The key to offering dialysis services in fewer sites is to solve whatever new problems that creates, says a member of the Health P.E.I. board.

Dr. Kinsey Smith, who is a nephrologist and specializes in kidney disease, said he would hate to see P.E.I. have second-rate care because of small units that can't function effectively when there aren't enough patients using them.

"We understand the dilemmas of having two sites. Solve it," he said.

Smith was the guest speaker at the Charlottetown Rotary Club's luncheon Monday where he talked about the progress Health P.E.I. has made since it was created in 2010.

His comments came after recent news the province was taking dialysis services out of Souris and Alberton to consolidate them in Summerside and Charlottetown.

Smith said the change to dialysis services is, to some extent, a very sensible decision because it focuses complex therapy in areas where it will have the best possible quality.

He used the example of a dialysis unit he visited several years ago, which had four nurses and only one patient.

"The problem was how do you keep up the quality of care and how do you sustain that with small units," Smith said.

There was a similar problem in more remote areas of Ontario where people were far away from dialysis units, Smith said.

"The answer is you have to find ways of making it easier for them to get there."

Smith said Ontario used volunteer drivers who were reimbursed for their gas and patients' appointments were booked for times when the volunteers were available.

"There's got to be a creative way of dealing with this," he said.

What is happening with the dialysis service will be a recurring theme as Health P.E.I. looks at how it will provide other services to remote parts of P.E.I. in order to help people travel without worrying about driving or the cost of travel, Smith said.

"You begin to realize we magnify distances on the Island in a way that is quite interesting." - Dr. Kinsey Smith, Health P.E.I. board member

"There have to be ways of mitigating that."

During his speech, Smith said Health P.E.I. has faced some challenges, but there also have been some successes.

Smith said Health P.E.I. is working on a single, integrated system.

"We're interested in the right place, the right provider and the right way of delivering therapy," he said.

With P.E.I.'s primary care network, nobody is further than 30 km away from a primary health-care centre, Smith said.

He used Oakville, Ont. as an example of where it takes much longer to get to a primary care site when in need because of the time it takes to drive there due to factors such as traffic.

"You begin to realize we magnify distances on the Island in a way that is quite interesting," he said.Go th

Despite the challenges Health P.E.I. has faced, Smith said there are more doctors in P.E.I. than ever before.

"We don't talk about that," he said.

Smith said Health P.E.I. is taking steps to improve Island health care and wants to explain those steps to Islanders.

"You have to make wise decisions, wise choices and I believe the board of Health P.E.I. and the staff of Health P.E.I. are equipped to provide a solid background leading us hopefully towards a sustainable path of health care in difficult times."

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