Nephrology

The Renal Program delivers care to children and youth living with kidney disease.

The Renal Program delivers care to children across BC and Yukon who live with a variety of kidney conditions. We deliver services through several different clinics, including:

General nephrology clinics: for children and youth with known or suspected kidney disease
Chronic Kidney Care Clinic: for children identified as having decreased kidney function (glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73m2) but not requiring dialysis
Congenital Kidney Anomalies Clinic: for children born with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract
Nephrotic Syndrome Clinic: for children with a specific form of kidney disease that causes protein loss in the urine, low blood protein levels, and swelling
Hypertension Clinic: for children with complex forms of high blood pressure
Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic: a home-based dialysis program providing care for children on peritoneal dialysis
Renal Dialysis Unit: this service provides hemodialysis and plasma exchange (pheresis) for children with kidney disease
Renal Outreach Program: for children and adolescents with known or suspected kidney disease, with specialty clinics in Surrey and Prince George
Rheumatology-Renal Combined Clinic: for children with specific autoimmune diseases involving the kidneys, such as lupus or vasculitis

The Renal Program also partners with the Multi-Organ Transplant Program to support patients before and after a kidney transplant.

Referral information

Patients need a referral from a doctor or a nurse practitioner to visit this clinic.

Providers wishing to make a referral to one of our clinics: visit the Nephrology Referral page.

Appointment details

If your child has been in contact with any infectious diseases (such as chicken pox or measles) during the three weeks before your appointment, please let us know immediately. We might need to reschedule your appointment.

We offer in-person appointments or virtual appointments (by Zoom or telephone), when appropriate.

Your child or youth may need to complete lab tests and medical imaging, such as a kidney ultrasound, before their clinic appointment. Clerical staff will contact you to arrange this.

At the appointment, we will take measurements, and a renal nurse and doctor will see your child or youth. Certain clinics may also ask you to provide urine samples during your child or youth's appointment. A doctor-in-training may also assist. They will talk to you about your child’s health and will then complete an assessment.

Parents and caregivers are welcome to remain with their children, particularly younger children, for their entire visit.

First appointments are typically at least one and a half hours long. Please plan on being at our clinic for at least two hours.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible - at least 48 hours in advance, if you can - so that another patient can use your appointment time.

Contact us

We welcome calls and faxes from other providers who are involved in the care of patients we serve.

Please include your name, contact details, copies of clinic notes with blood pressure and/or patient height and weight, and/or reports from any diagnostic testing performed in the community, along with the reason for your call.

Address:
Room K2-164, 2nd floor
Ambulatory Care Building
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3V4

Phone: 604-875-2345 extension 2272 (for families and caregivers)
Toll-free: 1-888-300-3088 ext. 2272
Fax: 604-875-3649 (for care providers)

Renal Dialysis Unit

Address:
Third floor
Teck Acute Care Building
BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3V4

Phone: 604-875-2345, ext. 7418
Fax: 604-875-3824

General Multi-Organ Transplant Clinic

Address:
Room K2-164
2nd floor, Ambulatory Care Building
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3V4

Phone: 604-875-3613
Toll-free: 1-888-300-3088 ext. 3613
Pre-transplant unit clerk: 604-875-3295
Email: MOTclinic@cw.bc.ca
Fax: 604-875-2943