney Research Institute and the University of Washington, NKC clinics serve as a hub for meaningful kidney research. KRI researchers work directly inside NKC clinics, allowing patients to participate in studies during their regular care routines.

鈥淎t 麻豆精品 Centers, research happens inside our clinics with the same care teams patients already know and trust,鈥� said Dr. Matt Rivara chief medical officer at 麻豆精品 Centers. 鈥淲e鈥檙e fortunate to have a strong partnership with talented and innovative researchers at the University of Washington鈥檚 Kidney Research Institute. Through this partnership, NKC patients can take part in KRI research studies during their regular care visits, with no extra travel and fewer barriers to participation. This makes research more accessible and representative.鈥�

In the past year, about 150 NKC patients have participated in research, with six studies currently underway. Research is also important to the providers who refer patients to NKC 鈥� most say that research opportunities for their patients are an important reason they value our care. Participation in research also reflects our broader aims of giving back to the community and helping shape the future of kidney care.

Key research studies at NKC

HOME-BP Trial (KRI Home Blood Pressure Study)

High blood pressure is a serious health concern for people on dialysis. It鈥檚 closely linked to heart disease, hospitalizations, and other serious complications. Yet most blood pressure studies did not include dialysis patients, which made it harder to know the safest and most effective ways to treat them.

The HOME-BP Trial looks at whether blood pressure readings taken at home on non-dialysis days lead to safer, better care than relying solely on readings taken before dialysis. NKC patients played an important role in the trial.

Researchers are now reviewing the results, and their findings could help guide how kidney doctors monitor and help manage patients鈥� blood pressure in the future.

Diality Home hemodialysis trial

NKC is also serving as a clinical trial site for the Diality home hemodialysis system, supporting innovation in home dialysis options. The study is actively enrolling patients and is expected to conclude in 2027.

Home hemodialysis options are still limited, so expanding choices helps increase access and flexibility for patients. The Diality system is designed to support comfort and greater dialysate flow flexibility, allowing providers to be able to better customize treatments.

This work supports NKC鈥檚 goal of staying at the forefront of dialysis innovation while improving patient independence and long-term outcomes.

Why research matters for our patients

Research at NKC is about improving everyday care for our patients. By bringing research studies directly into our clinics, it鈥檚 easier for patients to take part, leading to broader representation, stronger study results and faster improvements in care.

A few years ago, we took a closer look at how our patients felt about their care. What we learned helped us make meaningful changes across our clinics 鈥� and those changes made a real difference.

Listening comes first

We began by reviewing patient survey results to better understand what mattered most to the people we serve. Patients told us they wanted clearer communication, more comfort during treatment, and reliable scheduling. Most of all, they wanted to feel heard.

Instead of treating patient experience as just a score, we chose to treat it like a relationship 鈥� built on trust, compassion, and follow鈥憈hrough.

Turning feedback into action

To make sure patient voices led to real change, our clinical leaders began checking in regularly with patients using a simple set of questions focused on their needs and concerns. When an issue came up, leaders followed up and worked with clinic teams to quickly address it.

We also paid special attention to clinics that were struggling. Our Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Erica Lockley, partnered directly with those teams to create clear, practical action plans. These plans focused on empathy, patient comfort, dependable scheduling, and regular team check鈥慽ns.

Real results, over time

By listening closely and acting consistently, we saw steady improvement. In just two years, patient satisfaction scores rose significantly, moving 麻豆精品 Centers into the 81st percentile nationally compared to other dialysis providers. In simple terms, that means our scores now rank among the top clinics across the country.

These results didn鈥檛 happen overnight. They came from small, everyday changes 鈥� made by staff who care deeply about their patients and are committed to doing better each day.

Always learning, always improving

Our work doesn鈥檛 stop here. We continue to listen, learn, and make improvements based on patient feedback. Every conversation helps us better understand how we can support patients through their kidney care journey.

We鈥檙e grateful to our patients for sharing their voices 鈥� and to our care teams for turning those voices into action.