New dialysis center running at full capacity

SIKESTON - After only two months, Missouri Delta Medical Center's Sikeston Jaycee Regional Dialysis Center is running at full capacity for its two-shift schedule.

The new dialysis center opened and began treating its first patient Aug. 11, according to Debbie Schuchart, nurse manager for the dialysis unit.

The dialysis center treats people six days a week serving a total of 72 patients during the two shifts. One more patient and the center will have to open a third shift, requiring longer evening hours, according to Dr. Mowaffaq Said, nephrologist and medical director for the dialysis unit.

In addition to four full-time technicians, the dialysis unit is staffed by about two dozen full-time and part-time nurses. Schuchart said they would like to have all full-time nurses, but they, too, are struggling with the nationwide shortage of nurses while offering a more difficult position. "It is more stressful than usual," said Said. "It's more demanding care."

Said said the aging population and advances in the care of renal diseases such as early detection and more effective treatment in early stages have resulted in an increase in the number of patients needing dialysis.

The rising numbers are at least partially due to an increased awareness in the community of renal disease as well, Said said. People are aware now of the connection between renal disease and its two leading causes - diabetes and hypertension.

Additionally, dialysis is a much more attractive treatment than it used to be. Whereas dialysis with some of the older machines could take from 12-15 hours, the latest models have trimmed that down to 3.5 to 4.5 hours.

"Dialysis treatment has improved significantly," Said said. "Patients are living longer on dialysis now."

Said said patients are receiving better care before they begin dialysis treatments, being monitored now for several years instead of arriving with kidney failure. "We are tuning them up, preparing them," he said.

And with improved care methods, nutrition and medications, they are now able to slow the progression of the disease.

This year's hospital ball, held to raise money for the dialysis center, was a huge success bringing in twice the normal amount. "I got to purchase seven new machines," said Schuchart.

The old dialysis machines, 2008 E models, were bought around 10 years ago, according to Schuchart.

The hospital skipped a 2008 H model, the first model to use a touch video screen, opting instead to go with the 2008 K models which followed. "These are state-of-the-art machines, the top of the line," said Said.

The new dialysis center offers much more room than the former unit in the hospital. "It gives the patient more privacy, creates a less-stressful atmosphere," said Schuchart.

In the event a patient has a serious communicable disease such as Hepatitis B or tuberculosis, the new center also has an isolation room.

A formal exam room and patient education rooms with whiteboards are available at the center where patients can meet with social workers and renal dietitians.

There is also a room especially for training patients to use peritoneal dialysis, a treatment option for some patients which can be used at home.

Any impurity in the water used in the dialysis process can cause inflammation of the patient's tissues, so a lot of care goes into the water purification process which happens behind the scenes. "This is the most important room in the building," said Schuchart.

Temperature-controlled water first runs through a filter and then a water softener. Next are two carbon filters and a reverse osmosis filter.

The water is then passed through ultraviolet light on the way to one of two mixing tanks - one for bicarbonate and one for acid.

A deionization tank is used for a final filter. The purified dialysis water with varying levels of potassium concentrations are prescribed by Said as needed.

Weekly, ozonated water is used to clear pipes, clearing biofilms and infections that tend to grow in dark, damp places, and the center continually sends samples both of the city's water and purified water for composition testing, Schuchart said.

Truly a regional center, patients come from as far north as Cape Girardeau and as far south as Hayti-Portageville, from Van Buren to southern Illinois for treatment. "We serve a big area," said Said.

SIKESTON - Dialysis technicians at Missouri Delta Medical Center's Sikeston Jaycee Regional Dialysis Center are getting a little extra recognition this week thanks to the nationally-sponsored "Nephrology Technician/Technologist National Recognition Week."

The National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists came up with the event 10 years ago to increase awareness of those involved in patient care, dialyzer reuse, equipment maintenance, kidney transplantation and administrative areas in the field of nephrology.

The contributions these professionals make to the health care field are being celebrated through Saturday by the presentation of specially-designed travel mugs to all technicians at MDMC.

For more information on the role of nephrology technicians, contact NANT at www.ndnt.com or call 877-607-6268 or Debbie Schuchart, MDMC dialysis unit nurse manager, at 472-7229.