St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital now offers inpatient dialysis
March 12, 2023
Patients who need hospital care along with dialysis for short-term or long-term kidney disease can now receive the care they need at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital.
In conjunction with nephrologist Dr. Srilakshmi Rebala of Georgia Renal Associates, Sacred Heart now provides dialysis treatment on its medical/surgical units for any inpatient who requires it. Dialysis is available whether kidney disease or some other problem is the primary reason the patient is admitted to the hospital.
“Dialysis is an important addition to our capabilities because it means more patients can receive the care they need locally,” said Sacred Heart Hospital President Jeff English. “It also allows our area EMS providers to enhance local coverage because they can bring patients who need dialysis here, rather than tying up an ambulance and crew for a time-consuming trip to a more distant city.”
Dialysis helps patients whose kidneys have failed or need time to recover after an injury. Kidneys filter the blood to remove waste products and excess fluids, which is vital for health and helps control blood pressure. In cases where the kidneys have been injured, dialysis may be used temporarily to give the kidneys time to recover. In patients with chronic kidney disease, dialysis may be required for as long as the patient lives or until they can receive a kidney transplant.
Patients who need ongoing outpatient dialysis will continue to receive care at local outpatient dialysis centers.
March is National Kidney Month and March 9 was World Kidney Day.
For more information about Dr. Rebala and Georgia Renal Associates, go to http://www.georgiarenal.com/.