Effective June 3, Sampson Regional Medical Center is launching its new Inpatient Dialysis Service, with the aim of offering enhanced care and convenience for patients requiring dialysis treatment during their hospital stay.

“Recognizing the importance of providing comprehensive care to patients with renal conditions, Sampson Regional Medical Center has invested in state-of-the-art dialysis equipment to provide bedside dialysis needed for patients requiring hospitalization,” a statement from the hospital’s announcement read.

The dialysis team consists of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including nephrologists, hospitalists, and specially-trained dialysis nurses, ensuring a coordinated and personalized care plan for each patient, promoting optimal health outcomes.

“At Sampson Regional Medical Center, we are continuously striving to enhance the services we offer to our patients,” said Dr. Shawn Howerton, chief executive and chief medical officer of Sampson Regional Medical Center. “The introduction of our inpatient bedside dialysis service underscores our dedication to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of our community and ensuring that our patients receive the highest standard of care, tailored to their individual needs.”

With a team of dedicated healthcare professionals and a patient-centered approach, Sampson Regional Medical Center’s dialysis team is trained to provide the care needed for renal patients during their hospital stay. The service is available seven days a week, ensuring admitted patients have access to dialysis treatment whenever it is needed.

“The addition of bedside dialysis for inpatients improves accessibility to care for patients,” stated Tammy King, chief nursing officer of Sampson Regional Medical Center. “Previously, patients arriving at our emergency department who have been receiving outpatient dialysis treatments but will require admission for other medical conditions would have to transfer to other hospitals that were equipped to provide dialysis treatment during their hospital stay. The new bedside dialysis allows patients to be admitted at Sampson Regional where they can be closer to home.”

Hospital officials said the care delivery model allows patients to receive dialysis care at their bedside, making it easier for patients to receive care for their admitted medical conditions. Emphasizing the continuity of care, hospital staff will work closely with local dialysis centers to coordinate care upon discharge for newly diagnosed renal patients, coordinating outpatient care going forward, hospial officials said.

“We recognize the importance of seamless transfer of care for those patients who are newly diagnosed and will need to continue their dialysistreatment,” added King, on the transition of care for dialysis patients. “While we are here to treat medical conditions that arise for dialysis patients, we are not set up to complete dialysis on a regular basis for these patients. We value our relationship with local dialysis centers, and our staff will work with the patients to make sure their outpatient care is established upon discharge,”