We have updated our Birchmount Hospital phone lines. When you call through the main line (416-495-2400), you will need to add “7” when dialing an extension.

Nephrology and Dialysis

Home to the largest regional nephrology program in North America

Nephrology patient receiving dialysis at the hospital
General Information

General Information

SHN’s Regional Nephrology Program cares for more than 6,000 patients every year. It is one of 26 Regional Multi-Care Kidney Disease clinics (MCKC) in Ontario and one of three regional MCKC programs within the Central East Local Health Integration Network.

The program offers conventional and nocturnal hemodialysis treatment types for patients, with hemodialysis units at our General and Centenary hospitals, and three community satellite sites to offer the most convenient option to our patients, while also providing quality care.

We also have one of the largest home dialysis programs and MCKC Programs in the province, with linkages to St. Michael’s Hospital for transplantation. Within our home program we offer IDC (integrated dialysis care) for home PD patients. 

Watch this short video from Dr. Mike Evans for a simple and entertaining explanation of what it means to have failing kidneys and different treatment options that are available.

Shared Care

This shared-care model enables patients to perform peritoneal dialysis at home with assistance from a healthcare practitioner.  This model allows for increased access to PD at home embracing an innovative model of care.

Our Services

Our Services

The Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Program (Multi-Care Kidney Clinic) at SHN is an outpatient program that provides patients with a range of specialized services to help them maintain a state of wellness while living with chronic kidney disease.

Patients who progress into End Stage Kidney Diseaseare presented with treatment options and are supported in learning and preparing for the initiation of their treatment choice, for example, dialysis.

Patients receive follow-up in the multi care kidney clinic every one to six months where their kidney function and overall well-being is monitored by an interprofessional team of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, pharmacists and social workers.

In addition to assessment, treatment, follow-up and comprehensive patient education, the Multi-Care Kidney Clinic (MCKC) program also includes a Body Access Clinic, which is necessary as the patient prepares for dialysis.

What We Offer

Services provided, include:

  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Monitoring
  • Patient education
  • Dialysis planning
  • Follow-up care

Eligibility

Those eligible to receive care through the Multicare Kidney Clinic Program are individuals living with Stage 3, 4 or 5 kidney disease.

Peer Support Group

Living with a chronic illness such as CKD requires education and emotional support to help make the necessary changes to cope and adapt. The Peer Support Group at SHN is organized by the Kidney Foundation of Canada, supports patients across the continuum of care to home dialysis.

The Peer Support Group is made up of patients who are either on dialysis or have since received a transplant, family members, a dietitian, a social worker and a registered nurse. Together the patients, their families and the health care team are able to support one another and share their strategies to help them manage the burden of chronic disease.

Services include:

  • Helping kidney patients and their families adjust to living with a chronic illness
  • Improving survival and overall well-being
  • Easing anxieties about dialysis and assume responsibilities towards independence and self management

Any patient or family member in the Multicare kidney clinic program or on home dialysis can benefit from this service, and is encouraged to participate. Speak with your nurse or social worker to connect with a peer support volunteer or you can contact kidney.ca/supportmeetings or 1-866-390-7337.

Contact Us

General hospital
East Wing, 1st Floor
416-438-2911 ext. 6697
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SHN’s Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Clinic offers patients in Scarborough and beyond greater access to diagnosis and additional treatment options in the management of PKD. This chronic disease causes progressive cysts on the kidneys, enlarging them slowly, and leading patients to need.

SHN has partnered with Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc., manufacturer of JINARC (tolvaptan), the first treatment indicated to slow the progression of kidney enlargement in PKD. Patients who meet the conditions for treatment with JINARC, and who only have partial private health insurance coverage or none at all, can apply to the ORIJIN Patient Support Program sponsored by Otsuka, which offers financial assistance and compassionate access programs.

Along with the treatment, a key component to success with the PKD Clinic is SHN’s interprofessional team of experts. Research shows that early screening and management, which involves many health care providers including nephrologists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists, have led to positive patient outcomes and improved self-management of the disease.

