Puget Sound Kidney Centers (PSKC) has officially opened the doors of their new dialysis center located in Monroe.
The brand new facility, which is situated immediately adjacent to Valley General Hospital, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 26, to celebrate the occasion. The Monroe center is PSKC's sixth location and will provide in-center dialysis care to patients throughout East Snohomish County.
PSKC President and Chief Executive Officer Harold Kelly wielded the jumbo-size scissors during the event, which was attended by numerous PSKC patients, members of the Monroe community, and others who contributed to the new facility.
Puget Sound Kidney Centers (PSKC) is a community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide the highest quality of care to patients diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, or ESRD, which is also referred to as Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease.
Kidney disease can strike anyone and is non-discriminatory when it comes to age. Most commonly, kidney disease is caused by diabetes or high blood pressure, but the disease can be inherited genetically or caused by infection or trauma. Approximately 500,000 people in the United States suffer from ESRD.
In addition to many other vital functions, the kidney is the organ responsible for removing toxins from the blood. Once a patient is diagnosed with ESRD, they require either dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to stay alive.
PSKC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamila Keech presented at the meeting, giving a basic overview of what dialysis treatment is like for patients.
"Patients have to come to the center three days a week; either Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. When they come they'll spend, on average, four hours during the treatment,GÇ¥ said Keech. "Now that's just time hooked up to the dialysis machine itself.GÇ¥
Essentially, a dialysis machine performs the same function as would a normal healthy kidney. Keech shared that, once travel time is added
to the time it takes for the machine to clean the blood, particularly if the patient relies on public transportation, the amount of time that a patient needs to dedicate to their treatment is monumental.
President and CEO Harold Kelly stated that a part of PSKC's mission is to provide care for patients in underserved areas like East Snohomish County. In order to receive their dialysis care, some patients had to drive to Everett from as far away as Baring, near Skykomish.
"Some of those commutes can be really onerous on the patients,GÇ¥ said Kelly. "PSKC is absolutely committed to this type of project and trying to improve the lives of patients that are diagnosed with this disease.GÇ¥
The 11,954 square-foot facility was designed to be both welcoming and soothing; its d+¬cor was strategically developed and refined to promote a healing atmosphere. The atrium, which features an abundance of natural lighting and lush green plants, helps establish a comfortable environment for both patients and visitors. The center will be able to accommodate up to 120 patients at maximum capacity, and includes a total of 20 stations.
A separate station for patients requiring isolation is available. In addition to in-center dialysis, the facility also provides training and support for at-home dialysis patients. The center will be open weekly, Monday through Saturday.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge George Bowden, who serves on the Puget Sound Kidney Center's Board of Directors, gave a brief presentation at the celebration. He discussed a new federal five-star rating system recently implemented to rate health facilities.
"I'm pleased that all of our facilities that have been rated have received either a four-star or five-star rating,GÇ¥ said Bowden. "And it's not just because we're one of hundreds that are so designated. It's a limited designation - only the top 10 percent of facilities across the country will earn a five-star rating. So, for two of our facilities to have five-star ratings is simply remarkable.GÇ¥
Bowden talked about PSKC's level of commitment to patient care, which he feels is enhanced by their nonprofit status.
"When the driving motivation for a corporation is to maximize profits, whether it's dialysis or any other health care business, then it seems to me it's very hard, if not impossible, to also make patient care your first and foremost priority,GÇ¥ said Bowden. "That's why I'm so proud to be a part of Puget Sound Kidney Centers as a nonprofit corporation.GÇ¥
In order to facilitate the highest possible level of patient care, PSKC works collaboratively with other organizations. One organization, called The Road Back to Life, offers patient advocacy and other support services for patients dealing with ESRD. Don Chriscaden and Bob Crabtree are currently in the process of obtaining their official nonprofit status.
Chriscaden and Crabtree, both former PSKC patients who have received successful kidney transplants, work with new patients, offering guidance and expert-level advice on how to best navigate and overcome kidney disease.
"I wanted to be able to calm the fears and help them get started out on the right foot,GÇ¥ said Chriscaden. "I realize you can't take away all the fear, but you can take away some of it.GÇ¥
The Road Back to Life provides support groups and extensive patient education services including a series of classes called HOPE, an acronym which stands for Healthy Options Patient Education. The HOPE class series covers the basics of kidney function, the purpose of dialysis, and diet essentials.
HOPE also gives attendees the opportunity to ask Crabtree and Chriscaden questions about their own experiences with the disease.
The first thing that Chriscaden likes to tell new patients is that they're going to be alright. He and Crabtree encourage and help new patients to develop a comprehensive plan which includes all aspects of their lives. He shared that a plan is vital to those who want to regain control of their lives.
"Once you've taken control of your life, you've taken control of the disease,GÇ¥ said Chriscaden. "And it's going to go where you want it to go, not drag you around by your tail.GÇ¥
For ESRD patients, the lifestyle change encompasses a lot more than just allowing adequate time for dialysis treatments. Patients with kidney disease must adhere to strict dietary conditions which include limiting their intake of sodium, fluids, potassium and phosphorus.
Crabtree shared that, without places like PSKC, patients with ESRD couldn't survive.
"The nurses and the techs and the people that build these places and operate them; they're our angels, every one of them,GÇ¥ said Crabtree. "We wouldn't be here without them.GÇ¥
He explained that, without dialysis, an ESRD patient wouldn't even survive two weeks.
Patients can remain on dialysis long-term while waiting for a transplant. The amount of time it can take to obtain a transplant is variable. Some patients wait for years; others are able to get transplanted right away. Crabtree and Chriscaden are grateful that they have the opportunity to share their experience strength and hope with other ESRD patients.
They hope to make the wait for a transplant less burdensome.
"We're a special group of people that actually have a second chance, and every minute is important,GÇ¥ said Crabtree. "It's a wonderful, magical miracle that we are still here.GÇ¥
As of Friday, the new Monroe facility was already having a positive impact on patient's lives.
PSKC patient Anna Hart is extremely happy about the convenience of the new dialysis center. Hart resides at the Regency Care Center in Monroe and relies on transportation from Cabulance, a service which specializes in wheelchair transport. Like many other patients, Hart has been receiving her dialysis treatments in Everett, which has been a huge time commitment for her.
She loves the look and feel of the new facility.
"It's so nice we're getting this,GÇ¥ said Hart. "It's just beautiful.GÇ¥
Hart, who will be 80 on December 7, is a member of the Regency Resident Council and also serves on the Regency Care Center's culinary committee. She is grateful for the excellent care she receives at PSKC.
The new PSKC dialysis center is located east of Valley General Hospital at 18121 149th St. S.E. in Monroe. For more information on PSKC, go to http://www.pskc.net/index. For more information on The Road Back to Life, please visit http://theroadbacktolife.com/.
Interestingly, one of the most revolutionary and lifesaving techniques developed to help facilitate more effective dialysis treatment was pioneered here in Washington State. In 1960, Dr. Belding Scribner, a University of Washington physician, developed what was called the Scribner Shunt; a device which was installed as a permanent fixture between an artery and a vein.
A kidney machine could be attached to the shunt as often as necessary.
Prior to the Scribner Shunt, kidney dialysis was extremely limited by the fact that, due to artery and vein damage, doctors would quickly run out of places to connect the machine to the patient.
To learn more about kidney disease, please visit: http://www.pskc.net/kidney-disease-overview.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment