Freeman opens new dialysis unit on World Kidney Day - Joplin Globe PDF Print
Freeman opens new dialysis unit on World Kidney Day

Freeman opens new dialysis unit on World Kidney Day

Abdul Nagaria (left), director for Dialysis Services for Freeman Health System, Talal A. Khan (center) and Samrat Bhat, both neprhologists for Freeman, take a photo for a hashtag project promoting drinking water for World Kidney Day following the dedication of the hospital's new dialysis center on Thursday.  Globe | Roger Nomer 

Freeman opens new dialysis unit on World Kidney Day

Freeman opens new dialysis unit on World Kidney Day

Officials with Freeman Health System on Thursday cut the ribbon on a new dialysis unit. Paula Baker, president and chief executive officer of Freeman, said the unit is designed to make the dialysis process more comfortable for patients. Globe | Roger Nomer 

Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 3:37 pm | Updated: 3:51 pm, Thu Mar 12, 2015.

Officials with Freeman Health System celebrated the opening of their new dialysis unit on Thursday, which was designated as World Kidney Day by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations.

The inpatient unit is a six-bed space that includes infrared hand-sensor faucets to help prevent infection, hands-free door openers, 40-inch LCD televisions, new nurses station call technology, a floor design allowing all patients to be seen from any part of the nurses station, a physician documentation room, bedside patient care and new dialysis machines.

Paula Baker, president and chief executive officer of Freeman, said the unit is designed to make the dialysis process more comfortable for patients.

“This is one part of our expansion efforts for all of our dialysis patients in this area,” she said during remarks preceding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new unit.

Nephrologist Leslie Hamlett said the unit is a much-needed improvement over the old dialysis area, which contained only four beds in a small space with no functioning bathroom. The new unit, she said, will provide more privacy, room and safety features for patients seeking treatment.

Hamlett said the kidney is one of the most important organs in the body. Kidneys work to filter blood and remove toxins and excess fluid from the body, and they also help to regulate blood pressure.

But when kidneys stop functioning in those ways, frequently as a result of diabetes or high blood pressure, it leads to kidney disease — which is largely silent until its final stages, she said.

The disease is treated by dialysis, a process that performs many of the functions of kidneys.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at an increased risk. At-risk groups include African-Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, senior citizens and those with diabetes, hypertension or a family history of kidney failure.

To help prevent kidney disease, the organizations behind World Kidney Day recommend that people stay fit and active, keep regular control of their blood sugar level, monitor their blood pressure, eat healthy and maintain a healthy fluid intake, cut out smoking and restrict regular usage of over-the-counter pills.

In honor of National Kidney Month, local residents are invited to participate in Freeman’s “Drink 1 Give 1” campaign. Post a selfie of yourself drinking water to Freeman’s Facebook or Instagram pages, and for each selfie received during March, Freeman will donate $1 to its dialysis fund (up to $1,000).

Saturday event

The Freeman Dialysis Center will hold a one-mile walk at 8 a.m. Saturday at Northpark Mall. The registration fee is $10; all proceeds will benefit Freeman dialysis patients.

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