Fresenius Medical Care Announces Top 10 Destinations For Dialysis Patients

Fresenius Medical Care Announces Top 10 Destinations For Dialysis Patients
Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Article Date: 19 Aug 2010 - 1:00 PDT

Most dialysis patients receive life-sustaining therapy at a clinic near their home three days a week. Traveling away from home was a challenge in the past, but today it's easy to arrange for dialysis at a clinic near their destination. Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) wants to encourage all dialysis patients, whether they are FMCNA patients or not, to enjoy travel and take vacations across the U.S. and abroad by utilizing its free Patient Travel Service.

The Fresenius Medical Care Patient Travel Service arranges thousands of treatments each year for patients - whether they spend the winter in Florida, take in a Vegas show, visit family, or simply get out of town for the weekend.

The top 10 travel destinations for dialysis patients who use the Fresenius Medical Care Patient Travel Service are:

1. Las Vegas, Nev.
2. Baton Rouge, La.
3. Orlando, Fla.
4. Dallas, Texas
5. Sevierville, Tenn. (Smoky Mountains and Dollywood destination)
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
8. Atlantic City, N.J.
9. Bullhead City, Ariz. (popular snowbird spot and casino area on the Colorado River)
10. Cape May, N.J.

Some of these cities are popular destinations for gaming, amusement parks and entertainment, while others are known for sunshine and beaches. Arizona, Texas and Florida continue to be the top destinations for snowbirds - patients from northern states looking for warm weather during the winter months. FMCNA reports that patients use the travel service primarily for vacations and family visits, but one of the growing trends is an American classic - the road trip. Patients with RVs and campers are hitting the road, and heading for destinations near and far. Whatever their reason for traveling, FMCNA encourages all dialysis patients to take vacations and enjoy their lives to the fullest.

"Many dialysis patients may feel hesitant to travel, because they don't realize how easy it is to arrange for treatments on the road. We set up everything for them so they don't have to worry about where and how to get dialysis," said Patrick Henry, senior manager of the Fresenius Medical Care Patient Travel Service. "We want to empower patients to focus on what's important in their lives - visiting with family on holidays, enjoying an extended vacation, or just getting away for a fun weekend."

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is a subsidiary of the world's largest provider of dialysis therapy services and products. FMCNA offers its Patient Travel Service to provide free assistance in locating and scheduling dialysis treatment for all patients traveling in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and abroad. The Patient Travel Service is a specialized group that handles treatment reservations for dialysis patients who travel, and its services are available to all patients, whether their home dialysis facility is part of the Fresenius Medical Care network or not.

To arrange travel, patients, clinical staff or social workers can call the Patient Travel Service at 1-866-4DIALYSIS (1-866-434-2597, Option 2) to get help finding a convenient facility at their requested travel destination, or to get answers to general questions about traveling while on dialysis. Spanish speaking representatives are also available. There is no charge for this service, and for the best results patients are encouraged to plan early.

Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood, removes extra fluids, and controls the body's chemistry when a person's kidneys fail. Dialysis patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.

Source:
Fresenius Medical Care

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