Psychonephrology receiving wider focus
We are glad to share with you that Psychonephrology was recently featured in a podcast titled “Psychonephrology: A Psychodynamic Perspective in the Dialysis Unit”
The power of touch
The medical field is often best suited for individuals who can handle stressful situations with patience, compassion, as well as mental and physical stamina. There is a fine balance in maintaining and applying excellent communication technical skills. Doctors and nurses choose their profession with the hope of making patients feel better, both physically and emotionally. These efforts [...]
Healthy Doctor-patient relationship
A validation from the physician can go a long way in creating a positive environment in which patients will feel more open in expressing themselves better.
Unique programs at Humber River Hospital to improve patients’ quality of life
Below, Drs Gavril Hercz & Andreas Pierratos, nephrologists at Humber River Hospital, explain more about innovative models of care: “Needing to be on dialysis is about more than kidneys not working; it’s about a human being, with a worried family, trying to cope with a devastating loss. […]
The Trauma of Dialysis Initiation
We are happy to announce that Dr. Gavril Hercz’s article is published, in the Perspective section of JASN October 2017 28: 2835-2837. The link for the article can be found here. http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/28/10/2835 "The trauma of dialysis initiation" discusses at length the psychosocial impact of serious medical illness, such as kidney disease, which affects not only [...]
Are you donating a kidney?
Is your decision well informed? Living kidney donations save many lives every year. It can be best described as the donation of a kidney from a healthy person, made of his or her own free will. Donating an organ gives you a sense of accomplishment, as you were able to save another person’s life. You [...]
Hello My Name is: How a sensitive health care professional can make a difference
We all have, probably more than once, visited hospitals and diagnostic centers, and I am sure, most of us experienced some level of anxiety. The most anxious moments can be while waiting for test results. This anxiety of the dreaded unknown is often significantly modified by how these results were communicated to us, better or [...]
How Technology has impacted the Health Care Arena
What effect does it have on an emotional connection between a Physician and his patient? Healthcare is very often impacted and enhanced by the adoption of new technologies. Clinical practice is increasingly dependent on technology, which has significantly improved the way patients are treated for their illness, resulting in better outcomes. But has it also [...]
4 of 4 | Physician-Assisted Death Video Series
Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A special four-part series on the various struggles physicians face with the legalization of Physician-Assisted Death. PART FOUR In Conversation with Drs Rauf Sirman, Sonu Gaind and James Downar The series ends with a discussion between presenters Drs Rauf Sirman, Sonu Gaind, and James Downar and the audience comprised of community/academic [...]
3 of 4 | Physician-Assisted Death Video Series
Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A special four-part series on the various struggles physicians face with the legalization of Physician-Assisted Death. PART THREE Physician-Assisted Death in Canada: Where We Are, Where We Are Going Presented by Dr. James Downar Dr. Downar expands upon Dr. Gainds lecture by exploring the various infringements in mental illness brought up in [...]
2 of 4 | Physician-Assisted Death Video Series
Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A special four-part series on the various struggles physicians face with the legalization of Physician-Assisted Death. PART TWO Do Not Harm – Help Me Die: Navigating Mental Health Issues in the Turbulent Waters of Intolerable Suffering and (Ir)remediability Presented by Dr. Sonu Gaind Dr. Sonu Gaind opens up his lecture by [...]
1 of 4 | Physician-Assisted Death Video Series
Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A special four-part series on the various struggles physicians face with the legalization of Physician-Assisted Death. PART ONE Withdrawal from Dialysis: The HRH Experience Presented by Dr. Rauf Sirman Dr. Sirman presents the psychiatric cases of two renal patients. He describes the psychic makeup of a renal patient requesting dialysis cessation, and [...]
Upcoming Feature: Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A Four-Part Series
With the recent legalization of physician-assisted death in Canada, what’s next? The legislation of physician-assisted death has Canadian provinces and territories scrambling to formulate the legal rules and regulations for providing this care. Health care professionals are committed first and foremost to improving and maintaining their patients' quality quantity of life, which poses serious concerns around the philosophical, [...]
The History of Psychonephrology
By Norman B. Levy Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry | Associate Director, Medical-Psychiatric Liaison Service | State University of New York | Downstate Medical Center | Brooklyn, New York As its name indicates, “psychonephrology” explores the psychological impact of kidney disease and focuses particularly on patients receiving kidney transplants or [...]
Renal End-of-Life Care: Impact on Patients, Families & Staff
Psychonephrology Lecture Series | Thursday 22 October 2015 | Park Hyatt Hotel | Toronto, Canada Presented by Lewis Cohen, MD Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University | Director, Renal Palliative Care Initiative, Baystate Medical Center | Boston MA Dr. Cohen has published and lectured extensively on palliative care topics in patients on or starting dialysis therapy. In this [...]