CSA UNVEILS CANADA'S FIRST STANDARD TO IMPROVE HOME-BASED DIALYSIS FOR KIDNEY
DISEASE PATIENTS

TORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, today officially announces Canada's first national standard designed to help raise the quality of care for Canadians using home-based treatments to live with impaired kidney function and disease. The new standard, CSA Z364.5 Safe Installation and Operation of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in a Home Setting, aims to improve the quality of home dialysis options for kidney disease patients, leading to greater convenience and independence, and shorter, less frequent hospital visits.

Created with input from health authorities, practitioners and patients among others, the new voluntary CSA standard will help provide nephrology (kidney function and disease) personnel with a standard that enables them to better assist Canadians undergoing home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involves the use of a machine as an artificial kidney/filter to remove toxins and excess fluids for patients with end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal dialysis treatment refers to the use of the peritoneum (the area behind the abdomen) to remove toxins and excess fluids.

"This new CSA standard will help improve home dialysis as a treatment option for an increasing number of Canadians living with kidney illness and disease," says Bonnie Rose, president, CSA Standards. "Experts are forecasting that home hemodialysis treatment could grow dramatically during the next few years. By providing guidance in this area, the new CSA standard will help to support the anticipated increased use of home dialysis therapy options for patients with end-stage renal disease."

Studies show that home hemodialysis improves a patient's energy levels and life expectancy.¹ According to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, in 2008 there were 17,765 patients undergoing hemodialysis in Canada with the majority undergoing institutional dialysis, and only 721 on home hemodialysis.² In Ontario alone, home dialysis options for patients are expected to grow to 40 per cent by 2012.³ The benefits of home dialysis for patients include greater flexibility in schedules, more time with family, a greater sense of control, fewer transportation issues, a reduction in medication, and improvements in neuropathy (nerve damage).

"The CSA guideline for home-based and independent dialysis treatment is an important step towards ensuring safety for patients receiving their care at home," says Michael Copland, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Provincial Medical Director, Independent Hemodialysis Program, B.C. "It is also a valuable tool for programs that are just beginning to offer home-based therapies as a road-map for program development which has been lacking until now. This new standard will help foster the growth of independent therapies across Canada and help offer a broader range of safe and effective treatment choices for people coping with kidney failure."

Individuals with end-stage renal failure may be prescribed either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis as life-sustaining therapy when a transplant is not an immediate option, or as an alternative to the transplant itself. Home hemodialysis is self-administered and independently done in a home setting, usually while sleeping with no supervision by medical support staff. Peritoneal dialysis is self administered while the patient sleeps or through regular exchanges throughout the day. Prior training for both home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients is required.

The CSA Z364.5 Safe Installation and Operation of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in a Home Setting standard will encourage best practices across Canada. It addresses inconsistencies by setting requirements for home dialysis policies and procedures, home assessment, plumbing and electrical, feed and dialysis water quality, emergency procedures, and client and caregiver training. The new standard also addresses patient training including pre- and post-treatment procedures and equipments checks, emergency preparedness, and other skills such as dealing with common complications of dialysis. It also encourages the consideration of variables that influence learning such as individual skills and abilities, physical condition, motivation, readiness, values, past experience, age, and gender.

CSA Standards Z364.5 Safe Installation and Operation of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in a Home Setting standard is available for purchase in English by contacting CSA Standards Sales at 800-463-6727, or by e-mail at [email protected]

About CSA Standards
CSA Standards is a leading standards-based solutions organization serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in North America and the global marketplace. Focusing on standards and codes development, application products, training, advisory and personnel certification services, the organization aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. CSA Standards is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit www.csa.ca

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1} National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/homehemo.cfm
² The Kidney Foundation of Canada.  http://204.92.98.244/Document.Doc?id=102
³ Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Provincial Programs Branch, Acute Services & Chronic Disease Unit

For further information:

Marco Ouji
Media Relations Officer
CSA Group
T: 416-747-2615
E: [email protected]