Published: June 29, 2009 11:39 pm      

Kidney Center takes inclusive approach

The Kidney Center in Johnstown will feature 12 state-of-the-art dialysis stations, but that is only a small part of the story, said the unit’s medical director, Dr. George Frem.

“It is not about dialysis,” Frem said.

“It is about caring for chronic kidney disease where you have a comprehensive program to diagnose, treat and manage the disease.”

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the clinic will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 88 Osborne St.

The center will provide kidney patients with a broad range of medical services.

“There are millions of people in this country with chronic kidney disease,” Frem said. “Many end up dying before they reach dialysis.”

High blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease can lead to fatal complications if the underlying kidney disease is not controlled, he explained.

Besides dialysis, The Kidney Center will offer a kidney-disease clinic, research programs, laboratory, dietician and social worker. It will serve as the hub for Frem’s network of Prodigy Dialysis and kidney disease clinics in Richland, Ebensburg, Somerset, Meyersdale, Alum Bank and Windber.

“Managing these patients early on is extremely important – more important than just providing dialysis,” Frem said.

“We are going into these areas and seeing them early on in order to delay the progression of the disease.”

The Kidney Center offers testing and monitoring for high blood pressure, iron deficiency and anemia associated with kidney disease. Ultrasound testing, transplantation workups, diet education and other programs will be available as the need arises.

“Anything that is related to detection, management and treatment of kidney disease – it’s going to be there,” Frem said.

Frem is adding about 25 workers to nearly double his current staff. Employees include another physician, two physician assistants, nurses, lab workers, dialysis specialists, a dietician and social worker.

His Johnstown office will move into the Osborne Street clinic from its current location at 1111 Franklin St. Frem said it was important to remain close to Memorial Medical Center.

The research program allows patients to take part in clinical trials with the latest advances. His patients are currently enrolled in at least five studies by pharmaceutical companies.

As part of The Kidney Center’s early-intervention mission, Frem says he will begin a mobile free kidney screenings in the community. Screenings begin with a risk assessment, and high risk patients are then checked for anemia, high blood pressure and kidney function.