by June Portnoy
Once your kidneys stop working and your doctor decides you need to start treatment, it’s time to explore what type of dialysis is best for you, but few dialysis centers offer all kinds of dialysis. That’s what makes DaVita Dialysis Center of Newtown so unique! It offers every modality, including home, Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and In-center Hemodialysis, as well as In-center Nocturnal Hemodialysis.
“We are the only dialysis center in Bucks County to offer Home Hemodialysis (HHD) and In-center Nocturnal Hemodialysis,” says Lucille Enama, M.S.N., R.N., CNN, Faculty Administrator at DaVita.
Lucille helped to establish the first dialysis unit in Bucks County in 1978, which at the time was part of St. Mary Medical Center. In 1996, DaVita took over this center and moved it to its current Newtown location, and two years later it opened its Oxford Valley location. Today, they continue to be the only two DaVita centers in Bucks County.
DaVita is one of the largest dialysis centers in the world with 1,700 centers located worldwide.
“The first dialysis option we offer to patients is PD,” says Dr. Radhika Pathalapati (Dr. Pat), Medical Director and Nephrologist at DaVita. “It offers the greatest independence.
“You can administer PD at home at your convenience, and there is no blood involved. Because this dialysis is done at night while you sleep, your days are free.”
If you choose HHD, you’ll have the flexibility to dialyze according to your schedule. DaVita has two training rooms devoted for training patients for home dialysis. Dr. Pathalapati supervises this comprehensive two- to four-week training conducted by nurses.
Still another option is In-center Nocturnal Hemodialysis, where you receive treatment for six to 8 hours a day, three times a week, while you sleep at the center.
“With this type of dialysis, you’re getting the same amount of dialysis as during the day, but it’s administered longer and slower, so it’s gentler and easier on the body,” says Dr. Pathalapati.
The majority of patients choose to have In-center Hemodialysis. Patients who come in-center are typically on the dialysis machines three to four hours a day, three times a week.
“DaVita has an excellent staff who are compassionate, kind and empathetic to patients who treat them not like patients, but like an extended family at the center,” says Dr. Pathalapati. “DaVita recognizes the impact that renal kidney failure has on individuals, and understands that in order for patients to find hope and feel safe in a dialysis facility, that they must feel like a part of the team,” says Lucille.
“So, DaVita has developed the Wall of Fame, so everyone can be highlighted as an individual, yet be part of the team as well.”
DaVita offers in-house patient advocates, a social worker and a licensed dietitian to help patients receive their optimal physical and emotional care. If you’re receiving in-center dialysis, the staff offers vacation planning anywhere in the country where it will locate a DaVita dialysis center for your treatments.
“We’re not all about providing dialysis,” adds Lucille. “We offer free monthly preventative care lectures at both Bucks County locations for our patients and the community, so people don’t end up on dialysis.”
To contact the Dialysis Center of Newtown, located at 60 Blacksmith Road, call 267-757-8060.
To contact the Oxford Court Dialysis Center, located at 930 Town Center Drive, call 215-750-9831.
For more information about DaVita, visit www.DaVita.com.
PHOTO CAP: From left, Kelly Oommen, RN; Dr. Radhika Pathalapati, Medical Director; Lucille Enama, MSN and facility Administrator; and Michael Supon, RN and Clinical Coordinator, in front of the Wall of Fame.
