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Kidney care

Northern Health’s renal program includes a chronic kidney disease clinic, an in-hospital hemodialysis unit (UHNBC), three community dialysis units (Prince George, Terrace, and Fort St. John), and independent dialysis services (peritoneal dialysis and home-based hemodialysis). The NH renal program also works in collaboration with BC Transplant and offers a post-transplant clinic for kidney transplant recipients.

The NH renal program’s multidisciplinary team includes nephrologists, nurses, renal dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, technicians, and clerical staff.

Featured programs:

Chronic kidney disease clinic

The Northern Health Kidney Care Program services almost 800 patients in our region. Our clients have been identified to have chronic kidney disease and are not on dialysis.

The goal of the clinic is to slow down, or stop kidney disease from progressing, and living a healthy life. Education is provided by nursing, dietary and pharmacy clinicians. Regular visits with the team, which includes the kidney doctor, monitor kidney health through blood work and assessments.

For the first time starting in April 2025, the Kidney Care Clinic in Prince George will be part of an international clinical trial based out of the University of Oxford.

This clinical trial will introduce a new drug which may reduce the risk of kidney disease progression or reduce hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular disease in people with chronic kidney disease, when it is added to standard kidney care already being done in our province.

There will be 11,000 kidney patients included in this trial. Results are due to be released in 2028 or 2029.

Peritoneal dialysis

The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) is a cornerstone of specialized kidney care in the region. Its Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Clinic plays a vital role in supporting patients on dialysis offering expert care and empowering individuals to manage their health effectively at home. The clinic's dedicated multidisciplinary team ensures that patients receive personalized treatment plans and education, fostering independence and improving quality of life. The Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic provides primary nursing to 70 patients in 19 communities throughout Northern Health’s 600,000 km² Health Authority from Masset to Fort Nelson to Quesnel. 41% of all dialysis patients in Northern Health are on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Transplant

The Northern Health Transplant Clinic offers comprehensive care for patients who have received a transplant . Our services include post-transplant follow-up care and ongoing support from a multidisciplinary team. This team consists of registered nurses, nephrologists, dietitians, pharmacists, and social workers. The clinic ensures that patients receive personalized care and support throughout their transplant journey. There are currently 159 post transplant clients that are followed by the NH transplant clinic.

In addition to these services, the clinic provides support to individuals who have been referred for a kidney transplant. This includes assisting patients to receive the necessary pre transplant testing, ensuring that they understand the transplant process, preparing them for when they must travel to Vancouver for the surgery, and addressing any concerns or questions they may have along the way. The clinic's team works closely with patients and the transplant team to support them as they move through their transplant journey. There are currently 165 pre transplant clients being followed by the NH transplant clinic.

Contacts for kidney clinics and programs

You must have a referral from your doctor or nurse practitioner to access the kidney clinics and programs listed below.

Kidney care services we provide to patients

  • Regional kidney care clinic: pre-dialysis monitoring and care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • UHNBC hemodialysis unit: hemodialysis care for inpatients (patients admitted to hospital) and outpatients (patients living in the community)
  • Community hemodialysis units in Fort St. John, Terrace, and Prince George
  • Regional home-based therapies: peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD)
  • Regional kidney transplant services: referral before transplant and follow-up care after transplant

Kidney care services are provided by a team of health care providers, including:

  • Dietitians
  • Nephrologists (physicians who specialize in kidney care)
  • Nursing unit clerks
  • Pharmacists
  • Registered Nurses
  • Social workers

The kidney care team works in collaboration with BC Renal, BC Transplant, and other health care providers in the community such as family physicians and other specialists.

Information for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Managing your kidney care

The linked resources below have been sourced from the managing my care section of the BC Renal website.

  • Medication: information on how medications work, their possible side effects, and precautions.
  • Diet: Information on various aspects of the kidney diet.

Kidney transplant

Education webinars

Tele-Kidney Care

Virtual health care via communications technology

Tele-Kidney Care is an appointment where you meet with the Prince George kidney care team using a television screen or computer, a video camera, and a microphone.

How the appointment works

  • You can see, hear, and talk to the health care workers in Prince George, and they can see, hear, and talk to you.
  • It is a lot like being in the same room.
  • You will have to go to your local health care facility for the appointment.

This type of appointment is one option you can choose that will allow you to meet with the specialist kidney care staff at a location that is closer to your home, so you won't need to travel for routine check-ups.

A health care worker might be in the same room with you, and you are welcome to bring a family member. If arranged beforehand, your regular family doctor or another health care worker could also attend if you choose.

  • You can also ask anyone to leave the room if it makes you feel more comfortable.

At most appointments you may see different members of the specialist team and the appointment can be up to two (2) hours long.

Your privacy is very important and so the appointment happens over a secure circuit and is not recorded or taped. All Tele-Kidney Care sessions follow the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act rules.

More information