Distinguished business leader Wally Sparby parks his cell phone and heads to a recliner – one of six in the sparkling new outpatient dialysis unit at MeritCare Thief River Falls Northwest Medical Center. The unit opens May 27, but Wally and Chris Harff, hospital CEO, take an advance tour.
"Comfortable," says the 73-year-old. Even in his navy blue pinstriped suit he looks at ease leaning back in the sage-green recliner. He knows comfort is key for people who will come here – people diagnosed with kidney failure who need several hours of dialysis each week just to keep living. Dialysis is the process that mechanically performs the job of healthy kidneys.
"Where will the televisions go?" he asks. When he learns they'll be hung by an adjustable arm in clear view of the patients, he approves. "Nice setup," he says, noting he'd watch the Discovery Channel. Chris says she'd bring her own movies.
"I like those big windows," Wally says, pointing to the mid-afternoon hustle and bustle of LaBree Avenue in front of the hospital. "People can look out and see what's happening."
For Wally – respected community leader, hospital board member and former state legislator – the awareness of what's happening led to the dream of a local dialysis unit.
Today he and Chris see the results. "I'm elated this is finally happening," he says. "It's something we in this community and region have wanted and needed for a long time. It's wonderful to see it all come together."
Stories tell the need
Statistics supported the need for a dialysis unit in Thief River Falls. In fact 17 dialysis patients from throughout the region have already expressed interest in receiving dialysis here. The unit can handle as many as 48.
But for Wally and Chris, it's the stories that move them. They tell of people they know who drive long distances to get their dialysis – 55 miles to Grand Forks, 90 miles to Bemidji or 100 miles to Fargo. Three times a week, even in the harshest winter weather, they make the round trip, adding hours to a routine that's already time-intensive. Each dialysis session takes about four hours excluding travel time.
Some people choose to relocate rather than commute. Wally tells of a man whose wife moved to Fargo so she could more easily get her dialysis care. "He would call me every day wanting to know when Thief River would get dialysis. He was a real gentleman about it, never hostile," recalls Wally. "She passed away before it ever happened." He relays more stories, all echoing the importance of locally available, convenient dialysis services.
Chris shares his passion: "We don't want people wasting their precious time on transportation. We want them to spend their time living – being close to their families and enjoying their time." She lives that philosophy. That evening she plans to play a duet with her daughter in a piano recital.
Expertise from MeritCare
Community support, hospital resources and collaboration turned the dream into reality, but one more piece was critically needed.
"You also need the expertise, and that's exactly where MeritCare enters the picture," says Chris. "They've been providing outpatient dialysis services for years and know exactly what's needed to ensure quality care in a safe, comfortable setting."
Based in Fargo, MeritCare Dialysis Services operates outpatient dialysis units in Bemidji, Detroit Lakes, Morris, Red Lake and Fargo. Units vary in size, but all share a commitment to quality:
- Well-trained staff who put patients first.
- State-of-the-art dialysis equipment.
- A team approach to care, including a MeritCare nephrologist (kidney specialist), social worker, nephrology nurse and dietitian.
- The possibility of kidney transplantation; MeritCare is a regional leader in providing this service.
Chris and Wally continue their stroll through the new unit, asking questions and sharing ideas on how to make dialysis as pleasant as possible for patients.
Wally never stops thinking. He looks out the window once more, this time noticing a nearby retaining wall. "We really need a mural out there," he says. "Something nice for patients to look at while they're here."
And so it goes. One person's idea becomes a community's dream. And a community's dream keeps MeritCare moving forward, bringing quality care to our northern neighbors.