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Eight jobs coming with new dialysis clinic
Company agrees to 10-year lease
Published Friday, November 13, 2009
IRONTON — A spokesperson representing the company that plans on opening an advanced dialysis clinic in the city of Ironton next year said Thursday the health care facility, when operational, will consist of a staff of eight and use most of the former Big Lots building.
“The facility will initially employ eight staff members. However, we fully expect our staff to grow in tandem with our patient census in order to provide the highest quality of care,” said Debbie Frazier, R.N., director of operations of Fresenius Medical Care.
Frazier did not indicate if all eight jobs were full-time or if the eight were split between full- and part-time employment.
She also said the proposed clinic will cover a “large amount of the pre-existing building” when open.
Frazier added that the facility’s treatment area will be in the front of the building (the former showroom) and will include a covered front entrance for patient drop-off.
As for estimated construction and renovation costs to mold the former discount store into a dialysis clinic, Frazier said the company does not make public those figures but did add the initial term of the lease agreement with the building’s owner is for 10 years.
Henderson, Ky. – based Ershig Properties, Inc. is listed as the current owners of the North Second Street shopping center that also houses Family Dollar.
Unveiled publicly on Nov. 3, the announcement followed several months of rumors by area business owners and local health care officials as to the arrival of construction equipment in the former Big Lots store.
City and development officials however were subdued, refusing to comment on the project until made public.
Scheduled to open in early 2010, Fresenius Medical Care Ironton will provide the county with an advanced dialysis clinic that is says will better serve the area’s growing population of patients with chronic kidney disease.
In addition to in-center daytime hemodialysis services, Fresenius Medical Care Ironton will offer a training program for patients who qualify to administer their treatments in the convenience of their homes.
Other dialysis patient services will include a kidney transplant support program, anemia management, nutrition counseling, bone disease management and social worker support.
Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood, removes extra fluids, and controls the body’s chemistry when a person’s kidneys fail. Patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.
In 2008, the company provided 27.9 million dialysis treatments to 184,086 patients in 2,388 clinics in more than 30 countries.
While Fresenius Medical Care has been praised both nationally and internationally for its high-quality patient care, things have not always been rosy for the German-based provider.
In 2000, Fresenius Medical Care of North America, agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $486 million to resolve a sweeping investigation of health care fraud at National Medical Care, Inc., one of its American kidney dialysis subsidiaries.
A majority of the money recovered was done so under the government’s False Claims Act or whistleblower’s act.
According to the HHS, the Fresenius scam involved fraudulent and fictitious blood testing claims by the companies contracted clinical blood testing laboratory, kickbacks to dialysis facilities to obtain blood testing contracts and fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare for intradialytic parenteral nutrition — nutritional therapy provided to patients during their dialysis treatments.
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Comments
Posted by tigerdad (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great, Nice to see more jobs created even if it is only a small number is better than none. Great to see that building being used and not sitting empty.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
8 jobs are better than nothing, but will these jobs need trained or certified, experienced people.
City fathers you can do better than this.
Posted by dontsaythat (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes mushenhouse, to your question "will they need trained or certified people"? You must be certified as a dialysis tech. On the other hand this is a great assett to this community, there are so many folks on dialysis and they have to travel to ashland or portsmouth , huntington, to get these types of services, after being hooked all morning to a machine, a short ride home would be nice for these folks.... Hope this company can be honest, and true the patients there, as well as to the community, considering they have made fraudulant charges before, let's hope not here..... Good luck
Posted by thunder1 (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great to see new jobs and yes a shorter distance to travel for some is more inexpensive and not as hard on some patients, problem is that it is a poorly ran company, from top to bottom extremely high turnover and not very "employee" friendly. But they are a company buying everyone else's business...so great for the locals that need it..hope they stay the lease
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
don'tsaythat
Yes it will be nice to have it but the headline said it will bring 8 new jobs. it didn't brag on being convient. That is what I was commenting on. The absuridty of bragging on 8 jobs that few, if any, in the community will get.
Yes there will be jobs, but it is highly doubtful that the high school trained work force in Ironton will get these jobs. It is really a sad commentary on this town, these city leaders and this paper to make so much out of 8 jobs that will have no effect. it is like see what we are doing. Big lots even employed more. Hills did too. Pitiful.
It is time that we are not pacified by this bone throw to us to. It is time for us not to fall for this smokescreen that the elected and paid leaders are actually working hard to bring prosperity to Ironton. Until then folks here will either be underemployed or will be moving.
