Abstract
Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Traditional reliance on serum creatinine delays diagnosis because it reflects functional decline rather than early structural kidney injury. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) embedded within electronic medical records (EMRs), guided by kidney disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, remain a priority in AKI management because they support early recognition and evidence-based intervention.
Purpose: This poster presents an evidence-informed educational overview based on current clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed literature, highlighting the priority of using EMR-based CDSS and implementing kidney injury biomarkers in clinical practice to support early AKI detection, risk stratification, and timely management. It also emphasizes the role of nurse practitioners and interprofessional teams in applying these tools effectively.
Methods/Conceptual Framework: EMR-integrated CDSS platforms can analyze patient data such as serum creatinine trends, urine output, hemodynamic parameters, nephrotoxic medication exposure, and comorbidities to flag patients at risk for AKI. In parallel, implementing validated kidney injury biomarkers such as NGAL, KIM-1, and TIMP-2·IGFBP7 into routine clinical practice allows clinicians to identify subclinical kidney injury and intervene proactively. Together, these approaches enhance early detection and guide individualized care.
Implications for Practice: Using CDSS alongside clinical implementation of kidney injury biomarkers supports a proactive, precision-medicine approach to AKI management. Nurse practitioners and interprofessional teams can leverage these tools to optimize medication adjustments, fluid management, and timely nephrology consultation, potentially reducing progression to severe AKI and improving patient outcomes.
Conclusion: Prioritizing EMR-based CDSS and the clinical implementation of kidney injury biomarkers represents a critical strategy for personalized, evidence-informed AKI care, supporting advanced practice nurses and interprofessional teams in moving from reactive to proactive kidney management.