Purpose-built with patient and provider experience in mind, the new standalone renal hemodialysis facility at Surrey Memorial Hospital will transform renal care in our communities.
The northwestern corner of the Surrey Memorial Hospital campus is bustling with activity as construction progresses on Fraser Health’s first standalone renal dialysis facility. Once complete, patients will have improved access to life-sustaining care closer to home.
Designed with both patients and providers in mind, the new facility aims to evoke a sense of comfort and healing. Hemodialysis is an important life-sustaining procedure for patients with kidney disease. It removes waste and extra fluids from the body, helping to alleviate symptoms related to kidney failure. It aims at prolonging and improving the quality of life for patients.
Some patients require treatment multiple times a week, with each visit lasting up to four hours. This frequent interaction allows staff and medical staff to build a strong sense of community with their patients, fostering meaningful connections and support networks. To further enhance these connections and improve the overall experience, the new space will feature natural elements, including light from the large windows and specially designed LED lit ceiling panels to make patients feel like they’re looking out a skylight. The aim is to provide a more calming environment. Frido Profoehr, patient partner and hemodialysis patient, reflects on his experience with dialysis over the last three years.
“Over time, you develop a community-like feeling, a family of sorts. You begin to know the nurses, the other patients,” he says. “As a widower, this connection to a community has been beneficial not only to my health but also my wellness.”
Compassionate renal care is a cornerstone of the work Elaine Aure, interim executive director, Surrey Community Health Services, Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre and Renal Services, and her team provide. This makes the project even more meaningful.
“This brand-new purpose-driven space will not only increase capacity by 55 per cent but make a significant difference for people who live in this region needing life-sustaining care,” says Elaine.
The new purpose-built space will be 2,976-square metres and will use enough concrete for nine full-sized tennis courts. It is designed to prioritize both functionality and patient comfort. The structure integrates natural light, calming aesthetics, and an innovative audio system for soothing music, creating a healing environment for patients and staff alike.
The initiatives underway at Surrey Memorial Hospital are part of the 30 priority actions that make up only one aspect of a regional strategy to enhance health care in Surrey. The broader regional strategy includes a new medical school at Simon Fraser University, a new hospital and BC Cancer Centre in Cloverdale and expanded community-based services.
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For a look into the behind-the-scenes work happening, check out our video here.
