June 5, 2015
Story by Heather Kipling
For patients like Teresa Parks, the expansion of evening treatment times on the dialysis unit in the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre allows her a normal working and family life during the day
Between being a busy single mother, owning a business and needing dialysis treatment three times a week, Teresa Parks has a lot on her plate on any given day.
Fortunately, Parks – and other patients in need of dialysis – have more options when it comes to accessing the care they need following an expansion of service hours at the hemodialysis unit at the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre.
“I’m overjoyed that the unit has extended its hours,” says Parks, who has been receiving dialysis treatments three times a week for the past three years. “Being able to come in the evening means I can work every day and still be there to be a cook, chauffeur and cheerleader for my kids.”
Dialysis treatment provided through the Northern Alberta Renal Program (NARP) was expanded into the evenings earlier this year and is now available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to treat patients with chronic kidney disease.
“By utilizing existing resources to extend our hours, we created the opportunity to offer treatments in the evenings and to increase access to patients who need dialysis,” says Cheryl Garrow, unit manager with NARP in Wetaskiwin.
Dialysis is a process whereby a patient’s blood is passed through a special filter that removes waste products and water. Most patients need three treatments per week, with each treatment lasting approximately four hours.
The hemodialysis unit in Wetaskiwin has 12 stations that serve 48 patients six days a week. The extra service hours will provide space for six additional patients a week. There are currently more than 1,200 patients on dialysis within NARP, a geographical area that includes central and northern Alberta.
While the majority receive regular hospital-based dialysis, patients can also access home therapies, such as home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, depending on their needs.
“The demand for dialysis continues to increase and spots are at a premium,” says Dr. Kym Jim, nephrologist and Central Zone Clinical Department Head for internal medicine. “By creating this additional capacity in Wetaskiwin, we’re able to increase access and serve more patients closer to home.”
An aging population, rising diabetes rates leading to renal failure, and patients living longer on dialysis due to medical advancements are all factors contributing to the demand for dialysis service says Jim.
Offering a treatment option in the evenings also allows patients more freedom in scheduling their day, which is a benefit for patients like Parks who work, have family commitments and want to be involved in the community says Tracy Schwartz, patient care manager with NARP.
“It provides patients the opportunity to go about their regular activities because they can have the option for dialysis treatment at the end of their day,” says Schwartz. “For patients who are working, or want to work, this is a great opportunity.
“This is an excellent addition to the services we’re able to provide to dialysis patients in Wetaskiwin, and it’s an important part of increasing dialysis services in the Central Zone.”
The additional hours reflects Alberta Health Services’ Patient First Strategy, which puts patients and families at the centre – and the No. 1 priority – of the health care system.
“With later treatment times available, it takes into account that we’re human beings first, with busy lives,” Parks says. “Coming at night makes a huge difference in my quality of life.”