It is not the company's fault that they are only adding 8. It is this sham of a newspaper and the city leaders using this to act as though they are doing something besides unfullfilled promises.
I think it is a shame. I know it is up to the people to get the education to get these kinds of jobs and it is their fault that they arn't marketable, but I wish the leaders would get jobs that will fit the workforce. I wish the newspaper would stop thinking that all are this ignorant. I know a few are, but you can't fool all the people all the time (Abe Lincoln).
In his famous insight on fools, i.e., those people who fool with the truth and those people who abide the fooling, Abe was providing a warning to dishonest politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen guilty of coercion, incompetence and lies.
Here Lincoln is saying that the fools who do the fooling will be found out, that they will be caught with their pants down. They will, like the fools they are, argue that their pants are half up and not half down, and it will make no difference to the people, because they know the fool's pants are down (Gerry Lower).
Posted by bleedingheart (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How much of a tax break did this company get? Will it be another "no taxes for 10 years", then no more company?
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But, John... They have to brag on 8 jobs, since the city couldn't get REAL jobs in if they bought the frickin' companies.
Posted by swimmingupstream (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure why anyone would jump ugly on the newspaper for merely reporting the facts, but: What Ironton needs is a company who will provide about a 100 union jobs at $40-50 an hour who will hire people with a high school education (or less) and an 8th grade mentality to work 40 hours a week to accomplish about 10 hours of work.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 13, 2009 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
swimmingupstream; Did I detect a note of sarcrasim in your comment, "What Ironton needs is a company who will provide about 100 union jobs at $40-50 an hour who will hire people with a high school education (or less) and an 8th grade mentality to work 40 hours a week to accomplish 10 hours of work". If it were not for the Trade Unions, you would in actuality be swimming up stream and maybe even floundering. Also, as a side note, Unions do believe in 40 hours work for 40 hours of pay.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 13, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
swimmingupstream; As a PS: I have sat across the negotiating table with Company Executives who had, BS, BA, MA and PHD degrees and I could add a few more initials after their names who had less than an 8th grade mentality.
Posted by michaelOH (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eight new jobs. That's nothing. This
town needs entry level jobs but I
have no idea where they will come from.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 13, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My compliments to the City Of Ironton in acquiring this Dialysis Clinic. There is much more involved here than jobs. Your discernment and care for the citizens of your community is to be admired.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mick
yeah a tax break to create a filled building. I would like to see some stores etc. If you had stores, maybe someone would buy something creating some comerce. Now you have these people with their tax breaks taking more money across the river with the folks being forced to shop over there.
Real men of genius
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Swimmingupstream: thanks for the laugh!
Large factories for stupid people to make lots of money don't exist anymore.
Fortunately, the younger generation understands that, and I know more than a few who are out hustling an education, especially in medicine related employment. Yes, Ironton youth. They don't know about the "good old days" of Dayton Malleable. You might as well talk to them about the Kaiser and fighting the Hun in WWI.
They can't long for something that they never knew, so they are getting on with their lives. Yes, some will not succeed and we taxpayers will support them. But I see so many former students who have had to pick up, change course a few times, but are living their lives, and are optimistic.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 13, 2009 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cashmere; I enjoyed your post of 11/13 2009 at 7:57pm. Very perceptive and honest, with the exception of "Large factories for stupid people to make lots of money don't exist anymore". I think that was a rather infantile statement. These people were not stupid. Thanks to them you enjoy the luxuries you have today. The Younger Generation? I do have my concerns.
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, stupid was too strong, I had relatives working at those factories. Let me amend that to say that those who were not planning to go to college had a place to work where wages were high and benefits plentiful, and for a smart young person, there were opportunities to rise in the business.
You should have concerns about the younger ones. But sometimes they have to have a tough lesson, and if they can stay out of serious trouble, they often get their act together. I can cite many examples. Perhaps because our Depression raised parents wanted us to have everything, and we didn't know how to raise OUR children to understand that everything isn't free? It's a theory.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 13, 2009 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
john_mushenhouse; I concur with your thoughts. Most importantly, John, your concern and interest in the betterment of your fellow citizens. Your post of Nov. 13, 2009 at 3:34pm is especially worthy of attention. My compliments.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on November 14, 2009 at midnight (Suggest removal)
cashmere; "Yeah, stupid was too strong". My respect and admiration for your revised comment. That takes courage and integrity. Your comment about the younger ones brought tears to my eyes. In this day and age, they do have a tough road to hoe. God help them. There is plenty of food for thought in your last post. Thanks.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am all for education. twenty five years ago I encouraged my nephews to get their masters as a BA wasn't what it once was in this specialized culture. Today, it is a Ph.D. for the really good jobs.
