IRONTON — Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, announced it will open Fresenius Medical Care Ironton, an advanced dialysis clinic, in order to better serve the area’s growing population of patients with chronic kidney disease.

The new facility will be located at 158 N. Second St. in Ironton, the former location of Big Lots, and expects to open in early 2010.

“We are looking forward to opening this Fresenius Medical Care facility in Ironton,” said Debbie Frazier, R.N., director of operations of Fresenius Medical Care. “Now patients will have access to our latest treatment methods and excellent, patient-centered care in a convenient location.”

“The opening of the dialysis facility in Ironton is the culmination of an 18 month effort to bring this world-class medical service to the community,” Mayor Rich Blankenship said. “The city council and I are extremely pleased to welcome Fresenius Medical Care to our town, and will work closely with its management team to make their transition and stay here as smooth as possible.”

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.

Tristate Nephrology Associates will provide medical director oversight at this facility.

All Fresenius Medical Care facilities share the company’s UltraCare® mission of delivering excellent, patient-centered care through innovative programs, the latest technology, continuous quality improvement and a focus on superior customer service.

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.

Dialysis patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.

For more information on the clinic, which is now enrolling patients, call 1-606-324-0211 or 1-866-4-DIALYSIS (1-866-434-2597).