Enhancing Home Dialysis Referrals | A path to expanded opportunities and patient-centered care | In 2022, a BC Renal province-wide review of home dialysis revealed significant inconsistencies in how different programs screen and refer patients for home dialysis, contributing to disparities in access and missed opportunities to recruit eligible home dialysis candidates. The review also underscored communication gaps between kidney care providers, patients, and their caregivers during the referral process, as reflected in a separate 2022 patient experience survey. These findings prompted the need for a standardized provincial approach to ensure a consistent, transparent home dialysis pathway, and that all eligible patients receive a comprehensive assessment. Read full story | | Non-Prescription Medications Sheet Now available in Simplified Chinese and Punjabi! For patients who want to learn more about how over-the-counter medications can impact kidney health, our info sheet, "Non-Prescription Medications and Your Kidneys," is now available in Simplified Chinese (简体中文) and Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ)! It provides a comprehensive list of which medications are safe to take, and which require caution – including cold/flu remedies, antacids, antihistamines, and more. The handout is also available here in English. Thanks to the BC Renal provincial Pharmacy Services Committee for developing this resource! | Kidney Care Clinic welcome package and patient guide New Resources for Non-Dialysis Patients For patients who are new to non-dialysis kidney care in BC and starting at one of the province’s 13 Kidney Care Clinics (KCCs), BC Renal recently published a set of resources to guide the transition and prepare patients for their KCC journey. Our welcome package covers everything one needs to know before a first visit – including pamphlets and handouts on important topics like kidney-friendly eating – while our five-step patient guide takes a look at the first few months of treatment. Both are available to download. Plus, access additional resources through our Kidney Care (Non-Dialysis) page (see middle tab: "New to Kidney Care Clinic"). Thanks to the BC Renal provincial Kidney Care Committee for developing these resources! | | Dennis McCann honoured posthumously with PHSA+ Award Patient partner Dennis McCann has been commemorated with a 2024 PHSA+ Award, recognizing his unwavering commitment to patient advocacy. Dennis was a powerful force within BC’s kidney community, volunteering with a range of kidney care organizations and working as a patient partner with BC Renal for over a decade. Among his many invaluable contributions, Dennis served on eight different BC Renal committees and working groups, participated in numerous research projects, interviewed and onboarded new patient partners, and even assisted in the inception of the Post-COVID Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network (PC-ICCN). At a time when he was often the only patient in the room, he was instrumental in elevating the patient voice in decision-making, and ultimately paved the way for the standardized inclusion of patient partners across all BC Renal committees and working groups. Today, he leaves behind a profound legacy of love, service, and dedication to improving the lives of those affected by kidney disease. | |  PD team members present diabetes management poster at international congress
Fraser Health peritoneal dialysis (PD) team members, Monique Leblanc and Katie Cave, who work in the Abbotsford PD clinic, presented their poster, "Improved Diabetes Management for a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient by Using Continuous Glucose Monitor Results," at the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis Congress in Dubai in September.
The poster is a case study focused on improvements made in a PD patient's diabetes management using the data from his continuous glucose monitor. By adjusting the order of his dialysate fluids connected to his cycler and the timing of his medications, they saw an improvement in his nocturnal interstitial glucose levels and HbA1C. This knowledge was then used to educate other PD patients and staff about the relationship between dextrose exposure and blood glucose levels.
“The rate of diabetes is increasing with approximately 50% of dialysis patients being diabetic,” says Monique. “Our experience is that there is a lack of guidelines and decision support tools for how to concurrently manage PD and diabetes. We hope that by sharing our findings at an international meeting we will help improve the care of diabetic patients receiving PD.”
Katie adds, “We are very grateful for the opportunity to present at the ISPD 2024 Congress and connect with PD professionals from around the world. | BC presenters share studies and projects at ASN conference | Ten individuals from BC presented 12 posters and/or sessions at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week conference that took place in October in San Diego. Congratulations to Sean Barbour, Mark Elliott, Simran Sandu (on behalf of Simran and Jag Gill), Michelle Wong, Mohammad Atiquzzaman, Elizabeth Hendren, Adeera Levin, Sinead Stoneman, Malak Ghaddar, and Jialin Han who took part! Topics varied greatly, including glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, organ donation, protein intake, kidney failure risk equation, reproductive health, IgA nephropathy, SGLT2 Inhibitors, and more. See BC Renal’s Publications and Presentations web page for a list
of specific topics and their respective presenters. Also, see the
ASN e-Posters web page to search for posters by presenter or topic. | | Rebecca Parton begins new role with Interior Health’s Thompson Cariboo Shuswap area Congratulations to Rebecca Parton who will be starting in January as renal clinical operations manager for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap area! As shared by Interior Health’s Renal Program, she will be responsible for the Kamloops in-centre unit, and the Kamloops and Williams Lake community dialysis units. Rebecca joined the health authority in 2013 following a career in acute and rural hemodialysis in Saskatchewan and has extensive clinical leadership experience in renal. Most recently, she worked in Digital Health Nursing Informatics, supporting acute care, community, and long-term care. She also balanced a position outside of IH as regional clinical educator in long-term care with multiple sites across Canada. | | Transplant Stories Docuseries | TV and online series shares transplant journeys of British Columbians | Transplant Stories premiered on Knowledge Network on November 19 with each weekly episode available to view online after it has aired. The four-part series shares powerful stories of British Columbians waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life. The series also highlights the perspectives of health-care staff, caregivers, and others. Each episode tells the human stories behind life-and-death stakes of organ transplants and features emotionally intense subject matter and graphic footage. Episodes 2 and 3 include stories of kidney transplants. Viewer discretion is advised. See Transplant Stories | Knowledge.ca | | Event Spotlight - Province Wide Rounds (for health professionals and patient partners)
- Patient Education Webinars (for patients and others interested)
| Want to stay up to date with other BC Renal news and events? Subscribe to our mailing lists. | | We acknowledge with gratitude that our BC Renal offices are located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Coast Salish, home of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish peoples, as well as the Métis chartered communities of the Lower Mainland | | | | |
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