SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satellite Healthcare, a leading national not-for-profit and the 6th largest provider of patient-centered dialysis and kidney disease services, today announced the opening of Satellite WellBound of Memphis, its first home dialysis center in Tennessee. The opening comes on the heels of the organization’s March opening of an in-center dialysis clinic in Chickasaw Gardens, bringing to five the total number of Satellite Healthcare kidney care facilities in Memphis.
Satellite Healthcare operates more than 80 dialysis and WellBound home therapy centers from coast to coast, serving more than 7,000 patients nationwide. More than 26 million Americans – one in 10 – suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), and nearly half a million undergo regular dialysis treatment for kidney failure. Tennessee is among the three states hit hardest by the disease and, according to the Tennessee Kidney Foundation, more than 8,000 residents undergo regular dialysis treatment to stay alive.
“Satellite WellBound of Memphis marks a significant step forward in providing proven alternative treatment modalities for the thousands of community members living with kidney disease,” said Satellite Healthcare CEO Rick Barnett. “Through our work in the dozens of other Satellite WellBound centers we operate across the country, we’ve seen how home therapies can enhance patients’ overall wellbeing and change their lives. We are thrilled to make the numerous benefits of home dialysis widely available to the Memphis community.”
While Satellite Healthcare has been offering home dialysis through its Poplar Avenue center for the past four years, the new center, established in partnership with University Clinical Health, is its first Memphis location dedicated entirely to home dialysis modalities. These include home hemodialysis (HHD), administered through needles inserted into a blood vessel, and peritoneal dialysis (PD), administered through a tube in the abdomen. Studies have consistently shown that patients who administer their dialysis at home experience higher energy levels, better fluid control, improved appetites, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because more frequent dialysis better mimics the process of working kidneys. They also enjoy increased flexibility in their day-to-day lives, including the ability to work, travel, and engage in various other activities.
The approximately 70 home therapy patients at Satellite Healthcare Poplar Avenue will transition to WellBound of Memphis, and more than half have already done so. Clinical Manager Joy Barringer, who received NxStage’s prestigious 2016 “Nurse Hero” award for her enthusiasm and skill in educating and supporting patients on home dialysis, anticipates that the new center will see substantial growth in the coming year.
“Everything at Satellite WellBound of Memphis has been designed specifically to train and support home therapy patients,” Barringer said. “I’ve seen dozens of our Poplar Avenue patients empower themselves by learning to dialyze at home, and I’m looking forward to welcoming many more to our new center in the months and years ahead.”
WellBound of Memphis, located at 780 Truse Parkway, Suite 102, will celebrate with a Grand Opening on Thursday, May 26 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Community members are invited to attend to learn more about home therapy options and other available offerings, including free community education and wellness classes.
About Satellite Healthcare:
Satellite Healthcare, Inc., has been among the nation's leading not-for-profit providers of kidney dialysis and related services since 1974. Through its affiliated services, Satellite WellBound, Satellite Dialysis, and Satellite Research, Satellite Healthcare provides unparalleled early patient wellness education, personalized clinical services, and a complete range of dialysis therapy choices. In addition, Satellite Healthcare has a well-recognized, enduring commitment to philanthropy and community service, from funding millions of dollars in research grants to sponsoring kidney programs nationwide. Satellite is committed to advancing the standard of chronic kidney disease care so patients can enjoy a better life.
