LAUSR

The role of pharmacists in caring for patients with AKD (1) begins with inpatient care at the time of AKI diagnosis, (2) involves patient-pharmacist interaction at hospital discharge, and (3) provides active follow-up care after hospital discharge. The pharmacist, as part of a multiprofessional patient care team, should be actively involved in improving health literacy for kidney disease, should be encouraging patient follow-up after an episode of AKI, and should be actively involved in medication management for patients with AKD. This role is similar to a pharmacist caring for a patient with AKI or CKD because of the central focus on optimal medication management; however, it is different because of the emphasis on enhancing health literacy for kidney disease, preventing progression to CKD, and developing a process for continuity of care.