(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Dialysis Center is acknowledging a monumental anniversary. It was ten years ago when the center was able to obtain the necessary certification in order to operate a dialysis center in the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.” Mike Donlin, a director with the Le Mars Dialysis Center explains some of the challenges encountered in order to start the center.
Donlin says the next challenge to securing a dialysis center in Le Mars was to raise the needed funds to renovate the building and to acquire the needed equipment.
Donlin says at the time of organizing a dialysis center it became apparent that it wasn’t financially feasible to have the local dialysis center as part of Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Donlin says a group of investors looked at establishing a dialysis center in Le Mars after a patient found it very inconvenient to travel back and forth to Sioux City several times a week.
Donlin says the directors knew the proposed dialysis center would not be a large operation, but large enough and essential to accommodate those local patients needing a dialysis treatment. Donlin says the board of directors were able to team up with a firm that specializes in operations of dialysis centers across the nation.
The Le Mars Dialysis Center is capable of handling around 18 patients.
Donlin says the board is looking at expanding the facilities to accommodate a few more patients, but adds that may be a while in the future. The Le Mars Dialysis Center will hold a Chamber Coffee event scheduled for Wednesday, July 14th to be held at the Uptown Events Center located on 1st Avenue South
between Hardware Hank and Iowa BBQ. That chamber coffee will begin at 9:30 a.m.
