Dialysis treats kidney or renal failure. As the kidneys begin to fail, they lose their ability to clean the toxins from the blood and to eliminate excess fluids from the body. Dialysis assumes the function for the kidneys when they start to fail or no longer work. The goal of Morris Dialysis is to improve the quality of life of those individuals who are diagnosed with acute renal failure, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease-Stage 5 (CKD5). We use state-of-the-art dialysis machines and the most up-to-date techniques to ensure that your health needs are well-served.
A Nephrologist visits the center monthly to provide outreach services at Sanford Dialysis, a certified Medicare Dialysis facility located in Stevens Community Medical Center.
Services
Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis. It is performed by connecting the patient’s blood to the dialysis machine by an “access” to the bloodstream, which is surgically placed. The blood is taken from and returned to the body through this access. The patient’s blood goes through a dialysis filter to remove toxins and excess fluids. On average, hemodialysis treatments are required three days per week, with each treatment lasting three to four hours each.
What to Expect
We have six stations, which means we can dialize six people at one time. Because we are a small unit, we give a lot of personal attention and are able to provide extras such as blankets and pillows.
What is the Hemodialysis process?
During dialysis, the patient’s blood is taken from their body and routed into a dialyzer where it comes in contact with a special solution called dialysate. The dialyzer is made up of many fibers, which work as a filter. These fibers serve as a semipermeable membrane. The dialysate solution moves upward on the outside of the fibers and the blood flows downward on the inside of the fibers. This motion is what pulls waste products across the membrane and cleans the blood. The blood is then returned to the patient and the waste is disposed.
Receiving adequate hemodialysis treatment includes:
- Attending designated dialysis treatments on a regular basis.
- Maintaining functional dialysis access.
- Staying on treatment for prescribed amount of treatment time.
- Following a proper diet.
- Limiting fluid intake between dialysis treatments.
- Taking prescribed medications as directed by physician.
- The patient’s health care team will aid the patient in educating them on their diet, fluid intake, and medications.
- Physicians determine patient’s treatment time by drawing labs prior to and after dialysis treatments and adjusting treatment time and frequency as needed.
STAFF
The outpatient Dialysis Center located at Stevens Community Medical Center is owned and operated by Sanford Dialysis and staffed entirely by licensed LPN’s and RN’s.