The newly renovated dialysis unit at Souris Hospital is improving access to high quality dialysis care for Kings County patients who require the life-sustaining treatment, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“The $300,000 renovation has provided Kings County patients with a higher standard of care,” said Minister Currie. “It has also resulted in a modern and spacious treatment area, which is very important to patients who must spend several hours a week at the hospital.”
The unit officially re-opened in March 2015 following renovations to the patient care area and a major upgrade to the water filtration system. The new system features state-of-the art technology that improves the quality of water used in the filtration of waste from a patient’s bloodstream, a vital process for those receiving dialysis.
The redesign was based on best practices for the delivery of dialysis services, patient confidentiality, infection prevention and control. Each patient treatment space offers more individual space and privacy. A closed-in private patient treatment space has also been included. A clinician office has been incorporated within the unit, allowing physicians and staff to consult with one another or with patients individually, without having to leave the unit.
With a more efficiently designed unit, the future expansion for a sixth patient treatment space has been incorporated. This allows for up to twelve patients per week to receive dialysis treatment in Souris, an increase from the current capacity of 10 patients.
“We’ve already seen the positive impact the renovated unit has on the quality of dialysis care we provide to our patients and on the work-life of our staff,” said Cheryl Banks, Director of Provincial Renal Program. “This bright, modern space is a more welcoming environment which is important for our patients who receive treatment three times per week for several hours at a time.”
The Souris Dialysis Unit currently serves nine patients.
The renovations and upgrades are in keeping with the technology and space-planning introduced in the dialysis units built at the Queen Elizabeth and Prince County Hospitals in 2012.