Renal News - Fall 2014
Renal News
Fall 2014

Home dialysis saves patients seven million kilometres of travel per year

Travelling to receive care.jpgAbout 1,000 people in BC and the Yukon manage their dialysis care at home, representing 32 per cent of all dialysis patients in the province. In addition to being the highest percentage for home dialysis in the country, this statistic reflects a significant environmental benefit.

The BC Renal Agency statistics team recently calculated that by dialyzing at home, these patients are collectively avoiding the need to drive more than seven million kilometres a year for dialysis. Translated into time, this represents an annual avoidance of more than 20 years spent travelling for care. These benefits are summarized in the following graphic.

 

 

Anemia management update

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The BC Renal Agency anemia management protocolsfor kidney patients in the province were updated as of September 2014. This latest update follows previous refinements of the protocols and incorporates the latest Canadian Society of Nephrology laboratory targets.

Revisions to the protocols include a lower hemoglobin target for patients to minimize the risk of adverse events caused by unnecessary exposure to certain anemia management drugs. 

 

 

Choosing Wisely Canada campaign

choosingwiselycanada.jpgChoosing Wisely Canada is a national campaign that encourages physicians and patients to talk about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures that collectively add to the cost of our health care system without providing any health care benefit for patients.  

 

 

Improving transplant patient care with data

cropped-JagGill_150px.pngIn April 2014 BC Transplant appointed Dr. Jag Gill to the position of Medical Director of Informatics and Quality. As a transplant nephrologist at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC, and a transplant epidemiologist who conducts health outcomes research in organ donation and transplantation, Dr. Gill brings valuable expertise to improving practices and policies in transplantation.

 

 

LEAN process improves VGH dialysis centre

east_van_cdu_thumb_thumb.JPGThe Independent Dialysis Centre at Vancouver General Hospital was re-organized and improved following changes made as part of a recent LEAN initiative.

The centre provides a teaching site for home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, beds and space for the nocturnal independent HD program, and space for drop-in patient visits. It also has space for in-centre HD patients for times when that unit is full.

 

 

BC Kidney Days poster winners

viewers choice posters.jpg  

Every year BC Kidney Days features posters from renal teams across the province detailing their research, education and patient care initiatives. You can view a summary of this year's submissions here

Posters are submitted under two categories: clinical research or quality initiatives. This year the judging panel selected two winners in each category, and conference attendees voted on their overall favourite poster for the Viewers’ Choice Award. 

 

 

Kidney Foundation looks to increase organ donation

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Currently about 400 British Columbians are on the wait-list for a kidney transplant.

To help identify barriers that keep people from registering as organ donors or receiving a kidney transplant, the BC Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada is hosting a series of 12 “community conversations” around the province.

 

 

Web profile: Dr. Janis Dionne

 

Janis Dione small.jpgIt seems some people are born knowing what they will be when they grow up.  More of us come upon our chosen paths through a longer process, often involving a fair bit of trial and error.  And for some, including pediatric nephrologist Janis Dionne, career choice seems more a matter of fate. But more on that later.

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE

Home dialysis saves patients seven million kilometres of travel per year

Anemia management update

Choosing Wisely Canada campaign

Improving transplant patient care with data

LEAN process improves VGH dialysis centre

BC Kidney Days poster winners

Kidney Foundation looks to increase organ donation

Web profile: Dr. Janis Dionne

BC Kidney Days 2014

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BC Kidney Days 2014 was a resounding success, attracting over 530 delegates. Most were from BC, but over 55 attended from other parts of Canada and several came from the US and Australia.

 

 

Dr. Doug Matsell

Dr. Doug Matsell has stepped down as the BC Renal Agency’s medical director for pediatric kidney services. Doug was appointed to the position in 2003. He will continue as the division head of nephrology at BC Children’s Hospital.

Taking Doug’s place as medical director for pediatric kidney services is Dr. Janis Dionne.  Click here to read a profile piece about Janis on the BC Renal Agency website.

 
CKD Symposium for Primary Care

The second annual CKD Symposium for Primary Care Providers will take place November 29th at the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre in Vancouver. The symposium will also be accessible across the province through live streaming broadcast.

 

 

Save the date for Western Canada PD Days

WCPD will be held at the Renaissance Harbourside Vancouver Hotel on April 9th – 10th, 2015. The event is a showcase for innovative projects and cutting-edge approaches to the delivery of peritoneal dialysis.

As in years past, a networking dinner and provincial team updates will happen on the Thursday evening. Detailed program and registration details will be available early in 2015 at www.wcpddays.ca
New Canadian Journal of Renal Research

The Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, a new journal dedicated to research in the field of kidney disease, dialysis and kidney transplantation, was recently launched by the Canadian Society of Nephrology. 

The open-access publication is freely available online to all readers. It’s also virtual, publishing articles immediately following their peer review and approval.

The journal’s inaugural editor-in-chief is Dr. Adeera Levin, executive director of the BC Renal Agency.

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PROMIS update

New PROMIS logo Aug 2013.pngA new modality selection module in PROMIS is expected to be ready for release before year-end.

The module will capture key dates and interventions required for helping CKD patients with their decisions on what kidney replacement therapy is best for them.  The modality will track the progress of patients through all processes related to their modality selection. 

The PROMIS team is also working on an advance care planning feature within the new Patient View version of PROMIS. The ACP feature should be ready for release early in 2015. 

New on our website

The BC Renal Agency website is continually being updated with new information and resources for care providers and patients.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get real-time updates when new or updated resources are added to our website.

For now, here is a list of some recently posted resource materials: 

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The Heart Logs: A patient's story

In the summer of 2011, John Gudmundson spent seven harrowing weeks at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, for treatment of a sudden serious infection that damaged his heart and affected his kidneys. 

 

 

 

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