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 The
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Renal Service
provides care to patients from the Manitoba border in the
west to White River in the east, excluding a small area around
Kenora. Care is provided to patients with declining kidney
function who have been referred to the Renal Service through
a nephrologist. We care for patients and families using a
multidisciplinary approach which includes, nurses, coordinators,
dietitian, pharmacist, social workers, native liaison worker,
staff educator and nephrologists etc. Service provided includes:
Predialysis and Transplant clinics: These clinics are held 3 times a week.
Patients and families meet with the multidisciplinary team
to learn about treatment options, monitor and control blood
pressure, anemia, learn about diet etc. It is an opportunity
for the patient and family to get to know the multidisciplinary
team, get symptoms controlled and to choose the treatment
that best suits their need.
Kidney and kidney/pancreas transplants are not performed
in Thunder Bay but patients and potential donors are followed
before and after transplant in the Predialysis/Transplant
clinics.
Hemodialysis is provided in Thunder Bay and at two satellite units, one in Fort Frances and Sioux Lookout. At the new hospital in Thunder Bay there will be 30 hemodialysis stations which is an increase of 10 stations. In the new hospital dialysis will be able to be provided to 180 patients. Presently Sioux Lookout has a 2 station unit which enables us to dialyze 8 patients. We are currently looking to expand the number of stations in Sioux Lookout to be able to provide more patients with dialysis. Fort Frances has a 6 station unit which enables us to dialyze 24 patients. The satellite units are operated by Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and hosted by the local hospitals.
Patients receiving hemodialysis come for treatment 3 times each week for 3-4 hours each treatment.
Peritoneal Dialysis is a treatment which patients learn to
do in their own homes. Patients are taught how to do the dialysis
during a 5 – 10 day training session at Thunder Bay
Regional Health Sciences Centre. After training, patients
do their own dialysis in their home every day of the year.
Patients are followed and monitored through weekly phone calls,
home visits and clinic visits.
In addition, Thunder Bay Regional Sciences Centre has seven designated renal beds for patients who require hospitalization as part of their treatment plan. This unit is staffed by Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses who utilize their skills and clinical expertise to provide this specialized care. A multidisciplinary team, consisting of physicians, nurses; social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, and a palliative care clinician also share responsibility for providing patient care. All team members demonstrate a commitment to the mission and values of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The unit is very fast paced and dynamic with each day bringing new and exciting challenges for all members of the team. Many of the patients comment on the caring and compassionate approach of a very dedicated group of professional care providers.
Julia Salomon
Manager Renal Service
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6V4
Email: salomonj@tbh.net
Anne Ross
Director Medical Services
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6V4
Email: rossa@tbh.net
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