Summer 2021

Welcome to Renal News Express -- highlighting happenings from our BC kidney network!

In this issue

Message on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and Kamloops Residential School Discovery

Dear BC Renal community,

There are no words to express our horror and grief at the discovery in late May of the remains of 215 children on the former grounds of the Kamloops residential school, on the unceded territory of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc. It is yet another reminder of the need for a collective commitment to anti-colonialism, anti-Indigenous racism and cultural safety and humility.

Read More

COVID-19 Information for Kidney Patients & Health Professionals

We are encouraged by progress that has taken place in recent weeks in BC and are hopeful this trend will continue. Patient health and safety remain our highest priority. Please see our patient and health professional web pages for:

  • Links to BC Government information about getting your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (as well as information for registering for your first or second dose)
  • Patient handouts and clinical guidelines for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis and kidney care (non-dialysis) patients
  • And more

COVID-19 Information for Patients

COVID-19 Information for Health Professionals

Also:

Because COVID-19 information for British Columbians can change on a regular basis, please also go direct to these BC Government’s web pages on a regular basis:

Serious Illness Conversation Guide and related tools

The Serious Illness Conversation Guide is one of several tools in the toolbox described in BC Renal’s patient goal-setting strategy. Each tool is aimed at helping patients and care teams work together to identify what’s important to patients in their care and well-being and support them in setting goals that matter most to them.

Read More

Resources in Action

“It’s Better at Home” home dialysis video series

Q & A with Sarah Thomas, Project Manager: Renal Clinical Projects, BC Renal

This video series provides first-hand accounts by BC patients about their need for, and experience with, home dialysis, including many of the benefits. Dr. Michael Copland is also featured. Each video ranges from 1 to 6 minutes.

Excerpt from Q & A: "...not only does a narrative video help patients receive essential information about home therapies, but it also provides an important emotional touchpoint. Patients realize they aren't alone and can benefit from what their peers have already been through."

Read Q & A

People Profiles

Q & A with Laura Bennett
Patient Partner, BC Renal

Laura Bennett started as a patient partner with BC Renal in 2019. To date, she's been part of a focus group, a key patient engagement working group, a number of our committees and our BC Kidney Days (BCKD) education event.

Excerpt from Q & A: "...I can bring insight about rural care, traveling for care, and how our health authority presents unique challenges. Also, as a person with First Nations heritage, I sometimes share my perspective from that point of view to offer a different experience for people to consider."

Read Q & A

Kudos

Kudos to Dr. Adeera Levin

Congratulations to BC Renal executive director Dr. Adeera Levin for having an editorial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on the topic of anemia therapy for chronic kidney disease.

Read more

New: Emergency prep video – Be prepared!

As the days grow longer and warmer – and British Columbians start traveling around the province again – don’t forget spring and summer floods and wildfires can happen quickly.

To be prepared, see our new, animated, one-minute Emergency Preparedness video. Available with closed captions in English, Chinese and Punjabi, it covers BC Renal tools and resources useful for everyone.

In particular, it has need-to-know information for dialysis patients on dealing with serious, unplanned events that could disrupt dialysis services.

PROMIS Tips

For health professionals using our PROMIS information system

Submitted by Karin Jackson, Director of Operations, PROMIS

This month, we bring you three tips! First, a tip that will help you avoid having to make one of our most common PROMIS Support calls.

See images and full story

Kidney Foundation Update:

Kidney Friends Circle fosters a vibrant virtual community

Learn More

Sincere thanks to all nurses working across the BC Renal network at 75+ kidney care clinics, dialysis units, training sites & more for their courage, dedication & care during COVID-19 & always! 💐❤️ Shown here, nurses & care teams from around BC, pre-COVID. 😊 #NationalNursingWeek #BCRenalNetwork Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA

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It's #GreenShirtDay! 💚💛 Register your wishes for #OrganDonation with @BC_Transplant: http://ow.ly/HiOV50z50y6 & tell your family your wishes! We know organ donation recipients are deeply grateful.💚  (Photos: @BCRenal staff proudly show support pre-COVID. 🥰) #LoganBouletEffect


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BC Renal Launches Research and Quality Improvement Newsletter!

Have you had a chance to check out our new, semi-annual research newsletter? Our first issue has five stories about recent studies by members of our BC Renal network, plus profiles of a researcher and a research coordinator. In each case, the stories reveal new details and perspectives of their work. Our main goals of the newsletter are to help pass on research and quality improvement findings that will benefit kidney patients in BC (and beyond) and to provide insight into the journeys of research team members so others can have a better understanding of what that looks like.

Check out our inaugural issue here: BC Kidney Research in Focus


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