Kidney Care Clinics

Nutrition plays an important part in renal disease management. Renal dietitians evaluate each patient’s nutritional status and develop an individualized plan that will ensure proper nutrition and optimal kidney function.

Renal dietitians assess all patients upon referral to the Renal Program.

The dietitians develop and implement a nutrition care plan with each patient and provide education on dietary self-management. They address the needs of patients who have specific nutrition issues, such as metabolic abnormalities, undesired weight gain or loss, fluid management, renal bone disease, and food security issues. 

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Renal Dietitians
St. Paul's Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
604-682-2344 local 69011

Learn more about clinical nutrition at Providence Health Care.

Pharmacy services are available across Providence Health Care’s Renal Program. In collaboration with the nephrologists and the renal team, renal pharmacists assess patients’ medications for appropriateness, effectiveness and possible side effects or drug interactions.

At a minimum, pharmacists see each patient annually to review the patient’s medication therapy. They also educate patients about their medications for managing chronic kidney disease and other medical conditions. Patients can also request an in-person or telephone consult from a pharmacist at any time.

Pharmacists help to optimize medication administration for each patient with kidney disease and to address any potential side-effects. Electronic medication records are maintained for renal patients to facilitate seamless care across the spectrum of chronic kidney disease.

In addition, the pharmacists help coordinate with the renal community pharmacies to supply the medications that are covered by the BC Renal Agency to minimize financial burden for the renal patients.

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Pharmacy
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
604-806-8153

Learn more about pharmacy services at Providence Health Care.

The physiotherapist is available to assist all renal patients across Providence Health Care’s Renal Program. Both inpatients and outpatients can be assisted with their physical rehabilitation goals.

Physiotherapy can be helpful for any patient who has, or is at risk of, physical impairments such as decreased range of motion, strength or balance. Physiotherapists can help patients with pain, functional limitations as a result of disease, disability or injury. They can also assist renal patients experiencing functional mobility issues after a period of illness or surgery.

The physiotherapist can help design an appropriate exercise program that will help renal patients feel better, stronger and more in control of their lives. Virtually all renal patients are able to participate in some exercise rehabilitation, whether the exercise is simple or complex. Therapies are designed to help improve strength, range of motion and function.

Physiotherapists offers education, consultation, health promotion and prevention services. They also provide personalized therapies including: testing and conditioning, neurotherapeutic approaches, soft tissue and manual therapy techniques, acupuncture and intramuscular stimulation, cardiorespiratory techniques, management of incontinence, and the use of devices and equipment to improve function.

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Physiotherapy Department
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
604-806-8115

Learn more about physiotherapy services at Providence Health Care.

Renal social workers serve as a support system for you and your family to adjust to living with kidney disease. Discovering you have kidney disease can be overwhelming and challenging. Social workers can provide you with a wide range of services from emotional support to practical assistance. As your advocates, they can serve as a bridge in communicating your needs to the treatment team.

Each renal patient is assigned to a social worker. Your social worker can offer counseling, advocacy and resources to help you cope with illness and function independently at home. They can support your family to deal with changes in your health, and help you discuss your future health care wishes with them. They can offer advice about finances and benefits, including if your income has been affected by your illness. They can also assist you with discharge planning from hospital, help you with transportation and connect you with community resources as needed.

Many patients especially rely on their social worker during times of transition. Your social worker is there to assist you before and after starting dialysis, whether in the hospital, in the community or at home. They also provide services to kidney transplant recipients and donors before and after transplant. When a patient is nearing the end of their life, the social worker can play a key role in advance care planning to help ensure that their values and wishes are honoured.

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Social Work Department
St. Paul's Hospital
3rd Floor Burrard Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

Administrative Assistant – 604-806-8221
Fax: 604-806-9419

Learn more about social work services at Providence Health Care.

To help with communicating with your health care team, we offer interpretation services 24-hours-a-day. Please ask your care team to place a request if you need an interpreter including a sign language interpreter.

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Our psychology services can provide emotional support to our patients who may need help coping with their condition and its treatment.

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We offer pastoral care services to support you and your loved ones. Our professional staff, including chaplains from different faiths, are here to accompany you, provide counseling, and create spaces for reflection, prayer, and meditation.

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We strive to offer you the best and most compassionate care possible. If we succeed, please let us know. If we fall short of our goal “How you want to be treated,” please also let us know.

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