News Releases

March 22, 2002
West Georgia Dialysis introduces new expanded facility

On March 21, West Georgia Dialysis celebrated the dedication of its new 32-station renal dialysis unit. Located at 101 Glen Bass Road, the new 19,000 square-foot facility represents the third time the clinic has increased its capabilities since the first dialysis unit opened in 1979 as part of West Georgia Medical Center.

"As an integral part of West Georgia Health System, West Georgia Dialysis has served this community for more than 20 years," said Jerry Fulks, WGHS President/CEO. "We are pleased that we are able to offer this beautiful new facility for our dialysis patients, who spend two to three days each week at our clinic. For many patients, our dialysis clinic is their home away from home' and we have designed its space and amenities with them in mind from the bright, cheery decor to the skylight in the treatment area to the vending area which offers only items that meet our patients' dietary restrictions."

The new clinic houses 30 regular stations, which can serve 120 patients. Two isolation stations, which can serve eight patients, have been added for patients with hepatitis. In addition, the new clinic has a spacious waiting area and will house refrigerators where patients can bring sandwiches and other snacks from home. The clinic also has a conference room where the doctors and/or staff can meet privately with patients and their families.

West Georgia Medical Center's first chronic renal dialysis unit opened with eight stations at Lee's Crossing Shopping Center in LaGrange on Sept. 20, 1979. The next year, the clinic moved to the Medical Park, expanding to 10 stations. Over the years, the current LaGrange dialysis clinic expanded to its current 21 stations. In addition, West Georgia Dialysis operates clinics in Newnan and Warm Springs. When the new LaGrange clinic is granted licensure and opens for patients in the coming weeks, the Warm Springs dialysis clinic will close, transferring its patients either to LaGrange or to another facility of each patient's choice.

"We are thrilled to have this new, state-of-the-art dialysis clinic," says Cathy Phillips, RN, director of West Georgia Dialysis. "With the addition of stations to the LaGrange clinic, plus the 18 stations our Newnan clinic, we can now serve more patients than ever before. This is truly a milestone in our quest to help people with kidney failure to survive by providing excellent treatment and care."

With the advances in technology, many dialysis patients can live an otherwise full and productive lifestyle. One West Georgia Dialysis employee, Sammie Ray, is also a patient, and has been on dialysis for 20 years. Besides working full time and dialyzing at night, he is also a husband and father to two children. In recognition of his many years of service and inspiration to everyone at West Georgia Dialysis, Ray cut the ribbon at the grand opening celebration.

West Georgia Health System served as the general contractor for the new facility, and the total cost for the project was $1.1 million.