TEMPLE, Texas – For children in Central Texas who need the life-sustaining treatment of kidney dialysis, help and hope are now close to home. Today, McLane Children's Hospital, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, opened a dedicated outpatient pediatric dialysis program that will provide ongoing dialysis treatment and child-focused care from experienced health care professionals. Located at the Temple Dialysis Center at 2601 Thornton Lane, Temple, Texas, the unit is the first and only outpatient pediatric dialysis program in Central Texas.
"Our main goal is to provide access to families in Central Texas whose child may be suffering from chronic kidney disease," said Faris Hashim, MD, pediatric nephrologist at McLane Children's Hospital. "We know that kidney failure can impact a child's development and especially be hard on them as well as their families."
Children with kidney failure – often resulting from cystic kidney disease, acute kidney injury or other health conditions– depend on dialysis to clean and filter their blood, performing the functions of a normal kidney in their body. Many rely on this therapy while they're waiting to receive a kidney transplant. The pediatric dialysis program at McLane Children's will offer hemodialysis, performed at the dialysis center three times a week, and peritoneal dialysis, performed at home and monitored in the dialysis center at least once a month.
Having treatment close to home is a game-changer for patients and their families who previously had to drive hours just to get to a facility that could provide pediatric dialysis. The treatment itself takes hours, and by eliminating drive time, families can get back valuable time in their child's lives. In addition to spending more family time together, having access to these life-saving services close by can also open up career opportunities for parents, including military members who might want to serve at Fort Hood, but previously could not be stationed there due to lack of convenient access to care for their children.
"McLane Children's is honored to bring in specialty services that our community has never had convenient access to before. This is a very special program," said Ellen Hansen, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at McLane Children's Hospital. "With programs like this, it's really inspiring to know you are making a difference in children's lives – it's what gets us up in the morning."
The clinical expertise needed to provide pediatric dialysis is extensive, and the care team at McLane Children's approaches the care for each child in a holistic way. Patients receive one-on-one care from a dedicated registered nurse who is specially trained in pediatric dialysis. The program also includes the expertise of a dedicated group of professionals from different disciplines, including pediatric nephrologists, two dedicated pediatric nurses, a social worker, a dietitian, child life professionals and a teacher from Temple Independent School District who will help school-age children keep up with their school work while spending hours receiving treatment. The program treats children up to 18 years old, providing care to those even younger than one year old.
"We are living up to our motto and our vision by establishing this program and putting our community first," said McKinley Thomas, vice president of Dialysis Services. "We have appreciated the community's support in helping us launch this program, and look forward to their continued involvement as we assist these children and their families."
Pediatric dialysis at McLane Children's puts the patient first when considering the experience of undergoing dialysis for hours on end, several times a week, by creating a dedicated unit designed for children and their families. Comfortable stations in a colorful environment, including a special mural, make receiving treatment a warm and kid-friendly experience. The equipment and space was coordinated by the Scott & White Foundation Visionaries and generously funded by members of the community who participated in the Boots & Bandanas event, held in May 2015 as way to create family like environment.
"Many times, when you're speaking with children about what bothers them most about having chronic conditions like kidney failure, they often talk about their desire to get back to a normal routine," Hansen said.
"It's important for us offer this service for our community and provide the care for children so they have an opportunity for normalcy."
For information about the pediatric dialysis program, please contact 254-724-5437.
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 55 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com