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The B.C. Renal Agency, the B.C. Ministry of Health Services, the B.C. Medical Association and provincial lab physicians have formed a joint initiative to standardize the diagnosis of renal disease across the province. Under the program, BC labs will be phasing in a common set of lab values for measuring renal function. Test results will automatically be reported to family doctors including a set of test interpretation and action guidelines. Under the initiative, labs will apply an equation (serum creatinine X age X gender) to estimate kidney function as measured by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which will be reported to general practitioners and specialists. Instead of reporting raw test data such as 80 mg/dL for a patient, the lab will translate the meaning of the result - this patient has 50% of normal kidney function.
Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories Inc. has signed five-year agreements with both the Saskatoon and Regina-Qu'Appelle Regional Health Authorities to provide community laboratory services to the patients and physicians in those regions.
The Canadian government has established a National Health Council comprised of 26 recognized experts from various perspectives and areas of the country, including five doctors. The council's terms of reference include a review to be carried out in its fourth year and the fourth year of each subsequent five-year mandate. The $10-million-a-year council is expected to be independent and objective ,accountable and transparent. Not all provinces will participate fully, Alberta has refused to join and Quebec will collaborate.
Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments have created a new not-for-profit Canadian Patient Safety Institute. The institute, to be based in Edmonton, should be up and running early in 2004. Its nine member board of directors will seek ways to improve patient safety in Canadian hospitals and work to promote a culture that advocates greater openness in dealing with medical errors and system failures. Health Canada has committed $10 million a year to support the institute and other patient safety initiatives.