Our Committees

The BC provincial renal network is the only one of its kind in Canada.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Renal care providers from all disciplines across the province give their time, energy and creativity to a range of BC Renal committ​​ees and working groups.

Their work results in a variety of initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of chronic kidney disease, including:​

  • improvements in early diagnosis and intervention
  • treatment options
  • fiscal sustainability.

 Executive Committee

​The Executive Committee provides direction to BC’s regional renal programs to ensure consistent delivery of services across the province.

See the committee’s terms of reference.


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 Medical Advisory Group

MAG provides advice and counsel on the practice of nephrology on behalf of BC Renal, to nephrology colleagues (physician and non-physician), health authorities and other interested parties.

View the Terms of Reference.

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 Renal Administrators Committee

​The Renal Administrators Committee functions as an advisory body to its members and to the provincial renal community regarding programs, policies and guidelines that influence the care of BC renal patients.​

View the Terms of Reference.​

HEST Group

The Renal Administrators Committee and Emergency Management Committee oversee the HEST group. Read more about the Hemodialysis Emergency Response Team. 

View the HEST Terms of Reference.

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 Kidney Care Committee

​The BC Kidney Care Committee provides guidance to BC’s regional renal programs regarding all aspects of chronic kidney disease by facilitating the development of provincial standards, guidelines, tools, resources and quality indicators.

View the Terms of Reference.​

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 Glomerulonephritis (GN) Committee

​​The Glomerulonephritis (GN) Committee has developed the GN network and registry with the goals of improving both our understanding of GN, and treatment for this subset of kidney patients.

View the Terms of Reference.

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 Home Hemodialysis Committee

​The Home Hemodialysis Committee provides direction to the provincially-coordinated, locally delivered independent dialysis program.

The program includes home hemodialysis as well as self-care within hospital or clinic-based dialysis settings.

The Home Hemodialysis Committee guides the development of the provincial independent hemodialysis program, ensuring high quality and safe, equitable patient care. It also assists the Heath Authority Renal Programs (HARPs) to integrate the independent hemodialysis program.​

View the Terms of Reference.​

Home Hemo Educators Group​​​​

The Home Hemo Educators Group (See terms of reference) fosters excellence in the provision of education towards patient independence.

See an overview of the independent dialysis options in BC.

This active group has also produced guidelines and an Home Hemodialysis Patient Workbook.

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 Peritoneal Dialysis Committee

​The Peritoneal Dialysis Care Committee fosters excellence in the delivery of peritoneal dialysis throughout the province and ensures appropriate delivery of services through provincial contracts. This committee has produced a variety of guidelines.

View the Terms of Reference.​

The PD Nurses Group(See Terms of Reference), fosters excellence in Peritoneal Dialysis care in BC. This group has produced a variety of patient teaching materials.

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 Hemodialysis Committee
​To provide a forum for discussion, development, revision, approval, and facilitation of policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines that will support excellence in the provision of hemodialysis care in both hospital and community hemodialysis units across British Columbia (BC). 

​View the TOR

The Vascular Access Educators Group (VAEG) focuses on promoting excellent in the delivery of Vascular Access (VA) nursing care in BC through provincial standardized approaches to practice, educational resources, and supportive networking.

See the group's terms of reference.

​The BC Renal Educators Group (BCR REG) works to standardize, enhance and foster excellence in the delivery of hemodialysis nursing care throughout the province of British Columbia.

This group aims to facilitate the achievement of critical thinking, evidence-based practice and/or expert opinion for continuous quality outcomes for hemodialysis nursing delivery.

See the group's terms of reference.

Hemodialysis Technical Group (HD Technical Group) is a standing group of the BC Renal Hemodialysis Committee‎ that works to address technical issues related to hemodialysis therapy. 

The group provides support and expertise to the Hemodialysis Committee, to Health Authority Renal Programs (HARPs) and BC Clinical and Support Services (BCCSS) Society (formerly HSSBC) in technical matters and interaction with suppliers.

See the group's terms of reference.​

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 Palliative Care Committee

​The Palliative Care Committee provides guidance to BC’s regional renal programs with respect to end of life issues.

Group members include nephrologists, social workers and renal nurses from all Health Authority Renal Programs, as well as representatives from the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Our goals:

  • Assist Health Authority Renal Programs (HARPs) to develop and implement strong EOL care
  • Enhance education and understanding of Advanced Care Planning (ACP) and EOL care
  • Enhance the EOL training of nephrology fellows

The Palliative Care Committee completed a position paper that outlines international, national, and provincial trends in EOL care.​

See the EOL Resources section for documents and links.

See the committee's terms of reference.

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 ​​The Patient and Family Engagement Advisory Committee

​​The Patient and Family Engagement Advisory Committee advises on the development and promotion of patient and family engagement, ensuring that it is purposeful and meaningful for all involved in BC Renal committees and key activities.

See the terms of reference.

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 ​​Pharmacy Services Committee

​​Pharmacy Services Committee:

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 Kidney Services— Infrastructure and Capacity Planning Committee

​​The Kidney Services— Infrastructure and Capacity Planning Committee facilitates the planning process and recommends priorities for capital facilities and equipment acquisition.

See the committee’s terms of reference.

Equipment Funding Allocation Subcommittee

The Equipment Funding Allocation Subcommittee facilitates the processes for planning provincial equipment needs, reviewing and prioritizing equipment requests, submitting recommendations for approval, and tracking and reconciling associated funding approvals.

See the sub-committee's terms of reference.

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 PROMIS Executive Steering Committee (ESC)

​The purpose of the PROMIS Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is to establish the Vision, Mandate, Governance, and Guiding Principles to guide the PROMIS team and other PROMIS governance structures.  With a focus on patient safety and patient care, the committee uses a consensus based approach to make decisions.  In addition, members are active and visible advocates and communicators within their discipline, program, and geographic area on behalf of this provincial committee.  View the Terms of Reference. 

Our cornerstone system is PROMIS (Patient Record/Registration and Outcome Management Information System), which provides real-time, accurate data collected from the 30+ renal units in BC.

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 PROMIS Data Quality Advisory Group
​​A provincial multidisciplinary advisory group that promotes consistent business practices across health authorities and supports the use of high-quality data for patient care, program operations, quality improvement, planning, and provincial reporting. The group collaborates to identify workflow issues, validate reporting requirements, suggest or inform application enhancements, and standardize practices across health authorities as applicable - all to help ensure that PROMIS supports clinical, operational, quality improvement, and planning needs for renal and transplant programs.​​​
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 Professional Groups

​Rena​l care providers across BC have formed networks for dialogue and information sharing.

Current active professional groups:

  • Biomed Technicians

  • Dietitians - See the group's terms of reference. 

  • Pharmacists

  • Social Workers

    • BC Nephrology Social Work Practice Council acts as a forum for professional collaboration between social workers and various renal care partners. The group contributes to:

      • BC Renal committees and projects

      • Nephrology social work guidelines for care

      • Resource development for patients and families

    • See the group's terms of reference and scope of practice. 

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 Emergency Management Committee

​​The project committee’s mission is to develop a provincial emergency management and business continuity plan that results in a comprehensive and integrated response to major emergencies and disasters impacting one or more BC Health Authority Renal Programs. 

View the Terms of Reference

See our Emergency Management page for more resources and information.

HEST Group

The Emergency Management Committee  and Renal Administrators Committee oversee the HEST group. Read more about the Hemodialysis Emergency Response Team. 

​​View the HEST Terms of Reference.

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