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Thursday, March 13, 2014

March 12, 2014

NEWLY EXPANDED RENAL HEALTH DIALYSIS UNIT AT SEVEN OAKS GENERAL HOSPITAL TO OPEN SOON: MINISTER SELBY


The Manitoba government is supporting renal health patients by expanding renal health dialysis services at Seven Oaks General Hospital, Health Minister Erin Selby announced today, as she marked Kidney Health Month.
“Every day, dozens of Manitobans receive treatment and care for kidney disease including screening, monitoring and dialysis,” said Minister Selby.  “This new renal health dialysis unit will ensure more patients with kidney disease receive the quality care they need quickly.”
The province has provided $3 million in capital funding for a new, eight-station renal health dialysis unit at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg, increasing the number of dialysis stations at the facility to 50.  The eight new stations can accommodate 48 additional patients per year, bringing the total number of patients that the facility can accommodate up to 300.
“Having kidney disease can significantly alter a patient’s daily routine,” said Dr. Mauro Verrelli, medical director of the Manitoba Renal Program.  “Not only will the new unit help to accommodate more dialysis patients, but it will help to strengthen the support network of health-care providers and other members from the community who have had similar health experiences.”
The risk of kidney disease is linked to several chronic conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  The minister noted the province is developing a renal health framework to focus on prevention programs, renal health outreach, and early identification and treatment, which can reduce the progression of the disease.
“The dialysis staff at Seven Oaks has helped me get back to living my life,” says Henry (Hank) Horner, a dialysis patient at Seven Oaks.  “I appreciate all of the help I’ve received from each member of the team.  They’ve helped me learn to manage my disease, my dialysis and adopt a healthy lifestyle.  Now I’m managing my own disease and able to support new patients as they start their treatment.”
The new dialysis service expansion builds on recent investments in renal health including:
  • the introduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate reporting to track the kidney health of patients, and encourage prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease;
  • the development and implementation of www.kidneyhealth.ca to support primary health-care providers and their patients with chronic kidney disease;
  • the development of a chronic kidney disease risk-prediction tool to improve triage and reduce inappropriate referrals to renal health specialists;
  • the electronic centralization of laboratory results information to support early treatment of chronic kidney disease; and
  • support for increased organ donation including the launch of www.signupforlife.ca, Manitoba’s online organ donation registry.

“By focusing on prevention, screening, treatment and organ donation, we can reduce the effects of renal disease while supporting patients already diagnosed,” said Minister Selby.  “Working together, we can make a real difference for patients and reduce the burden of kidney disease for thousands of Manitobans.”

The new unit is expected to open on March 17.

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