Sharing BC’s Expertise: Consultation by Dr. Adeera Levin Benefits Kidney Patients in Australia Over the years, BC Renal and our executive director Dr. Adeera Levin have shared our made-in-BC kidney care network model - and the many positive health and system outcomes it has enabled - with jurisdictions across Canada and around the world. A recent example is an external Statewide Renal Services Review for Queensland Health in Australia in 2018. As we look back on 2020, we are pleased to relay that the consultation has led to substantial improvements in kidney care for the state. As part of her assessment, Dr. Levin offered 10 key recommendations, which included actions such as: •
Better integration of information and reporting of outcomes
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Alterations in funding models to support team-based care irrespective of the location of patients, and
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Patient-, clinician- and administrator-led committees to oversee initiatives and change.
Two years later, the region reports successful implementation of many of the recommendations, which have led to substantial improvements in kidney care. One example is a 29% increase in the number of patients receiving chronic hemodialysis with a functioning arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft by the end of 2019-2020 year.
Some other key improvements include: •
196% increase in the number of patients who have had a decision recorded about transplant suitability
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326% increase in the number of patients who have been approached regarding advanced care planning
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9% increase in the number of patients who started home or independent dialysis, and
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201 additional patients receiving specialist care at a Primary Health Care clinic.