The following are completed at the PKD clinic (adapted from PKD clinic at UHN):

• Diagnosis, prognosis and management of your polycystic kidney disease.
• Genetic counselling for diagnosis (at the Centenary Genetic clinic), prognosis and family planning.
• Management of other organ complications.
• Treatment options using approved (e.g. Tolvaptan) or experimental (e.g. cystic kidney volume reduction by foam sclerotherapy; novel drug clinical trials) therapy in polycystic kidney disease. (tolvaptan, kidney sclerotherapy at SHN)
• Treatment options for polycystic liver disease (we use Octreotide, liver sclerotherapy at SHN and refer to UHN for liver specialist as needed/ e also refer to our liver specialist at SHN)
• Management and treatment options for intracranial arterial aneurysm(s)

Clinic Hours

General hospital
Multi-Care Kidney Clinic
First floor, East Wing
Wednesdays (bi-weekly), 9 a.m. to noon

SHN’s Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Clinic offers patients in Scarborough and beyond greater access to diagnosis and additional treatment options in the management of PKD. This chronic disease causes progressive cysts on the kidneys, enlarging them slowly, and leading patients to need dialysis until they must have their kidneys removed and undergo a transplant surgery.

SHN has partnered with Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc., manufacturer of JINARC (tolvaptan), the first treatment indicated to slow the progression of kidney enlargement in PKD. Patients who meet the conditions for treatment with JINARC, and who only have partial private health insurance coverage or none at all, can apply to the ORIJIN Patient Support Program sponsored by Otsuka, which offers financial assistance and compassionate access programs.

Along with the treatment, a key component to success with the PKD Clinic is SHN’s interprofessional team of experts. Research shows that early screening and management, which involves many health care providers including nephrologists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists, have led to positive patient outcomes and improved self-management of the disease.

Clinic Hours

General hospital
Multi-Care Kidney Clinic
First floor, East Wing
Wednesdays (bi-weekly), 9 a.m. to noon

The Home Dialysis Program at SHN includes both Home Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and Home Hemodialysis (HHD), which assists patients and their families to perform their chosen home-based method of dialysis independently in the comfort of their home. Home dialysis is associated with a higher quality of life as it minimizes disruption to activities associated with daily living.

All equipment and supplies are provided by the program and delivered directly to the patient’s home.

The program also provides teaching and training for patients with end stage renal disease, and their families, to support independent or assisted self-care and treatment at home. Patients are assessed every six to nine weeks by an interprofessional health care team. Assessments, which include blood work, nutrition, physical and emotional well-being and treatment prescription, are reviewed and adjusted in collaboration with the team and patient.

We also offer a Home Dialysis Transition Unit, which provides additional support to patients and families who face challenges with the transition to home dialysis, but who wish to remain independent. Some challenges may include machine related issues, vascular challenges and emotional support/respite.

The Scarborough Regional Nephrology Program also supports PD in partnering with nursing homes. Nursing home staff are trained to support the care and delivery of PD, and the program provides ongoing support and guidance.

What We Offer

The Home Dialysis program at SHN provides high-quality care to patients who are receiving:

  • Home Peritoneal Dialysis
  • Home Hemodialysis
  • Care in the Dialysis Transition Unit
  • Slow Continuous Ultra-Filtration

Eligibility

Those eligible for Home Dialysis are individuals living with end stage kidney disease, and who require dialysis, Peritoneal dialysis or Hemodialysis.

An interview is conducted prior to program admittance to ensure patients are fully informed of their chosen treatment plan, to identify any potential barriers to success, as well as outline the expectation of the program.

Eligible patients will be guided through our STREAM Home Dialysis course which is designed to educate and fully prepare them to take control of their condition and transition to begin performing dialysis treatment from the comfort of their home.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

SHN is recognized as a Centre of Practice by the Ontario Renal Network for peritoneal dialysis (PD) body access. We are accepting referrals for PD access consultation and insertion.