The problem is most of the folks in the county have not been encouraged or shown how to get an education. We are starting on 7th generational welfare here. The state brings in a branch of OU to try to educate, but at first, most of the degrees issued were for teaching. There are only so many of those jobs and are politically hard to get.
The state and Fed governments bring in low cost/free medical help for the people too. This is great, especially when one is ill, but it takes away motivation. The food stamp welfare commodities programs do the same. They need to bring it the right environment now.
I know jobs don't grow on trees. But there needs to be a match with the current workforce's ability level and jobs. Yes, the people need to get skills that will pay, but we have a large population that have not been trained to do this. They are in turn training their children to be the same (7th generation welfare system in areas of the county).
I really feel for these people. There are many hard working, honest people too in the area who can't work as there are no jobs as well. I think the city leaders and newspaper before celebrating how they are bringing in a tax breaked company taking profits out of the area in, should actually come up with a plan.
The plan should address
1. Taking care of basic services till prosperity comes
2. Help with pertinent training of our people both in skills and motivations.
3. Develop the roads, communications, technologies etc. of our infra structure.
4. Clean up the drugs and burgaries ( who wants to come from the outside in here with that).
5. Throw out the 7th and multi-generational politicians with no plans outside of lining their pockets and their friends/cronies and keeping their children/kin/cronies in office.
6. With an improved total environment go( with the tax breaks) seeking real jobs for the people.
The next time somebody runs on "Comes from a good family" or "raised in the area" instead of plans and programs, vote the fool out. Join the political parties and demand they run qualified people whose concerns are for the people and not for power/prestige and money.
That 8 jobs joke of a headline has to be the last straw.
Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those factory jobs are gone. I know people working at AK Steel making an abundance of money with great benefits, and they have no education whatsoever. Leibert use to be a great place to work, but I have heard some horror stories of late. It is a shame to see we have the railroad and the river for industry and for SOME reason, we cannot get business here. I think it is because of other reasons.
Reputation of this town and this county have ruined our future for business. Corruption and politics with nepotism in the courthouses etc...The few lining their pockets do not care about the city or the citizens of Ironton.
Posted by swimmingupstream (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the citizens of Ironton support the dialysis center the way they support the local retail community the dialysis center will be lucky to make it until the next rent check comes due.
Posted by turbo (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This dialysis center will be making their money from SSI insurance and Medicare. The charges will be bringing in plenty money for the centers. Why do we have so many home health workers? The government is paying for the the operators big money
Posted by angelgirl (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just Because someone works in a factory..."DOESN'T MAKE THEM STUPID'! THEY ARE JUST SIMPLY MAKING A HONEST LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES!! I AM PROUD OF MY FACTORY WORKING HUSBAND!!
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 14, 2009 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As well you should angelgirl. I have 2 sons working at McDonald's and Arby's while in college. I am very proud of them.
Everybody should be proud of a person who does any kind of work. All work is honorable. I wish the city/county/state would bring some factories to the county. It would be great to see men able to get work and support their familes. I also think some entry level jobs should be sought. Ironton leaders don't have the know how, interest,aptitude, altruism or governmental clout to get these. They are reduced to bragging on welfare/state provided jobs. Vote these fools out of office and put in people who want to help the folks. Yes, there is new blood on the council, but I fear it is more for a personal agenda then knowledgable actions to improve the town. Ironton is becoming ever more so a welfare state. That is pitiful. But we got 8 jobs whose employees are more than likely already employed. Whoop dee Doo
I am sick that all the city leaders can do is give tax breaks for an out of state company using their out of state workers(This I suppose) instead of trying to get jobs for the hard workers of our area.
Bravo to your hubby. You got a good one.
Posted by VEGFIT69 (anonymous) on December 18, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DO NOT believe anything this pinhead Debbie Frazier says. This company is the worst, they care only about $$$$. I would rather die than have dialysis at one of their crummy facilities. Frazier is a pathological liar. I DETEST these people. Just ask any patient or employee.
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