Harbin Clinic Dialysis Center Achieves Star Status.
Harbin’s dialysis program is the first-in-Georgia to receive the STAR award from Baxter Healthcare Education as a “Pursuit of Excellence Program” for their facility’s achievement in Peritoneal Dialysis (PD).
“We are excited to receive this award and are proud that Harbin Clinic Dialysis, in keeping with our mission, is recognized for providing high quality dialysis care for the communities we serve,” said Dr. Kenneth F. Davis, Harbin Clinic President and Chief Executive Officer.
For those patients who choose Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) therapy, the quality of treatment they receive is critical both to prolonging their lives and enhancing their quality of life, according to Baxter Healthcare. Harbin’s dialysis facility, located at 172 Three Rivers Drive, is providing the kind of care patients’ need and is now being recognized for it.
The Baxter Pursuit of Excellence Program is designed to celebrate and reward excellence in PD practice. In addition to recognizing PD clinics that are committed to – and have
achieved – excellence, the program aims to identify and share best practices for the benefit of the medical community and the patients it serves.
Based on extensive research and experience in the PD field, the program focuses on five key areas demonstrated to be critical components of effective practice, explained Wendy Pitts, director of operations for Harbin’s Dialysis department. Each area is associated with a measurable performance benchmark that has been widely accepted as an industry standard for best demonstrated practice.
These include: infrastructure of one full time nurse to care for no more than 25 patients; minimal drop-out from the therapy related to PD access or losses related to catheter malfunction; over 85 percent of all clients reaching clinical care adequacy standards; clinical care standards related to infection rates; standardized therapy training; and a goal program in place related to Chronic Kidney Disease education available for all patients prior to start of dialysis therapy or transplant.
Harbin was assessed across these five key criteria to determine their current status as measured against the established benchmarks. A program must achieve the standards prescribed in at least 6 out of 12 months for each of the five criteria in order to receive the honored star status.
The panel selecting the Harbin Clinic Rome Dialysis Center was made up of nephrologists and nurses who understand the parameters essential to ongoing PD success. Harbin was measured against strict industry standards.
