Dialysis patients in the North Okanagan will have a brand-new facility and increased access to dedicated dialysis services with the opening of the relocated Vernon Community Dialysis Unit as of Monday, May 5.
“For people living with chronic kidney disease, access to timely, high-quality care makes the world of difference,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This new dialysis unit will ensure that people in Vernon can get comprehensive, compassionate care in their home communities, and is a reflection of our commitment to improving health services for patients in the North Okanagan. I’m deeply grateful to the health-care teams and community partners who made this new space a reality.”
To meet the needs of the growing population in Vernon and surrounding areas, the Vernon Community Dialysis Unit (CDU) has relocated to Unit #400-4400 32nd Street, Vernon, B.C. Dialysis treatment is provided six days a week, Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The new CDU increases dialysis treatment chairs from nine to 15 and means up to 14,040 dialysis treatments will be provided annually, up from 8,424.
“As a registered nurse and MLA, I know how life-changing and life saving access to dialysis care can be for people living with chronic kidney disease,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby. “That’s why I’m so proud to see this new facility opening its doors to patients, It’s the result of strong collaboration with local partners and a shared commitment to improving health care for people in the North Okanagan.”
The Vernon CDU will provide ceiling lifts to assist nursing staff in providing dialysis treatment to patients with mobility challenges, as well as droplet-precaution rooms that meet infection prevention and control standards to provide treatment for people with communicable diseases. Each dialysis station will be equipped with a ceiling-mounted radiant heater to accommodate patients with kidney disease who are more sensitive to cold due to vascular disease.
“Expanding the Community Dialysis Unit in the North Okanagan will improve access to life-sustaining care for people living with chronic kidney disease,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “We are committed to making it easier for patients to access consistent, high-quality support, ultimately leading to better health and well-being.”
Additionally, the Vernon CDU will allow nurses to offer training for home dialysis modalities, such as peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, reducing the need for patients to travel to Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) for this initial training.
“With this new facility in Vernon, Interior Health will improve access to care while prioritizing culturally safe, person-centered services,” said Dr. Adeera Levin, executive director of BC Renal. “This initiative aligns with BC Renal’s commitment to providing care that respects the diverse needs and experiences of patients in their communities. It also promotes independent and home-based therapies, which lead to improved health outcomes and a better quality of life."
A donation provided by the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation supported this new space with patient lockers, wall murals, additional furniture, emotional support pet beds, bariatric hemodialysis chairs, and enhancements to the waiting room and hybrid rooms.
“We wanted to help enhance patient comfort and create a space that is welcoming and culturally respectful,” said Kate McBrearty, executive director, Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. “Our intention was to ‘brighten’ the overall patient experience while dialysis patients receive treatment.”
The Vernon Community Dialysis Unit will serve people throughout the North Okanagan and across syilx Nation Territory. Urban and away Indigenous patients, as well as members of the Vernon and District Métis Association, will also have access to services from the new site.
Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that is typically required three times a week. Community dialysis units are strategically located to offer treatments closer to patients’ homes.
The Vernon CDU relocation and renovation project budget is $5.1 million including $4.1 million from BC Renal and $95,000 from the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.
To learn more about kidney health and renal programs and services in Interior Health, visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/healthy-living/kidney-health.
To learn more, watch the Vernon Community Dialysis Unit video here.
