Kidney (Renal) Health

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which there is a gradual loss of kidney function over time.  Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in urine. When CKD reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up.

The goal of Kidney Care Clinics (KCC) is to help slow or stop the loss of kidney function and promote wellness for patients and families affected by chronic kidney disease. Patients are referred to the Kidney Care Clinic through a nephrologist. The KCC has a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers who specialize in the treatment of kidney disease and who offer medical care, education, and counseling.

Visit the service listing page for Chronic Kidney Disease  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

Dialysis is a procedure that is needed when kidneys can no longer remove enough wastes and fluid from blood. Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure in which the blood passes through a dialyzer (which acts as an external, artificial kidney) to remove wastes and water. The blood is then returned back to the bloodstream. Only a small amount of blood is outside the body at any time and the average hemodialysis session is three times per week for four hours each time.

You will need to have a vascular access created before starting hemodialysis. Creating a vascular access is a minor surgical procedure that is done weeks or months in advance of the start of hemodialysis. Your care team will discuss which type is best for you.

Hemodialysis (in-centre) is when the dialysis procedure for admitted and outpatients is done in a hospital setting.

Visit the service listing page for Hemodialysis (in-centre)  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

Provides hemodialysis to patients close to home and community. Community dialysis units greatly improve the ability to provide hemodialysis service to patients and minimize travel time. Eligibility for community dialysis depends on factors including health status, stability on dialysis, mobility, and transportation.

Visit the service listing page for Hemodialysis (community dialysis unit)  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

Provides education programs to teach you and/or your family how to perform hemodialysis at home. All equipment and team supports are available after training through regular check-ups and ongoing support.

Visit the service listing page for Home Hemodialysis Clinics  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

In peritoneal dialysis (PD), the lining of your abdominal wall is used as a filter to filter waste products. Dialysis fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity through a small tube (catheter). The peritoneal membrane draws waste products into the dialysis fluid. The waste products are then removed from the body when the fluid is drained out. The PD Clinic provides education programs to teach you and/or your family how to perform peritoneal dialysis at home. After training, there is ongoing regular check-ups and support by the PD team.

Visit the service listing page for Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Clinics  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

Provides follow up care for solid organ transplant recipients, mostly kidney transplant. Transplant recipients are seen on a regular basis and receive monitoring and support through the clinic. The Kidney Transplant Program offers pre-transplant referral assessment services, transplant surgery, and post-transplant care.

Visit the service listing page for Transplant Clinics  to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

A vascular access is a way for the health care team to access your bloodstream. The program provides support and coordination for planning, creation, monitoring and repair of vascular access for hemodialysis.

Visit the Vascular Access service page to learn more and view locations where this service is offered.

• BC Renal Website
• Kidney Foundation of Canada
• National Kidney Foundation
• BC Renal Emergency Preparedness for Patients
• Plant-Based Medicine for Chronic Kidney Disease