Kidney Health is Optimal Health: Kidney Care on Lanai

March is National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness about kidney health. Kidneys are small organs with big functions. They regulate the body’s fluid levels, filter waste and toxins from blood, regulate blood pressure, help build strong bones, and regulate muscle function. Maintaining healthy kidneys is important to your overall health and well-being by helping your body function at its best.

Several chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes make it harder for kidneys to do their job, which can eventually lead to kidney disease and kidney failure. This is where dialysis comes in, a treatment that performs the functions of healthy kidneys. Dialysis patients on Lanai have several options for quality kidney care and should talk with their doctor to determine which treatment is right for them.

Caring for Patients as Family

On Lanai, Fresenius Kidney Care Lanai Community Dialysis provides patients with a comfortable and caring environment for dialysis treatments. Currently, the center serves 14 patients who come in for dialysis treatments about three to four hours a day, three times a week. In the past six months, they’ve seen an increase in the number of patients who are able to do home dialysis with help, education and training from Fresenius Kidney Care. “Our greatest hope for patients is for them to do home dialysis if it fits their lifestyle,” said Sherri Carmady, clinical manager at Fresenius Kidney Care. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the patient to thrive at home. At the very least, our goal is for patients to know that this is an option.”

Finding the right treatment options that will allow patients to be at their best is part of Fresenius Kidney Care’s mission to provide quality care to every patient, every day. For Sherri, this means treating every patient as she would treat her mother or another family member. “Establishing relationships with our patients and their families is what I love most about my job,” reflected Sherri. “Our team gives our patients another day of life, another birthday with their families, a chance to watch their grandchildren grow up. It’s a blessing to take care of our patients.”

World-class Care on Lanai

Fresenius Kidney Care is a worldwide leader in the treatment of renal disease and kidney disease research. They serve over 190,000 patients in over 2,400 facilities nationwide. Being a part of the Fresenius family means bringing the best in dialysis care to the Lanai community. “Even though Fresenius is a large company with centers everywhere, bringing our resources and education to the Lanai community is what it’s all about,” said Sherri. “We are here, we are available and we want to support you.” The center on Lanai is the same type of state-of-the-art facility that would be found in the biggest cities on the mainland. The Lanai team is in constant communication and collaboration with counterparts in other locations to see how they can improve service for their patients on island.

In addition to dialysis treatment, Fresenius Kidney Care offers a wide range of career opportunities and training. Students out of high school can train to become care techs and take part in employee benefits like tuition reimbursement for nursing school and mentorship opportunities.

For more information about Fresenius Kidney Care’s services and career opportunities, visit its website.