The vision of the Kidney Care Team
Within Northern Health's vast geographical area, residents in rural and remote communities have limited access to specialist care. The vision of the Kidney Care Team (comprised of a physician, nurse, dietician, pharmacist, social worker and unit clerk) is to address this challenge by regionalizing a team-based TeleHealth kidney service, investing in technology, and providing services closer to home (similar to the face-to-face model of care) where patients no longer need to travel long distances to larger centres.
The team recognizes that TeleHealth care will not completely replace face-to-face consultations, but that there is potential to reach more patients in remote communities, including First Nations, and to increase patient engagement with specialist health care services.
Why TeleHealth?
Dr. Singh, a nephrologist on the kidney care team, recalls one patient's experience:
A new immigrant worker was urgently referred from a remote rural community with very advanced kidney disease. The referral letter stated that he was adamant he was not leaving his community to go and see a specialist. I was able to see him the next day via TeleHealth and after meeting the renal team and receiving education about his condition, he was convinced to come to Prince George on the Northern Health Connections bus for surgery to prepare for dialysis. This gentleman is now doing home dialysis at night and is able to work and earn a living during the day without moving from his community. This is a great example where, connecting via TeleHealth, the kidney team was able to alleviate his fears, avoid unnecessary travel and stress but, above all, deliver the education about his kidney disease and motivate him for home-based dialysis. As a provider, this is immensely satisfying as timely intervention to address an urgent clinical and educational need was met to provide the best care for this patient.
What does "Tele-Kidney-Care" look like at Northern Health?
Check out the full version of this article: Northern Kidney Care Team leads the way in expanding access to specialist care in Northern BC
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