[February 5, 2007]

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART TREATMENT PROVIDES KIDNEY PATIENTS WITH IMPROVED VASCULAR ACCESS CARE

Dialysis patients in Brooklyn have a new option for care. A ribbon cutting was held recently for “Dialysis Access Care” in Marine Park, which promises dialysis patients in Brooklyn improved vascular access care. The facility, an affiliate of SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a division of its University Physicians of Brooklyn, Inc., is designed to provide patients who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) the specialized vascular access care they need.

Patients receiving hemodialysis treatment for ESRD require access to their bloodstream, called a “vascular access.”  This access allows the patient’s blood to travel to and from the dialysis machine at a large volume and high speed so that toxins and superfluous fluid can be removed from the body. Vascular access is the lifeline for all dialysis patients.

 “The opening of Dialysis Access Care is going to make a significant improvement in the lives of kidney disease patients in Brooklyn,” said Moro O. Salifu, MD, associate professor of medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and medical director of Dialysis Access Care. “We’re delighted to offer patients specialized and personalized care that will result in a less stressful dialysis experience.”

Vascular access care is typically delivered in facilities not specializing in access care, which results in patients receiving short-term solutions at the expense of long-term benefits they would receive from a specialized facility. Dialysis Access Care offers the specialized care dialysis patients require.

Kidney failure is a major health issue impacting thousands of patients each year and consuming about $28 billion of the heath care budget. Patients with advanced kidney failure require dialysis or transplantation to sustain life. There are about 4000 of such patients in Brooklyn and the number keeps growing at about 10% a year.

“The delivery of effective dialysis is limited by several problems that can develop following surgical creation of vascular access,” explained Dr. Moro. “These problems include occlusions, thrombosis or clotting, infections, loss of access and more. The consequences of these problems are poor dialysis treatments, missed dialysis sessions, frequent emergency room visits, unnecessary long-term hospitalizations and misuse of temporary catheters -- and of course, these have direct impact on long-term survival of these patients.”

“The access center provides proactive/pre-emptive therapies to prolong access life. The specific procedures we offer include angiograms, angioplasties, catheters, and many more.”

Dialysis Access Care is managed by RMS Lifeline Inc.  RMS Lifeline Inc. works with premier physician practices to develop and manage dedicated outpatient centers that provide focused, coordinated, outcome-driven vascular access procedures to patients. It recently received the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Joint Commission accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting high healthcare performance standards.

 “RMS Lifeline is dedicated to providing management services for vascular access centers and helping to provide the best care possible,” said Aris Q. Urbanes, M.D., Vice President of Provider Relations, RMS Lifeline Inc. “We are pleased to support the kidney specialists of SUNY Downstate Medical Center who share our vision for improved vascular access care for dialysis patients.”

SUNY Downstate has produced many firsts in the treatment of kidney patients, including the first federally funded dialysis unit, Brooklyn’s only home dialysis program, the only dialysis unit directed by a physician on dialysis, the first medical student to graduate while on dialysis, and many more.

University Physicians of Brooklyn was incorporated in 1993 as a not-for-profit corporation whose primary mission is to provide medical care to patients and support the educational objectives of SUNY Downstate Medical Center. It accomplishes the academic component by providing clinical instruction and supervision of students, interns, residents and fellows of SUNY Downstate. 

SUNY Downstate is the only full academic medical center in Brooklyn, Staten Island, or Queens, comprising a College of Medicine, Colleges of Nursing and Health Related Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a Master of Public Health program, and the 376-bed University Hospital of Brooklyn. It is also a major research center. 

Dialysis Access Care is located at 3839 Flatlands Avenue, off the corner of Flatbush Avenue. Information regarding services is available by calling 718-252-1850.