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Cuero, Texas: In effort to better serve patients’ needs closer to home, Cuero Regional Hospital is partnering with DaVita Victoria Acute Dialysis to provide in-patient dialysis services to patients that require it. The new in-patient program is set to launch in late May.

“Offering this service to our patients to save them travel time and provide the same level of service right here at home is such a great addition to our healthcare services at Cuero Regional Hospital,” said Judy Krupala, Chief Nursing Officer at Cuero Regional Hospital. “Our partnership with DaVita will allow our chronic dialysis patients to stay closer to home and receive the treatment they need.”
Kidney dialysis is a life-support treatment that uses a special machine to filter harmful wastes, salt, and excess fluid from the blood. This restores the blood to a normal, healthy balance. Dialysis replaces many of the kidney’s important functions. If the kidneys don’t work properly, harmful substances can build up in the body, blood pressure can rise, and too much fluid can collect in the body’s tissues, which leads to swelling called edema. “In order to help our patients avoid this build up and possible edema, it is critical that we offer these services close to home,” said Krupala.
There are different types of kidney dialysis. Cuero Hospital will have the capabilities to perform Hemodialysis in which the blood is filtered using a dialyzer and dialysis machine. Hemodialysis is most commonly used to treat people with end-stage kidney disease.

Kidney dialysis is a necessary treatment for people with end-stage kidney disease or permanent kidney failure. Patients need dialysis if they have lost about 85 percent to 90 percent of their kidney function; Temporary dialysis may be needed in some cases.
Dr. Yong Du, Board Certified Nephrologist, will be the medical director overseeing the in-patient dialysis services at Cuero Regional Hospital.
“Regarding COVID-19 and the changes it has brought, we have strict rules and policies in place to protect all patients, visitors and staff, including screening all visitors to the hospital and patients coming into the facility. At this time, all entrants must be masked. Staff are monitoring their temperatures and do not report to work with COVID-19 – type symptoms. We have all these measures in place to protect our patients, and now with the launch of our inpatient dialysis program, this includes our dialysis patients,” said Krupala.

“We are happy to partner with DaVita to provide this vital service for our dialysis patients in the hospital and keep them closer to their support system at home,” said Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Health. “We look forward to caring for our community as we have for the last 50 years and are proud to offer this new service.”

For more information and the latest updates from Cuero Health, please visit www.cuerohospital.org or follow us on Facebook.com/CueroRegionalHospital