March is National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults or approximately 35.5 million people. Even more concerning, as many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD don’t know they have it, underscoring the critical need for early detection.

CKD often develops without noticeable symptoms and significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure are at especially high risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1 in 5 with hypertension also have CKD.

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in slowing the progression of CKD through routine screenings, patient education and promoting preventive steps such as maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly and avoiding tobacco use.

Whether healthcare teams need a quick refresher or want to expand their knowledge, HQI’s online learning portal, HQI Academy, offers a selection of free training modules and accompanying learning aids for healthcare personnel from all care settings. Courses include Diabetes Prevention Overview, Identifying Patients at Risk for Diabetes, Diabetes Prevention Interventions and Diabetes Best Practice Strategies.

The self‑paced micro‑learning courses help clinicians identify at‑risk patients and intervene early. Sign up today to access these quick, practical training tools.