When the dialysis program was established in 1966 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minn., it became one of the first such units outside of a metropolitan area in the state. From the beginning, patient relationships were a key focus, according to the West Central Tribune.
In 1966, dialysis, which mechanically filters waste products from the blood in patients with kidney failure, was relatively new. Rice Memorial's initial dialysis center consisted of two beds and treatment lasted 14 hours. Survival time was also much shorter, with most patients lasting one or two years.
The dialysis center at Rice Memorial has since expanded to 13 stations, treatment times have dropped to three to four hours and patients are now living for 10 to 20 years.
Bev Schafer, who ran the program from 1968 until retiring in 2007, told the Tribune the unit was like a family in the early years.
"You became so close to those patients," she said. "We wept with the family when someone died. On the other hand we also had a really good time. We had a lot of parties."
Deb Buffington, RN, operations coordinator for the center, told the Tribune patient engagement and ensuring a high quality of life are two of the primary concerns for dialysis patients at Rice Memorial. A new exercise program was instituted several years ago to increase patient involvement, improve the core strength of patients and subsequently improve their quality of life.
"We really try to teach them to participate in their care," said Ms. Buffington. "Quality of life is huge. Our definition of quality of life is very personal to each patient ... Each patient is different. They feel like they're an individual here."
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