-February 1,2019-
Dialysis is big business in Tulare County.
The nation’s fourth largest dialysis clinic operator, American Renal Associates, has filed a preliminary permit application to build a 21 station, 8000sf outpatient dialysis clinic at 5300 W Tulare Ave in Visalia, the former Cigna building now owned by the county. The company has some 235 locations across the country but none in Tulare county.
Visalia has three clinics operated by DaVita, the second largest player in the industry. Kaweah Delta has a dialysis clinic near the proposed location for the new clinic but says their own dialysis operation is nearing capacity due to the sheer number of patients needing service locally.
Diabetes is a huge problem in Tulare County where it affects a great number of people. VP of Kaweah Delta Dr Regina Sawyer says 50% of the patients hospitalized at Kaweah Delta suffer from diabetes. Her full title is Regina Sawyer, DNP, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer.
Associated with obesity about a third of adults in Tulare County are considered obese.
Another survey found the total percentage of Tulare County residents with either diabetes or pre-diabetes is 58 percent.Tulare County population (as of 2017 census) = 471,842. 13.2% (62,283) are diabetic (#1 county in CA out of 58 counties = highest incidence).
Complications from the disease are a major issue in health care treatments, costs and mortality.
Dr Sawyer notes that “2 out of 3 diabetics die of heart attacks and strokes… so the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease is strong. Diabetes alone place patients in the high-risk category and you treat them as if they have already had a heart attack (i.e. it is a “risk equivalent” to pre-existing cardiac disease).”
The number of patients with kidney failure requiring dialysis is growing at 5 percent a year by one estimate.
Last November California voters rejected a ballot measure that would have capped dialysis clinics’ profits.The industry is said to gain $3 billion annually in revenue in California.
Germany-based Fresenius is the number one player in the industry and has offices in Fresno County and Kern but not here.