WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 17,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA),
a division of Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) and North America's largest provider of kidney
care, hospitalist services and renal products, honors its thousands
of nurses during national Nephrology Nurses Week, September 13-19, 2015. This year, FMCNA is
highlighting the inspiring courage and selflessness of nurses who
braved difficult circumstances to give lifesaving treatment to
their patients during natural disasters and weather
emergencies.
"We're so proud of our nurses who often do so much more than
provide medical care. They form deep bonds with their patients and
time and again make personal sacrifices to be there for them," said
Bill Valle, Executive Vice President
of FMCNA and President of Fresenius Medical Services. "It's our
great honor and privilege to recognize their selflessness and
commitment to patient care during Nephrology Nurses Week. Their
compassion and dedication are an inspiration to all of us."
For example, Andrea Ring, at the
time an FMCNA nurse at the Bay St.
Louis clinic, endured a harrowing experience when Hurricane
Katrina devastated her hometown of Waveland, Miss. Only days after it destroyed
her home, she returned to work to help dialyze patients. Her story
highlights the commitment and dedication of FMCNA employees to
their patients, and exemplifies the work of nurses who have
responded to different disasters all across the country.
"We just hugged and cried and it was such a good feeling. It was
warming and I was so glad that I had come back to work," Ring said,
reflecting on when she saw patients at a makeshift clinic in
Orange Grove, Miss. "I knew I was
right where I needed to be; it was familiar. It was a good
feeling."
Kathy Spencer, a nurse who
provided dialysis care to patients in Gulfport, Miss., another city hit hard by
Katrina, returned to the area after she and her family left for
safety. She slept in the clinic so she could support patient
treatments around the clock.
"My family was safe. My only concern then was just making sure I
was able to function enough for these patients," Spencer said.
"Katrina was something I've never experienced before and haven't
since. It totally gave me a new look on life, especially working in
healthcare and with patients who depend on dialysis."
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) launched
Nephrology Nurses Week in 2005 to give employers, patients and
others the opportunity to thank nephrology nurses for their
life-saving work. In addition, ANNA also hopes to spark interest in
the multifaceted career opportunities available in nephrology. One
of the most diverse nursing specialties practiced today, nephrology
nurses care for patients of all ages who have, or are at risk for,
kidney disease.
About 20 million Americans suffer from kidney disease. Of those
patients, more than 400,000 experience kidney failure. The rising
number of people with kidney disease, many of whom are minorities,
is partially attributed to the country's obesity epidemic, an
alarming trend that has led to an increase in diabetes and high
blood pressure. Both of these diseases are major contributors to
kidney failure. To learn more about the efforts of FMCNA nurses
during Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters around the
country, please visit www.freseniusmedicalcare.us.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius
Medical Care North America is the premier health care company
focused on delivering the highest-quality care to people with renal
and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network
of dialysis facilities, outpatient cardiac and vascular labs and
urgent care centers, as well as the country's largest practice of
hospitals and post-acute providers, Fresenius Medical Care provides
coordinated health care services at pivotal care points for
hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the
continent. As the world's only vertically integrated renal company,
it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and
manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of
dialysis equipment, disposable products and renal pharmaceuticals.
For more information, visit the FMCNA website at
www.freseniusmedicalcare.us.
Media Contact:
Fresenius Medical Care North
America
Jon Stone, 781-699-9704
(C) 781-392-4680
Jonathan.d.stone@fmc-na.com
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SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care North America