Dialysis Clinic, Inc. to Host Open House Celebration at Albany, NY Dialysis Clinic

June 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Albany, NY– Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) is hosting an Open House celebration June 21st from 4-7p.m. at 176 Washington Ave. Ext., Suite 100, Albany, NY.

The event is free and open to the entire community. Guests can tour the new facility, meet the dialysis staff, explore treatment options for kidney failure, and learn more about DCI’s history.  

“Many people are unaware that DCI is the nation’s largest non-profit dialysis provider. We were established in 1971 with the belief that ‘the care of the patient is our reason for existence’. DCI chose to build a dialysis clinic in Albany because of the patient need. We became aware that patients who required dialysis were remaining in hospitals in order to receive dialysis treatment because outpatient dialysis centers did not have treatment chairs available,” says Don Weber, DCI Albany Administrator.

According to the IPRO ESRD Network of New York, at the end of calendar year 2010, 25,695 patients in New York were receiving dialysis treatment for renal (kidney) failure. The primary causes of renal failure were diabetes (40.7%) and hypertension (25.1%).

Mr. Weber states, “Our new 7,000 square foot dialysis facility on the Daughter’s of Sarah campus can provide convenient dialysis treatments to the Daughter’s of Sarah residents as well as the rest of the community. We look forward to continuing DCI’s tradition of providing quality patient care.”

DCI Albany provided treatment to their very first patient on Nov. 28, 2011. Now, 23 patients are receiving treatment. The treatment options include in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis.

The clinic is still accepting new patients.

“Our clinic is different from other clinics in the area because we have a patient to caregiver ratio of 3 to 1 which is much better than what is typically offered,” states Kathleen Pratt, DCI Albany Nurse Manager with 13 years of dialysis experience. “Our Medical Director, Dr. Waldman, focuses on the individual patient’s needs and believes in the holistic approach.”

Dr. Jonathan Waldman, DCI Albany Medical Director, says, “For the patient with Chronic Kidney Disease, we believe the clinic experience is fundamental to a successful health outcome.  It must be a place where the patient can find friends, community and support.  Our multi-disciplinary team endeavors to engage each of our patients individually and collectively on ways in which the Chronic Kidney Patient can live a happy and productive life.”

The clinic has a social worker on staff to aid patients with psychosocial, transportation, and financial situations.  A dietitian is also readily available to consult with and educate patients regarding their nutritional needs.

DCI Albany patients are invited to be an active part of their treatment team. Each patient is offered the option to participate in his/her patient care conference with the interdisciplinary team consisting of the nephrologist, nurse manager, dietitian, and social worker. The meeting is conducted in a location most convenient for the patient, whether it is in a conference room, by the patient’s treatment chair, or over the phone.

The DCI facility focuses on patient comfort. The patient chairs are heated and each treatment station boasts its own brand new, flat screen TV.

Treatment hours are currently 6 a.m.- 4p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Treatment hours are subject to change based on patient needs.

The community is invited to join the Open House celebration June 21st from 4-7p.m. at 176 Washington Ave. Ext., Suite 100, Albany, NY. For more information contact: Kathleen Pratt at (518) 456-2429.