The Brentwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center has opened an on-site hemodialysis unit, a significant enhancement to its chronic kidney disease management program designed to improve patients’ quality of life and recovery process within the subacute care setting.

The Brentwood’s leadership, care team and health care partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony as part of National Kidney Month in the five-chair “dialysis den” that was developed inside the skilled nursing facility at 56 Liberty St. in Danvers.  Research shows that patients who receive dialysis on-site during their stay in a nursing home – eliminating the time and stress of traveling to multiple appointments at outpatient clinics or hospitals – have improved clinical outcomes, better recovery times and reduced risks of infection.

The hemodialysis unit was developed in partnership with DaVita Kidney Care and is led by Dr. Mitchell Jacobson, a nephrology specialist affiliated with Mass General Brigham’s Salem Hospital.

“This hemodialysis unit raises our chronic kidney disease program to a whole new level of care, allowing patients to receive their regular dialysis treatments without leaving the facility, giving them more time to socialize and heal while receiving other therapies,” said Kayleigh Ivey, Administrator of The Brentwood.  “With our partner DaVita, we are proud to be at the forefront leading this emerging approach to dialysis in the skilled nursing and rehabilitation profession.”

The hemodialysis unit is part of The Brentwood’s comprehensive chronic kidney disease management program designed to manage symptoms, increase quality of life and reduce adverse effects among patients with chronic kidney disease and related diagnoses.

The Brentwood provides renal programs for chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease through individualized plans of care that may require hemodialysis in the dialysis den on-site or a program tailored to the patient’s medical condition.  Kidney disease can result from a variety of underlying conditions including diabetes and hypertension.

According to industry estimates, more than 85,000 patients requiring dialysis are admitted to skilled nursing facilities every year.  The number is expected to rise by 6% annually.  Traditionally, patients have been transported to off-site dialysis clinics for lengthy treatments several times per week.

Centers including The Brentwood are responding to the need by building dialysis dens within their walls to better serve patients and ease any physical and emotional strain.  So far, only a handful of skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts provide on-site dialysis services.  These units are developed in compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“With the dialysis den available inside The Brentwood, we are able to further improve the health and quality of life of our patients living with end-stage renal disease, supporting their rehabilitation or long-term care needs,” said Dr. Jacobson.

The Brentwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center provides Danvers and surrounding communities with an exceptional continuum of care featuring subacute rehabilitation with specialty orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac and stroke recovery programs that deliver remarkable results, as well as long-term, respite and hospice care.  Physical, occupational and speech therapy are provided seven days a week.  The Brentwood is proudly serviced by Marquis Health Consulting Services, which provides administrative and consulting services to skilled nursing facilities and senior housing communities along the Eastern Seaboard.