The News Herald - Rep. Dingell Visits DaVita Southgate Dialysis Center to Learn About Kidney Patients

News Article

By Dave Herndon

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) visited a Southgate based kidney dialysis center Wednesday to learn about the the care and treatment needed for patients with those medical maladies.

DaVita Southgate Dialysis Center, 14752 North Line Road, is a division of the national DaVita HealthCare Partners. The local center specializes in treating patients who are living with chronic kidney disease and other similar ailments.

There are over 26 million people across the country that suffer from the disease, which untreated can progress and lead to kidney failure.

About 114,000 new cases of kidney failure are diagnosed in the United States each year. Without dialysis or a kidney transplant the condition is irreversible.

"Ensuring members of our community have access to the high-quality health care services they need is one of my top priorities," Dingell said. "Thousands of people across Michigan depend upon weekly dialysis treatments, and the nurses and staff at DaVita are delivering life-saving therapies, advice and essential support to help patients and families living with kidney failure. It is important that Congress ensure patients in Southgate and across the country continue to have access to this essential quality care."

Among those community members she references are about 13,500 people across Michigan that are suffering from some form of kidney failure. About 80 percent of patients with the disease rely on Medicare to help with their treatment.

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