Fresenius' New Dialysis Offering

Fresenius Medical Care (FMS - Snapshot Report), the largest provider of dialysis products and services on the planet, recently revealed that patients and doctors in Detroit, Michigan, now have access to the most sophisticated dialysis treatment. The Germany-based company has introduced its latest 2008T treatment platform at the Fresenius Medical Care dialysis facility in East Detroit.

The introduction of the 2008T therapy machines follows the company’s commitment to UltraCare, which aims at providing patients with quality care through sound programs, latest know-how, superior customer care and constant quality enhancement.  The 2008T has approval for usage in North America. Fresenius produces and distributes all hemodialysis delivery equipment, including the 2008T, from its plant in Walnut Creek, California.

As per the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, chronic kidney disease afflicts over 940,000 adults in Michigan. Approximately, 12,000 residents in the state currently receive dialysis for kidney failure. With rising prevalence of both hypertension and diabetes, two causes of chronic kidney disease, more and more residents of Michigan would be needing dialysis/kidney transplant.

With the 2008T, Fresenius has combined a sophisticated hemodialysis delivery system with Clinical Data Exchange, thereby, for the first time, granting medical practitioners ready access to the facility’s medical data system and patient data. This facilitates rapid modifications to treatment.

Such an integrated methodology permits better management of data, thereby saving time on administrative work so that care givers can better concentrate on patient care. In addition, the 2008T cuts down on the risk associated with cross-contamination of dialysis equipment.

Launched at the American Society of Nephrology’s 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Denver in November 2010, the 2008T is the first completely integrated therapy and management data system. It was created through collaboration with the Renal Research Institute (a prominent research institution dedicated to improving clinical care and quality of life of kidney patients).

The system’s in-built Clinical Data Exchange mechanism is meant to cater to a variety of MIS systems and aid physicians come to grips with the new bundled payment mechanism that went into effect in January 2011.

Fresenius operates a network of almost 2,700 dialysis clinics across North America and overseas markets to provide dialysis treatment to 215,000 patients worldwide. Dialysis treatment is required by victims of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects over 2 million people globally each year. Fresenius’ principal competitor in the U.S. is DaVita Inc. (DVA - Analyst Report), which provides dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure or end-stage renal disease.

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