November 23,2010/-KINGSTON, ON  The Kingston region’s most acute and fragile dialysis patients will soon receive treatment in an enhanced and expanded centre at Kingston General Hospital.

KGH’s in-centre dialysis unit will move from its cramped Davies 2 location to a brand new space on Burr 3 in early December. The new unit is part of three new floors that have been added to the Burr wing as part of the overall redevelopment project.

The 23-station unit in the Davies wing was built in 1990. It was originally intended to house 20 stations but due to increased demand over the years, additional stations have been added making the tight space even tighter. Such close quarters offer limited privacy and comfort for patients who can spend between four and five hours, three times a week undergoing dialysis.

The relocated unit is bigger and will provide an improved environment for both patients and staff.

“The new space is wonderfully bright with lots of natural light,” says Renal Program Manager Wilma Cohrs. “The new stations are more than double the size of the current stations which will provide enhanced privacy in a much more comfortable setting for our patients.”

Each station is equipped with an individual telephone and television – and the unit has a breathtaking waterfront view.

The extra room between stations will accommodate family and friends who travel with patients as well as mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or scooters.  The unit will also consolidate dialysis services in one location. Currently, the care team has to split its time between the 23 stations on Davies 2 and three isolation stations on Connell 4. The new unit will also allow for three additional isolation stations for a total of six.

Although the dialysis machines will move with patients from Davies to Burr, the new unit will feature a new, state-of-the-art water purification system, expanded procedure and treatment rooms, a large waiting area for patients and families and private consultation/family meeting rooms.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony, Together We Can campaign chair Ian Wilson acknowledged the lead donors to the project and commented, "While the designers and contractors who built this space played the lead role in its construction, this new facility would not exist without the financial support of the many community members, local businesses and municipal governments who contributed funds to cover the ‘local share”.


Ribbon cutting at Renal Unit opening on November 23, 2010

The unit also has the capacity to grow should the need arise, says Renal Program Operational Director Richard Jewitt. “It’s anticipated there will be a six-per-cent increase in kidney patients over the next five to ten years. The new unit will ensure we have the space to expand our program to up to 40 stations.”

The in-centre dialysis unit is one component of KGH’s Chronic Kidney Disease program – a regional resource for patients who have or are at risk of developing kidney disease. KGH operates seven dialysis units including the Kingston Satellite Dialysis Unit at Providence Care and others located in Belleville, Bancroft, Picton, Perth/Smiths Falls, Moose Factory and Kingston Penitentiary.

Renal and support staff will move patients into the new space December 5. The first patients will begin receiving treatment the morning of Dec. 6. The unit will maintain its existing hours, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Once the dialysis unit moves from Davies to Burr, construction crews will begin the next phase of the intensive care unit expansion.