“Serving the population where they live” is the impetus behind the new Washington University dialysis facility about to open in North St. Louis County, according to Dr. Marcos Rothstein, Professor of Medicine, Nephrology, and one of the initial advocates of the project.
“Missouri has over 9,000 patients undergoing dialysis, and that puts our state in the top ten for incidence and prevalence of End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD),” says Dr. Rothstein. “Within both the state and our city, North St. Louis County has by far the highest number of patients suffering from this condition.”
Opening in early January 2018, the North County Dialysis Center is a 16-station, in-center hemodialysis unit that will have the capability for home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis training and support. The unit has the potential to eventually accommodate 90 in-center hemodialysis patients and up to 40 home modalities patients.
The center, designed to exude a warm and inviting esthetic, has an open atmosphere with lots of windows in the treatment area, and boasts easy accessibility with regard to parking.
The intake of patients at this top-of-the-line facility will begin gradually under the leadership of Medical Director Ting Ting Li, MD and Nurse Practitioner Lisa Koester-Wiedemann, along with a dedicated nursing staff, all bringing a wealth of experience to the endeavor. In conjunction with the new unit, Rothstein and Koester-Wiedermann will see patients in a new WU Nephrology CKD clinic located nearby in the Doctors’ Building at Christian Hospital Northeast.
The Washington University North County Dialysis Center will join the existing Renal Network of dialysis units – Chromalloy American Kidney Center (the oldest dialysis unit in operation in the St. Louis area), Washington University Dialysis Center at Forest Park, and South County Dialysis Center (Home Dialysis South). These dialysis units are independent, not-for-profit facilities, welcoming all patients under the care of nephrologists throughout the community.
“This certainly complements our ability to provide dialysis throughout the Metro area,” says Brent Miller, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Home Dialysis. “We now have units covering South, West, Central and North locations in the St. Louis area.”
Dan Coyne, MD, Medical Director, Chromalloy American Kidney Center, says, “The opening of a Washington University Dialysis Center in North County reflects the commitment of the Division of Nephrology to provide state-of-the-art services and care across the entire Metro St. Louis area.”
“For over 50 years, Washington University Nephrology has been committed to caring for and providing kidney replacement options to patients in our region,” says Dr. Rothstein. “Extending into North St. Louis County is the natural continuation of that mission. I’ve seen firsthand the need for a dialysis unit in North County, and it fills me with pride that Washington University Nephrology is fulfilling the needs and expectations of our patients.”
The North County Dialysis Center is located at 272 Mayfair Plaza in Florissant, MO, 63033, near the intersection of highways 367 and 270.