Dialysis Centers New Location Will Increase Patient Capacity

The Fort Smith Regional Dialysis Center’s recent move to a larger facility is expected to allow the center to increase the number of patients served by 64 percent.

The center completed its move from 1506 Dodson Ave. to 2201 Brooken Hill Drive on April 2. Initially, the number of patients served will remain at 168 per week.

But after inspection and review by state officials and Medicare’s End Stage Renal Disease Network Regulatory Agency, additional services will let the center serve another 108 patients weekly.

Dr. Lewis Bruton, the clinic’s medical director, said dialysis is required three times a week, with each treatment lasting four hours.

“The problem in our area has been that there were more patients needing dialysis than there were treatment slots at the Fort Smith dialysis location,” Bruton said in a release. “Therefore, it has been necessary for local patients without an assigned slot to drive to Poteau or Stilwell, Okla., or to Northwest Arkansas three times each week to receive dialysis.”

The center, owned since 1998 by HKC LLC and Cooper Clinic, has a satellite center in Poteau.

Laura Palmer, the Fort Smith center’s executive director, said it will continue to operate six days a week with three four-hour treatment shifts per day.