SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satellite Healthcare, a leading national not-for-profit and the 6th largest provider of patient-centered dialysis and kidney disease services, is celebrating its 7th year operating its nocturnal dialysis program, Gentle Night Dialysis™, for patients suffering from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Satellite Healthcare was one of the first providers in Northern California to offer overnight dialysis, joining a handful across the United States.
More than 26 million Americans – one in 10 – suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and nearly half a million undergo regular dialysis treatment for kidney failure. Satellite Healthcare’s groundbreaking Gentle Night Dialysis™ program enables patients to undergo in-center dialysis three nights a week for six to eight hours, while they sleep. The program has served a total of 500 patients at 10 specialized centers throughout California, including Redwood City, Modesto, San Jose (Santa Teresa), San Leandro, Cupertino, Milpitas, Watsonville, Oakland, Larkspur, and Rohnert Park. It began in 2009 with just 10 patients, and now has more than 150 enrolled.
“When we began offering this alternative treatment to patients, many people in the dialysis community wondered who would opt to spend the night at one of our centers instead of in their own beds. The answer was resounding – many people! The well-being of the patients convinced both physicians and patients to take a closer look at this therapy,” said Dr. Brigitte Schiller, Chief Medical Officer of Satellite Healthcare. “Our Gentle Night program enables our patients to eliminate dialysis from their daytime schedules so they can continue living active lives, working or pursuing their interests during the day just as they did before.”
Patients in the Gentle Night Dialysis™ program spend nearly twice as long on dialysis as those receiving daytime, in-center treatments. The slower rate of dialyzing is easier on the body, and more toxins and fluids are removed from the blood. The benefits are numerous, and include increased appetite, better fluid control, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients also typically experience higher energy levels, many are able to reduce the number of medications they take, and they often report having a sense of greater control over their lives.
Omar Cruz, a 57-year-old patient at Satellite Healthcare in Redwood City, where Satellite launched its first Gentle Night Dialysis™ program, said that since switching to nocturnal dialysis four years ago, he no longer suffers the headaches, dizziness, and back pain that he experienced during six months of traditional in-center dialysis. “I have a lot more energy,” said Cruz, who was once bed-ridden but is now preparing to graduate from a 2-year program at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. “I feel born again.”
While the majority of patients still choose daytime, in-center dialysis, roughly 2 percent of Satellite Healthcare’s patients receive nocturnal dialysis – twice the national average.
“Our mission is to improve the quality of life for every one of our patients by providing a variety of dialysis treatment options to meet their individual needs,” said Dr. Schiller. “The continued success of Gentle Night Dialysis shows that this individualized approach benefits our patients, and we look forward to continuing to grow the program and introduce other innovative alternatives to traditional dialysis in the years ahead.”
About Satellite Healthcare:
Satellite Healthcare, Inc., has been among the nation's leading not-for-profit providers of kidney dialysis and related services since 1974. Through its affiliated services, Satellite WellBound, Satellite Dialysis, and Satellite Research, Satellite Healthcare provides unparalleled early patient wellness education, personalized clinical services, and a complete range of dialysis therapy choices. In addition, Satellite Healthcare has a well-recognized, enduring commitment to philanthropy and community service, from funding millions of dollars in research grants to sponsoring kidney programs nationwide. Satellite is committed to advancing the standard of chronic kidney disease care so patients can enjoy a better life.
