What We Do

BC Renal is the driving force behind the kidney care network in British Columbia.

Mandate

Our mandate

Using the latest research and collective knowledge of the kidney care community, we address the challenge of kidney disease by:

Planning and monitoring the delivery of province-wide kidney care services
Developing province-wide clinical standards and guidelines
Developing funding models to support best health outcomes
Measuring and reporting on patient and system outcomes
Supporting knowledge-development through research and teaching

Our goals are to:

educate British Columbians about the risks and signs of kidney disease
improve early diagnosis and treatment
work with the health authorities to provide high quality kidney care
ensure that the system is financially sustainable

We serve three main groups:

People in BC who have kidney disease
Multidisciplinary kidney care providers
Researchers interested in kidney disease

We also ensure consistent and accurate communication about kidney care with the BC Ministry of Health, the Provincial Health Services Authority and BC’s regional health authorities.

BC Renal collaborates with and acts as a resource for all renal programs across regional health authorities, where care provision takes place and sequential accreditation cycles apply. Specifically, BC Renal helps promote accreditation education, aligns with Accreditation Canada's quality dimensions and Required Organizational Practices in our strategies and plans, and provides relevant evidence to support the accreditation surveys in the renal programs.

In 2005, BC Renal's PROMIS database was recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada. Leading Practices are exemplary initiatives carried out by health organizations, recognized by surveyors while on survey.

Structure

Organizational structure

Founded in 1997, BC has the only renal network of its kind in Canada. Through linkages to other organizations, BC Renal coordinates all aspects of kidney care related to service delivery, funding, research and education, patient support, and government liaison. A network of committees support our work.

BC Renal is a virtual network. We have a small group of staff at a central office, complemented by a network of health care professionals in the regional health authorities.

Kidney care providers from across the province participate on a range of committees. For more information, read the BC Renal Organizational Structure and Function, or see the Committees section.

BC Renal Team

The team at BC Renal includes:

Provincial Executive Director
Senior Medical Leads
Director, Learning, People and Operations
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Education and Development
Director of Operations, PROMIS
Director, Business Planning
Director, Business Operations
Director, Home Therapies and Palliative Care
Senior Officer, Methodology and Analytics
An Administrative Support Group
The PROMIS team

Partners

BC Renal has been part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) since 2002. Our partners include:

BC Ministry of Health
BC’s regional health authorities
University of British Columbia
Can-SOLVE CKD Network
Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHEOS)
Kidney Foundation of Canada
BC’s renal community
Vancouver Coastal Health/Providence Health Care
BC Children's and Women's Hospital
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Interior Health
Northern Health
Fraser Health
First Nations Health Authority

BC Renal works closely with the five regional Health Authority Renal Programs (HARPs). Each HARP has a Medical Director and an Executive Sponsor. There is also a Medical Director - Kidney Services: Pediatrics Program.

In cooperation with the health authority renal programs, BC Renal coordinates service delivery to patients in 13 hospitals and 28 community dialysis units throughout the province. For more information, see the section on Kidney Services.

Strategic Plan

Vision, Purpose & Core Values

Our Vision

People affected by kidney disease in BC have access to a network of the highest quality, person-centred care, enabling them to live their lives to the fullest.

Our Purpose

BC Renal is responsible for the planning, coordination and financial stewardship of outstanding, equitable kidney care, and acts as a catalyst for research, knowledge translation and innovation for people in BC.

Our Values

Our values provide a focus for how we approach our work and the work of the BC renal network. They collectively inspire a culture that is dynamic, engaged and results-oriented.

People
Knowledge
Creativity
Transparency
Accountability
Community

Strategic Priorities

Equitable & Optimal People-Centred Care
Optimize kidney care for all by engaging both patient and community voices impacted by kidney disease.

Indigenous Wellness
Decolonize kidney care for Indigenous peoples and communities, recognizing wellness of the whole person and community as guided by Indigenous worldviews, wisdom and knowledge in the spirit of reconciliation and healing.

Planetary Health
Reduce carbon footprint while acknowledging the interdependency of human health and the well-being of ecosystems.

Vision, Purpose and Foundational Principles of BC Renal infographic

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Provincial Health Services Authority