Kidney patients get help early thanks to new clinic
Northern Alberta patients with a rare kidney disease are being given a better chance of avoiding dialysis or transplant surgery because of a new specialized clinic at University of Alberta Hospital.
The first of its kind in the province, the Glomerulonephritis Clinic was launched in the spring with the idea of providing a more comprehensive and team-based treatment process. The unit now has about 8o patients on its roster and about 10 more are added each month.
“Word is getting out that we have started this unique clinic that is improving the care of people with GN,” said Dr. Ainslie Hildebrand, a nephrologist who is serving as one of the two medical directors of the unit.
The clinic is named after a lifethreatening illness that causes inflammation of tiny filters in the kidneys that remove unneeded fluid and waste from the bloodstream.
Though there is no cure, early and proper treatment with immunosuppressant drugs can push the disease into remission and prevent kidney damage.
The problem, Hildebrand said, is that many patients do not know how sick they are until the disease has progressed. It can also be difficult to get a timely appointment with a nephrologist, most of whom are so busy that it is hard for them to stay regularly invested in a patient’s treatment.
The new clinic offers patients a single point of access, allowing them to benefit from a team of GN experts — nurses, a pharmacist, dietitian and social worker — who collaborate on treatment approaches.
“What our clinic provides is an easier transition to ongoing care planning that engages the patient,” Hildebrand said.
Having GN patients and experts in one place also provides a good opportunity for future research and clinical trials. It is believed GN affects around two or three people per 100,000, but Hildebrand said she hopes the existence of the new clinic will help to more accurately pinpoint the frequency of the illness.
Anne Goltz, 70, was referred to the clinic in June after a long bout of symptoms that made her think
Word is getting out that we have started this unique clinic that is improving the care of people with GN.
she had a persistent flu bug.
“Once they realized what it was, they put me on different medication,” she said.
“It was serious because my kidney function was very low and I would have had to go on dialysis if they didn’t catch it.”
Within four months, the GN was in remission. The aches and pains have gone away and Goltz said she feels more energized.
The clinic is set up to serve patients from northern Alberta, but organizers are helping a group in Calgary to adopt a similar approach.