A considerable number of people living in Northeast Iceland have, until now, had to travel south over the highlands to see a nephrologist. It is estimated that 20-25 individuals have made this journey on a monthly basis for this purpose. Now, preparations have officially begun to ensure that, going forward, nephrologists from Landspítali will visit SAk every six weeks for two days at a time.

“This is a cause for celebration, as this has been the goal ever since dialysis services began at SAk about a decade ago. Of course, we want to provide services within our catchment area as much as possible, rather than requiring patients to travel south,” says Guðjón Kristjánsson, Head of the Internal Medicine Department at SAk.

“This is certainly great news, and it is important to emphasize that a key factor in making this possible is the presence of highly skilled nurses at SAk. They are and will continue to be an essential part of the teamwork required,” says Fjölnir Elvarsson, a nephrologist at Landspítali.

Project Goals

The goal is to have a nurse-led outpatient clinic open weekly or biweekly in between nephrologist visits. “In our work as nephrology nurses, we will focus on pre-consultation work, screenings, phone consultations, education, and guidance. Additionally, we will handle part of the follow-up care before and after kidney transplants in collaboration with specialists. We believe that this cooperation will enhance the quality of life for both patients and their families. This project is also of great importance to healthcare professionals, as the strong collaboration between Landspítali and SAk strengthens expertise and local services,” says Jóhanna María Oddsdóttir, a nephrology nurse.

Multiple Benefits

The benefits of this project are extensive. “We believe that this approach will improve services for individuals with kidney disease and for those already receiving nephrology care. In addition to reducing costs for both patients and society, we can also alleviate pressure on inpatient wards by reducing hospital admissions and enabling earlier discharges,” says Sólveig Tryggvadóttir, nurse and dialysis project manager at SAk.

By launching this collaborative project with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients and their families, a wide range of benefits can be expected for the community—benefiting patients, healthcare professionals, and the public sector alike.