advertisement:
By JUSTIN PEEPER
Following several years of work prompted by a plethora of requests from patients, renal dialysis services are finally coming to Wells County!
Fresenius Medical Care is currently building a dialysis center at the south campus of Bluffton Regional Medical Center (former Wells Community Hospital).
“It’s a good thing for Bluffton all around,” said Tom Clark, CEO of Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
The center will not be operated by Bluffton Regional, but the hospital is renting the space to Fresenius Medical Care, a national company that operates dialysis centers in Fort Wayne, Decatur and Huntington.
“We played a part in convincing them that this was a good thing to do and that it could be a good business thing for them to do,” Clark said.
Crews from Bluffton-based James S. Jackson Co. Inc. are remodeling the former kitchen-cafeteria area on the southwest side of the south campus to turn it into a dialysis center, Clark said.
“One of the things that is really cool about this is that (Fresenius Medical Care) is a national company and they are undertaking this major construction and they have hired a local contractor to do the work,” said Tamra Boucher, director of business development and physician services.
The center should be ready for patients in August or September, Clark said.
Clark has been CEO of Bluffton Regional for 10 years and said one of the most frequent questions he hears from people is why Bluffton does not have a renal dialysis center.
Now, Wells patients must find transportation to a center for treatment. The treatment could last up to four hours, and could take place as many as three times a week.
This fall, patients won’t have to leave Wells County for such services.
“It will be a huge benefit for the community,” Clark said.
jdpeeper2@hotmail.com