Dialysis Center in Tuskegee to close next month
Fresenius dialysis clinic in Tuskegee – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News
The company that owns a dialysis clinic in Tuskegee has announced that it will be closing next month, leaving patients wondering where they will go for treatment.
In a statement to Action 8 News, Fresenius Kidney Care confirmed its Tuskegee dialysis center at 802 E. Martin Luther King Drive will close effective March 18. The company is based in Massachusetts.
Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee says the dialysis center serves nearly 50 patients who depend on it multiple times a week for life-sustaining dialysis treatment.
“For these patients, many of our friends, family members and elders in the community, missing treatment and traveling long distances several times a week is not realistic and puts their health at risk. For them, having a facility locally is the difference between life and death. We cannot afford to lose this center,” Mayor Lee said in a statement.
Lee says he is prepared to fight as hard as it takes to keep dialysis services in Tuskegee.
Lee says he has contacted Congressman Shomari Figures (D-Alabama), who he says has committed to assist in every way possible. Lee says he has also spoken with State Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee) and says he will be reaching out to additional local, state and federal officials to help protect access to this critical care for our residents.
Lee says that the city is asking that Fresenius pause the closure and provide transparency on its decision. He says he will be exploring every option to keep dialysis care in Tuskegee.
Fresenius Kidney Care has released this statement about its decision to close its Tuskegee facility:
“We recognize that changes in care settings can be difficult for patients, families, and employees, and we are working closely with them to minimize disruption and ensure continuity of care. Our teams have worked quickly with our patients, and have already identified availability for uninterrupted dialysis care for all of the Tuskegee center’s patients at centers as close as 15 miles away. This includes securing transportation for those who require it.
“Fresenius Medical Care acknowledges the inconvenience this may cause to patients and staff members and we remain committed to providing our patients with safe, high-quality, and life-sustaining dialysis care.”
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