Health department investigates death and illness following dialysis

[okarol]

Health department investigates death and illness following dialysis
   
A dialysis center is shut down after four people got sick following treatment and one of them died.

The health department is investigating Fresenius Medical Center, the only dialysis center on the Eastern Shore.

Now all the kidney patients who need the treatment to live have to be bussed to Norfolk.

Patients have been traveling for a week now.  The health department is investigating a link between the facility and the death of one person who had received treatment.  They are also looking into three other illnesses.

"We're getting tired of going back and forth to Norfolk," said Jim Clark, a patient who has been taking the bus for treatment.

Family members are worried for the well being of their loved ones.

"That's my major concern, the health and welfare of my father," said Veronica Shrieves, whose father is receiving dialysis treatment, "Is he safe here?"

The health department hopes to have answers soon, but investigation is ongoing.  FMC will remain closed until it is determined safe.

For now, the traveling patients are tired, from the trek to get care they need three times a week to survive.

[kelliOR]

Health department investigates death and illness following dialysis
   
A dialysis center is shut down after four people got sick following treatment and one of them died.

The health department is investigating Fresenius Medical Center, the only dialysis center on the Eastern Shore.

Now all the kidney patients who need the treatment to live have to be bussed to Norfolk.

Patients have been traveling for a week now.  The health department is investigating a link between the facility and the death of one person who had received treatment.  They are also looking into three other illnesses.

"We're getting tired of going back and forth to Norfolk," said Jim Clark, a patient who has been taking the bus for treatment.

Family members are worried for the well being of their loved ones.

"That's my major concern, the health and welfare of my father," said Veronica Shrieves, whose father is receiving dialysis treatment, "Is he safe here?"

The health department hopes to have answers soon, but investigation is ongoing.  FMC will remain closed until it is determined safe.

For now, the traveling patients are tired, from the trek to get care they need three times a week to survive.

This article is kinda lacking in information.   Where exactly is this happening?

[Sara]

Well, it mentioned being sent to Norfolk (VA), so it must be near that.     It mentioned the Eastern Shore, I know there's an "Eastern Shore" in Maryland.   

[kelliOR]

Didn't see VA mentiontioned anywhere in the article.  I lived in Norfolk, Mass at one time!      (There's also one in CT)

[okarol]

here's another related story:

Dialysis center closes after sicknesses

Mar. 14, 2007

BY TED SHOCKLEY


NASSAWADOX -- The Eastern Shore of Virginia's only dialysis center has closed indefinitely during an investigation into an illness that afflicted four of its patients, including an Accomack County man who died.

"Whether these are related to each other, whether they are related to dialysis, that remains to be seen," said Kathleen Smith, vice president of government affairs for Fresenius Medical Care, which operates the clinic here.

Fresenius is the country's largest dialysis provider. Dialysis is used to treat people with kidney failure. Smith confirmed the illnesses and death.

The clinic closed March 2. Its patients have been bused to Virginia Beach for three-times-weekly dialysis treatments at a Fresenius center there.

Smith did not know when the center would reopen.

"They are all at work figuring out whether these symptoms can be explained," she said of company officials.

One of the people sickened after treatments, 76-year-old Garner Fosque of Horntown, died March 4, one of Fosque's children, Lillie Byrd, said Monday.

"Nobody's telling us what is going on," said Byrd, also of Horntown. "They're still saying they don't know when (it will reopen), or how long its going to be."

Fosque's widow, Althea, also receives dialysis through Fresenius.

Byrd said her 71-year-old mother has been making the long trips to Hampton Roads for treatment each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and the treatments are wearing on her and others.

Everyone must stay until all have received dialysis, a procedure that can take hours. The patients can be gone for almost 12 hours at a time.

Smith said many of the patients are frustrated with the process.

"Everybody's talking about it, because they don't know how much longer they can put up with that," she said.

Smith said care for the clinic's patients is a top priority, and that it closed "out of an abundance of caution and out of a great deal of concern for our patients."

URL http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070314/ESN01/703140303

[jedimaster]

I do believe that enforcing super good care of dialysis is very important. People who go to hospitals go because they have health issues...now going 3 or 4 time a week...each time is as important as the last!
All facilities should be inspected to verify performance and quality service