Ontario Region

CANNT Journal, Oct-Dec, 2008

Forty years since its inception, CANNT has become the key of the nephrology world. The increase in membership is evident over the years. We thank the board of directors of CANNT for their invaluable commitments.

This year (2008) marks CANNT's 40th anniversary and it is just fitting to celebrate it in Quebec City, which is also celebrating its 400th anniversary. Together it is a double celebration.

We welcome Gail Barbour as the new CANNT Vice President for Ontario.

There are many CANNT initiatives across Ontario that are reported by respective unit liaisons.

Central East and Toronto Region

Soldiers' Memorial Hospital

* Dinner Club meeting with lab technologist updating the group on lab values for the renal patient. Nurses throughout the hospital (ICU, medical unit, and complex continuing care units) have been learning how to perform continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) in response to the greater number of patients choosing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Royal Victoria Hospital (Barrie)

* Had in-service on Management of Methanol and Ethylene Glycol by Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital educator (Laurie Pritchard). There was a two-week trial on new dialyzer (Rexeed 15S) on six patients, results of which will be discussed during the next CQI meeting.

* Welcome to staff Yvonne Creamer and Brenda Heittola from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and also to Sarah Allen (social worker) who came from Scarborough General Hospital CKD/PD program.

Toronto General Hospital (UHN)

* Nurses attended Dr. Oreopolous Scholarship Grant workshop on Prevention in Renal Diseases held in Prince Hotel. There is an ongoing updating on the Procedure Manual.

Toronto East General Hospital

* There is an update/review infection control practices in hemodialysis unit to align with the "Safer Healthcare Now" initiative. In-service was provided by staff RN (Anna Lee) on buttonhole technique. Study group was formed with nursing practice leader (Kerry Overholt) to prepare for 2009 Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certification exam.

* Student pharmacist initiated a blood pressure (BP) clinic for all hemodialysis outpatients to monitor BPs on non-dialysis treatment days. Working group was formed to look at establishing exercise program for outpatient hemodialysis program.

* Hemodialysis Partnership Council (which is an interdisciplinary council) was formed and has set specific targets and goals for the upcoming year for hemodialysis unit.

* Members of the hemodialysis unit participated in a workshop on team-building. The setting was a boat cruise on Lake Ontario and it was attended by large dedicated group of hemodialysis staff.

Sick Children Hospital (Toronto)

* Two nurses and three physicians attended the Paediatric Fistula First for the mid-west region in Cleveland in August to look at nursing care, radiology and initiation of fistulas in the paediatric population.

* A new physiotherapy program has been up and running for the last four months. It is focusing on fistula preparation and strengthening. Patients are now coming early prior to treatment to use the gym and setting up a workout program.

* The new RO system is finally complete and running.

Penetanguishene General Hospital

* Is hiring new staff and, hopefully, will have the manpower to start new programs.

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital

* There was an in service on water treatment and dialysis fluid composition principles.

Headwaters Health Care Centre

* Started doing buttonholes nine months ago--an ongoing initiative.

St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)

* In-services were provided on primary nursing and Tegaderm IV dressings for central lines. Initiatives on change from gauze dressing at CVC site to Tegaderm IV and machine evaluation for new equipment.

* Congratulations to Jillian Campbell (Program Director) and Jim McDougall (Technologist). They are recipients of CANNT Awards of Excellence.

Credit Valley Hospital

* There was an educational evening for staff, patients and families by the kidney transplant team from St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto).

* Symposium "With a Little Help from My Friends" was held in Mississauga. Staff and patients from Credit Valley Hospital, Brampton Civic Hospital and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital collaborated with the Kidney Foundation to make the evening a success.

* The Home Dialysis Program has changed machines for home use.

* The Renal Services Department has initiated measures to make waiting time more pleasant and meaningful for renal patients. Rearranging the furniture, getting volunteers involved, visits from the therapeutic clown and pet therapy have increased conversation, brought laughter in the room and decreased complaints about waiting times.

* Marie Webb (Vascular Access Coordinator) will be presenting "Fistula Banding for Steal Syndrome: An Interventional Approach". Wendy Clark (member of The City-Wide Peritoneal Dialysis Interest Group) will do a poster presentation on "Building Partnership: Promoting Peritonitis Prevention" and will also do a verbal presentation on "Building Benchmarks: A Foundation for Practice".