Pilot Initiatives

• Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
  Home Blood Pressure (BP) monitoring has been shown to predict health outcomes better than office BP measurements. Home BP monitoring helps with early recognition of changes and, if required, adjustments to the treatment plan. It also gives patients an idea of their BP standards between clinic visits and can motivate them to care more about their health.
  
  The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch is providing funding to support BC Kidney Care Clinic (KCC) and Post Kidney Transplant patients who require financial assistance to purchase a home BP monitor. This pilot initiative started July 2021 and will be evaluated again in June 2025.
  
  Any KCC or Post Kidney Transplant licensed health professional may apply on behalf of a KCC or Post Kidney Transplant recipient; there is no financial criteria. Patients may pick up their subsidized home BP monitor at any of the pharmacies associated with BC Renal (link in Process and Application forms).
  
  Process for Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Initiative
  
  Grant Application: Home Blood Pressure Monitor
  
  Invoice for Subsidized Blood Pressure Monitors

   

• Northern Travel
  Kidney Foundation, BC & Yukon Branch believes that kidney patients should not be deterred from choosing home dialysis therapies due to financial burden. Those patients with end stage kidney disease who live within the Northern Health Authority and would like to train in Prince George for Home Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis can apply to the Kidney Foundation for a grant that could include gas cards for travel and some accommodation expenses.
  
  There are no financial criteria for eligibility and all referrals for funding will come through each patient’s renal social worker.
  
  It is tour hope that more patients will be able to dialyze at home, possibly improving their health outcomes and eliminating the need for them to travel to in-centre dialysis units.
• Nanaimo Kidney Condo
  The Kidney Condo is available for kidney patients who need to travel to Nanaimo from other parts of Vancouver Island to stay for home dialysis training.  
  
  All referrals to the condo go through Nanaimo renal social workers. This is a lovely 2-bedroom suite and there is no cost to qualifying kidney patients. 
  
  This condo is jointly funded by the Kidney Foundation and VIKPA (Vancouver Island Kidney Patient Association).
  
  
  Photo Credit: Nanaimo Bulletin
• Dental Assistance
  Starting in January 2020, the BC & Yukon Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada will offer an enhanced Short-Term Financial Assistance Program (STFA). Kidney patients who need to ensure their good dental health in order to be considered for a kidney transplant will be able to apply, through their renal social worker for financial assistance. The standard financial criteria in place for STFA grants will apply to this project as well.
  
  The Kidney Foundation believes that no one should be denied a kidney transplant based upon their ability to pay for dental work.
  
  The Foundation will be covering up to $1,000 per eligible patient, paid directly to a dentist/denturist for this work to be done. Monies up to $2,000 may be made available in extraordinary circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
  
  We hope this initiative will help to reduce the burden of chronic kidney disease and ensure more patients can move on to receiving a kidney transplant.
  
  Renal social workers, please use the grant request form and submit to Kidney Foundation, Patient Services
   
• Travel Support For Home Dialysis Training
  The BC & Yukon Branch is offering a new pilot initiative for 2022. We identified that patients often face a financial burden when they must travel to train for home dialysis therapies (peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis). Consequently, we now offer gas cards to cover travel costs for patients in the Interior and Fraser Health Regions, and gas cards and some accommodations for those traveling great distances in the Coastal Health Region. 
  
  This Travel Support for Home Dialysis Training initiative will be reviewed in December 2022 to determine effectiveness and viability going forward.
  
  Referrals are accepted through renal social workers in each region.

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