IDC and Carefirst

For patients that require additional support with home peritoneal dialysis, we have connected with an assisted PD/IDC program through Carefirst. This is a referral that is made by the primary Home PD team or our MCKC team prior to dialysis initiation.

Peer Support Group

Living with a chronic illness such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) requires education and emotional support to help make the necessary changes to cope and adapt. The Peer Support Group at SHN supports patients across the continuum of care to home dialysis.

The Peer Support Group is made up of patients who are either on dialysis or have since received a transplant, family members, a dietitian, a social worker and a registered nurse. Together the patients, their families and the health care team are able to support one another and share their strategies to help them manage the burden of chronic disease.

Services include:

  • Helping kidney patients and their families adjust to living with a chronic illness
  • Improving survival and overall well-being
  • Easing anxieties about dialysis and assume responsibilities towards independence and self management

Any patient or family member on home dialysis or in the MCKC program can benefit from this service, and is encouraged to participate. Speak with your nurse or social worker to connect with a peer support volunteer.

Contact Us

General hospital
East Wing, 1st Floor
416-438-2911 ext. 8183
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Our program offers conventional and nocturnal hemodialysis treatment types for patients choosing this treatment method for end stage renal failure. We have hemodialysis units at our General and Centenary hospitals, and three community satellite sites to offer the most convenient option to our patients, while also providing quality care.

The program currently has:

  • 61 in-centre hemodialysis stations at the main unit located at our General hospital, which operate three shifts per day, six days per week, as well as in-centre nocturnal hemodialysis with 16 stations that operate six nights per week
  • 12-station hemodialysis unit at our Centenary hospital
  • 18 stations at the Corporate Drive satellite site
  • 13 stations at Yee Hong
  • Six stations at Bridgepoint Health for long-term care residents requiring hemodialysis

Our satellite sites also operate three shifts per day, six days per week. The Bridgepoint Health Hemodialysis unit is staffed by SHN staff.

Contact Us

General hospital
Crockford Wing, 2nd Floor
416-431-8200 ext. 6638
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Centenary hospital
2867 Ellesmere Road
4th Floor

Corporate Drive Satellite Unit
78 Corporate Drive
416-431-8200 ext.6888
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Bridgepoint Hospital Satellite Unit
14 St. Matthews Road, 6th Floor
416-461-8252 ext. 3631

Yee Hong Satellite Unit
60 Scottfield Drive
416-431-8200 ext. 8700
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

SHN’s Regional Nephrology Program cares for more than 6,000 patients every year. It is one of 26 Regional Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) programs in Ontario and one of three regional CKD programs within the Central East Local Health Integration Network.

The program offers conventional and nocturnal hemodialysis treatment types for patients, with hemodialysis units at our General and Centenary hospitals, and three community satellite sites to offer the most convenient option to our patients, while also providing quality care.

Hemodialysis

Our program offers conventional and nocturnal hemodialysis treatment types for patients choosing this treatment method for end stage renal failure. We have hemodialysis units at our General and Centenary hospitals, and three community satellite sites to offer the most convenient option to our patients, while also providing quality care.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

SHN is recognized as a Centre of Practice by the Ontario Renal Network for peritoneal dialysis (PD) body access. We are accepting referrals for PD access consultation and insertion.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)

How to Access Care

Hemodialysis Clinics

Crockford Wing, 2nd Floor
416-431-8200 ext. 6638
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

2867 Ellesmere Road
4th Floor

78 Corporate Drive
416-431-8200 ext.6888
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

60 Scottfield Drive
416-431-8200 ext. 8700
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

14 St. Matthews Road, 6th Floor
416-461-8252 ext. 3631


Multi-Care Kidney Clinic (MCKC)

East Wing, 1st Floor
416-438-2911 ext. 6697
Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vascular Access Program

General hospital
Multi-Care Kidney Clinic
First floor, East Wing
Wednesdays (bi-weekly), 9 a.m. to noon