‘You’d never get this at a doctor’s office’: Kidney Health Community Program in action
In communities across Saskatchewan, kidney health often goes unnoticed until it can no longer be ignored. Often called the “silent killer,” many people experience no symptoms until the disease has significantly progressed.
“There are no warning signs,” says Nurse Clinician Carmen Levandoski. “By the time symptoms appear, it’s often too late to reverse.”
Simple testing — a blood and urine sample — can make a meaningful difference. Yet many people, especially in underserved areas, may not have regular access to that care.
The donor-funded Kidney Check Early Screening Program is changing that. Carmen and her team, including Registered Dietitian Stacey Shmyr and Early Screening Program project lead Lucia New, travels to northern and remote communities in Saskatchewan to provide screening and education in familiar, trusted spaces.
Whether in community halls or alongside other local health events, the program is designed to meet people where they are, reducing barriers and building relationships over time.
(l-r) Stacey Shmyr, Lucia New, and Carmen Levandoski in Grandmother’s Bay, Sask.
Their program is funded through the By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign under the Early Screening Campaign Priority, and through the program, participants not only receive screening, but also time to ask questions, learn, and better understand their health.
“The best feedback we hear is gratitude,” Carmen said. “People thank us for coming, for taking the time to teach and explain everything. … Many say, ‘You’d never get this at a doctor’s office or a regular clinic.’”
Stacey adds that education can ease uncertainty.
“People often say, ‘I didn’t know that.’” And for some, the experience brings relief. “We get people who arrive anxious… then they get screened and feel relieved. Most people leave feeling better than when they came in.”
‘Kidney disease doesn’t happen just once a year’
March is Kidney Health Month, and March 12 was World Kidney Day — events that remind us of the importance of early awareness.
“If you have risk factors and don’t know your kidney function, get tested if you’re able,” Stacey says.
Diabetes and high blood pressure remain the leading causes of kidney disease, and family history can also increase risk. Because symptoms can take years to appear, early screening plays a critical role in prevention and care.
But kidney health is not just a one-day conversation. As Carmen reminds us, “Kidney disease doesn’t happen just once a year.”
Kidney disease is an epidemic in Saskatchewan with 10% of our population suffering from chronic kidney disease. The number of Saskatchewan people requiring dialysis to live has increased by almost 30% in the last 10 years. And chronic kidney disease has a higher mortality rate than most forms of cancer.
Together, we are working to strengthen early screening, build the Kidney Health & Education Centre, and enhance holistic supports that care for the whole person.
To learn more about kidney care at St. Paul’s Hospital, visit the By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign.