Fund drive for inpatient dialysis center
Oct. 27—LIMA — The Lima Memorial Foundation is raising $1.2 million for a dedicated inpatient renal dialysis treatment center for critically ill patients experiencing kidney failure.
A standard dialysis session can last upwards of three hours as excess water and toxins are removed from the blood, a process typically repeated several days each week.
Dialysis can be administered at home or in inpatient and outpatient clinics, depending on the patient's condition.
But an inpatient dialysis treatment center would allow staff to focus on all aspects of a patient's care so hospitalized patients wouldn't need to leave the intensive care unit just for dialysis, said Zack Voll, a renal failure survivor who underwent dialysis and kidney transplant through Lima Memorial.
Voll was one of several speakers Monday during the Lima Memorial Foundation's launch of Project Illuminate, a public art installation on display at Lima Memorial Medical Park featuring messages from dialysis caregivers, patients and their families.
Lima Memorial has seen an increase in hospitalized patients requiring dialysis in recent years, prompting the foundation to dedicate its annual campaign to raise funds for a dedicated inpatient dialysis treatment center at the main hospital.
The reception Monday commemorates the final phase of the foundation's fundraising effort, which has raised about 75% of its goal through virtual events and an online auction set to end Wednesday.
The art installation will be open for public viewing through Nov. 1.
