Adam Mc Lean
Proudly showing off the new chronic Kidney Centre at York Central Hospital are Barbara Gray (from left), manager of the Chronic Kidney Disease Program, Dr. Bharat Nathoo, clinical director of the program and Ainsley Gillespie, outgoing director of the Chronic Kidney Disease Program.
Richmond Hill
November 15, 2008 10:50 PM
Adam Mc Lean
The finishing touches of paint and plaster have dried and the hallways of York Central Hospital’s Chronic Kidney Disease Program are filled with that brand new smell of countertops and flooring.
The permanent location of the chronic kidney facility at York Central Hospital and its staff will open its doors and arms as the new unit is expected to be fully operational for patients starting Monday.
Patients will travel from across York Region and beyond for the expert treatment and care provided by the program’s specialized health care team in the new state-of-the-art facility, which will offer a more welcoming and private space for patients to receive education, on-going support and their dialysis treatments.
Dialysis treatment was first available at York Central Hospital on Nov. 25, 1996.
That day, equipment was limited to four dialysis stations.
A dozen years later, the new Chronic Kidney Centre is equipped with 27 dialysis stations; each spot featuring a lazy-boy style recliner, multiple solitary stations for patients who may be ill or carrying an airborne virus or flu, and also small rooms where family and supporters of patients receive education from the staff regarding dialysis and the lifestyle changes that must be made and possible impact this treatment will have on their lives.
“Our patients become like family and this new spacious and comfortable location ... demonstrates our commitment to our patients.”
Dr. Bharat Nathoo, Clinical Director of the Chronic Kidney Disease Program was present that first day in 1996, and at the new centre’s unveiling Wednesday afternoon said he is excited at the prospect of how many people this new facility will be able to serve.
“We started in a small cubbyhole of a room and now we have the means to really help not only patients, but their families too like never before,” Dr. Nathoo said.
“In the latter stage of kidney disease, once a patient requires dialysis, they may come to the hospital or satellite facility three times a week for three to four hours at a time.”
“It is a big commitment and we want to ensure these people get the best possible care in the best possible facilities,” Dr. Nathoo added.
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, proper medical follow-up, medication as well as proper food choices may slow the damage to the kidneys, though many of these patients may require dialysis or kidney transplantation.
“We are delighted with the new location of our program,” said Barbara Gray, Manager of the Chronic Kidney Disease Program.
“Our patients become like family and this new spacious and comfortable location is conducive to the delivery of excellence and demonstrates our commitment to our patients,” she added.
Outgoing chronic kidney disease program director Ainsley Gillespie said she was overwhelmed by the new facility.
“Despite working in less than ideal conditions for years, we were able to achieve outcomes that were remarkable”.
“To think what we can achieve here for our community is tremendous,” Ms Gillespie said.
There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
In hemodialysis, blood is passed through an artificial kidney machine to clean it. Peritoneal dialysis uses a filtration process similar to hemodialysis, but the blood is cleaned inside your body rather than in a machine.
Currently York Central has:
- 335 hemodialysis patients
- 65 peritoneal dialysis patients
- 8 home hemodialysis patients, and
- 473 patients in the progressive renal insufficiency program.