By By Adrienne McKenzie
The DaVita Dialysis Center in Atmore was voted No. 1 in the nation for quality of care for their patients
DaVita is a provider of dialysis services for individuals who are diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. They have more than 1,200 outpatient dialysis facilities and acute units in more than 800 hospitals throughout the U.S. There are roughly 100,000 patients across the nation who use DaVita services.
Every three months DaVita rates the quality of care in their patients. This is an evaluation of the patient's survival rate, anemia and bone management and vascular access. All of the DaVita labs across the nation computerize the data, and accumulate points.
Doctor Katharina Meyer, Board Certified in Nephrology, from Cantonment, Fla., comes to the Atmore clinic twice weekly. Dawn Lott is the administrator and an RN at the Atmore center.
"Continuous improvement every three months is the goal," Meyer said. "It's a big team effort in taking care of so many patients."
The Atmore center has 39 patients that come in three times a week for dialysis. The nurses, along with a dietitian, social workers, nurse practitioners and doctors are responsible for checking each of these patients' medications. This team is accountable for making sure sugar levels are acceptable and taking care of those patients who are on special diet and fluid restrictions.
"Kidney disease is a very big problem in the U.S.," Meyer said. "It's great that such a rural community has the No. 1 dialysis center in the nation."