From screening to triage to treatment, the continuum of patient care is a complex process. Despite advancements in health care delivery systems, significant inefficiencies remain that add unnecessary costs, delay, and result in less than ideal patient care. CDIC researchers are using untapped data, new thinking and technology to find efficiencies and simultaneously improve care at each step of the patient journey.
Mendel is living with advanced kidney failure. However, he is now able perform his own dialysis at home or, more significantly, his summer cottage where he spends time with his grandchildren. Mendel uses simpler, portable, and more effective home dialysis equipment introduced at Seven Oaks Hospital by CDIC researchers.
Cathy has become an advocate for CDIC research within the First Nations community where more options for kidney disease prevention are required. Cathy was successfully treated by researcher Dr. Paul Komenda using an aggressive drug treatment after a year of investigation and treatment had failed. Now fully healed, she is also participating in a multi-year CDIC research program as an advisor. CDIC Researchers were active in the three year FINISHED Study to provide mobile kidney disease screening in high-risk communities in northern Manitoba. Early identification of kidney disease is critical for helping patients to prevent kidney failure.
Jack has history with Seven Oaks Hospital. A member of the Wellness Institute from its inception, Jack has dealt with a series of health issues including chronic kidney disease. He has been supported over the years by the multi-disciplinary teams at the Hospital, and has been a participant in research studies. Jack’s daughter, Janice, a nurse at Seven Oaks Hospital for over 23 years, has “walked the walk” with her father. She has unique perspective, as a daughter and a healthcare professional, on the continuum of care her father has received as his condition evolved. Janice cites sustained teamwork by hospital professionals as being central to Jack’s chronic disease management. Believing in giving back, Jack volunteered for years at Seven Oaks Hospital and is a contributor to both the Foundation and Kidney Health Clinic.
I am thankful for the care my husband Glen received as a patient at Seven Oaks Hospital Kidney Health Clinic. Without that care, Glen would not have been able to live life to the fullest and on his terms over the last 4 years.
Glen had diabetes; he also had chronic kidney disease (CKD) Manitoba has the highest rates of kidney disease and diabetes in Canada. We need to start paying attention to CKD – it is a huge health concern in our province. It costs our health care system a lot. It cost me my husband.
If you have kidney disease, or think you do, the team at Seven Oaks is the best in the world. All the hard work and research they are doing here is to prevent outcomes like Glen’s. We need to start speaking up loudly for the team, the research and the care. If it wasn’t for the doctors, Glen would not have had the quality of life he had. Innovative approaches like Peritoneal. I cannot even tell you the freedom that gave us.
I don’t want his death to be for nothing. They need to keep doing this research. The work they are doing is changing treatment and helping others live better lives. Take it from me.
Research Division · Seven Oaks Chronic Disease Innovation Centre
2300 McPhillips Street · Winnipeg, Manitoba · R2V 3M3 · 204‑631‑3834
