The incidence of Kidney Disease in the Kimberley is one of the highest in Australia. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) incidence within the Aboriginal population of the Kimberley greatly exceeds the national burden of disease.
Dialysis prevalence for this region has more than tripled in the last decade and is increasing at a much faster rate than in the rest of Western Australia (WA).

Support Services

KRS is unique from other services as it provides a one-of-a-kind model of care with a focus on prevention of chronic kidney disease. In collaboration with primary health care providers KRS aims to slow the progression and requirement for renal replacement therapy.

KRS Support Services Team encompasses:

• Transplant Coordinator who supports patients from suitability assessments to work up, waitlisting for surgery, pre operation preparations, post operation care and delivery of education to health care providers.
• Vascular Access Coordinator works in collaboration with Pre-Dialysis coordinators to prepare patients that are imminent in progressing in CKD and preparation for dialysis prepares them for access, assist with pre operation preparation, post operation care, education and arranges for care and transfer if required of those patients experiencing any access issues.
• Pre-Dialysis Coordinators manage patients in CKD stages 3b – 5 and provides support though their chosen treatment or conservative pathway. By actively monitoring patients in later stages of CKD this aims to keep patients from progressing to dialysis where possible.
• Chronic Kidney Disease Educators target audience are stages 1 – 3a and are actively involved in the community and health care providers delivering education and health promotion on CKD to raise awareness on healthy lifestyle and health kidneys.
• Aboriginal Care Coordinators are key to the service with the provision of patient advocacy, social services support, breaking language barriers and ensuring cultural safety protocols are adhered to.
• Learning and Development Coordinator identifies, manages, and engages learning training opportunities for all KRS employees. This is pivotal in working to ever evolving quality clinical practice and accreditation standards.
• Specialist Clerk provides clinic management including the receipt of referrals, appointment of scheduled clinic lists and the reappointment. Provides administration support through obtaining consent, preparations for clinics and further follow up required with primary health care providers.
• Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator provides training, identifies, and implements risk mitigation strategies for the compliance of high-quality health care standards.

KRS Mobile Dialysis Unit (MDU)

Complimentary to KRS’s service delivery model is a purpose built 2 chair Mobile Dialysis Unit, operational since June 2014. Given the remote locality of the Kimberley and vast distances between towns and communities the MDU is key to service provision. There are often lengthy waitlists for the appointment of placement at Renal Health Centres across the service. This approach ensures the retention of links to culture, country and as it can become extremely difficult to make return visits to family and friends in their own communities. This provides access to haemodialysis in remote localities for which normally would not be possible.

As a non-for-profit organisation, Kimberley Renal Services welcomes donations to provide continued operation and deployment to remote Kimberley locations. Please contact KRS Head Office for more information.

Referral of Patients to Kimberley Renal Services

To refer a patient to a Kimberley Renal Services Health Centre, please complete the Referral of Patients to KRS Form and email krsadmin@kamsc.org.au OR fax (08) 9193 5766 (please call 9191 8600 or email to confirm receipt).

We will need patient consent to medical information before seeing in clinic. A member of the KRS Team will be in touch with the correct consent paperwork.

Contacts

Kimberley Renal Services Head Office

Phone: (08) 9194 3200

27 Napier Terrace, PO BOX 1377, BROOME WA 6725

Broome Renal Health Centre

Phone: (08) 9191 8600

Lot 640 Anne Street, Broome WA 6725

Derby Renal Health Centre

Phone (08) 9193 3500

5 Stanley Street, Derby WA 6728

Fitzroy Crossing Renal Health Centre

Phone (08) 9166 1400

52 Fallon Road, Fitzroy Crossing WA

Kununurra Renal Health Centre

Phone: (08) 9166 4400

1125 Ironwood Drive, Kununurra WA 6777