A new, integrated approach to medical care developed by the BC Renal Agency is providing patients with ad­vanced kidney disease and additional chronic conditions with improv­ed, more coordinated treatment in a single location at a lower cost to the health care system.

The integrated care clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital, opened in 2009, is staffed by an interdisciplinary team of care providers, including a nephrologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, dietitian, pharmacist, social worker, and nurse. Similar integrated care cli­nics have been established in Salmon Arm, Penticton, and Langley. 

Patients with advanced kidney disease who are also affected by heart disease and diabetes can now be treated for all three conditions at the same time, in the same place—which could help eliminate duplication of medical and laboratory tests.

The integrated care clinic was es­tablished as the result of a study conducted by the BC Renal Agency, which revealed that more comprehensive treatment for kidney patients with other chronic conditions resulted in fewer hospitalizations and a reduced need for emergency treatment.

For more information, visit www.bcrenalagency.ca [8].