Dialysis center looks for new home Dialysis center looks for new home (April 30, 2004)

Patients in an uproar

By Julie O'Shea

Construction begins on the new El Camino Hospital next summer, but officials said they are still not sure where the facility's dialysis center will be relocated.

The unexpected news has upset some of the center's 175 patients, who claim a move -- especially if it is to an off-campus site -- would be too inconvenient for their frequent medical visits.

Hospital officials have apologized repeatedly for not alerting patients of the plans sooner, but said a move is inevitable.

The dialysis center -- which treats patients with kidney diseases by removing waste and excess fluid from their blood -- is presently located in the hospital's Oak Pavilion. But plans for the new $300-million, seismically retrofitted hospital call for demolition of the pavilion.

Although a hospital official said it's too early to confirm where the dialysis center will go, the wife of one patient said she heard officials are considering a site along busy Highway 237.

Patients have apparently taken their complaints to hospital board trustees and others, e-mailing and leaving phone messages expressing their displeasure.

Dialysis center director Dr. George Ting said, "I think the hospital has heard that message now.

"I think the hospital is trying to be sensitive," Ting said. "They have really rethought (moving the center off-campus)."

This comes as a surprise to Valeria Milman, whose husband Mark visits the center six days a week and is often too weak to drive himself home. Milman said a letter from hospital CEO Lee Domanico makes her believe they are only looking off-campus.

Domanico's letter, dated April 22, said officials are looking at locations no farther than three miles from the hospital on Grant Road. Additionally, Domanico said the new center will need 12,000 to 15,000 square feet of ground floor space and be close to public transportation.

Milman said she simply wants the center to stay on the Grant Road campus.

"It's very difficult for some people to get to dialysis. It's a big hassle," said Milman.

"What's extremely disturbing is that they have [41] acres, and they couldn't find space for the dialysis center," she added, referring to the land the hospital campus currently sits on.

Hospital spokesperson Judy Twitchell said, "Everything is being looked at," adding that "we are certainly on the same side as our patients."

Lorraine Vernon said she hopes the hospital is on her side. Her husband, Edwin, receives treatment at the center three days a week. Vernon, who is in her 80s and had a stroke in December, drives her husband to his appointments, but said she doesn't know how much longer she will be able to drive down El Camino Real.

"It's just convenient," Vernon said. "I don't know why they want to tear it down."

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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