BMH partners with National Renal Alliance to expand and enhance local dialysis service

Ball Memorial Hospital and National Renal Alliance are partnering to provide expanded outpatient dialysis services to East Central Indiana residents.

“This partnership is another example of our philosophy of collaborating with others in order to provide increased access to services for the people of this region,” said Robert Curtis, president and CEO of Cardinal Health System. Ball Memorial is the system’s flagship.

Terms of the agreement call for the Franklin, Tenn.—based company to partner with and manage Ball Memorial’s five existing outpatient dialysis centers, beginning Feb. 1, 2007. All employees will be retained, and no services will be changed. Ball Memorial will retain partial ownership in the local venture.

National Renal Alliance will also operate Ball Memorial’s inpatient hemodialysis unit. The only operational changes that will be implemented are the installation of new, cutting edge technology and medical equipment. In addition,

National Renal is planning to expand the partnership later this year by building at least one additional clinic. The additional development will allow more patients to be served close to their homes instead of having to travel.

“The opportunity to partner with Ball Memorial Hospital is truly an honor for National Renal Alliance,” said Joseph A. Cashia, CEO and Founder of National Renal. “Ball Memorial has a reputation for providing exceptional patient care and that is our number one focus as well.”

In a healthcare environment where there are increasingly fewer not-for- profit hospitals offering outpatient dialysis services, Ball Memorial Hospital operates centers in Daleville, Muncie, New Castle and Winchester. The five centers collectively have 60 total dialysis chairs, serving approximately 250 patients.

National Renal currently partners with physicians and hospitals, operating 37 dialysis centers and serving approximately 1,700 patients. Officials at Ball Memorial made the decision to partner with the company because of its reputation for enhancing services and encouraging local community involvement, said hospital President Brent Batman.

“Because they are a national company National Renal has access to national pricing and efficiencies that allow them to operate these centers in a much more cost efficient manner than we could,” Batman said. “This relationship will allow us to offer our patients the same level of care because both organizations share a belief that healthcare is best when delivered locally. Our goal for these dialysis centers has always been to ensure our patients get the best possible medical care close to their families and homes.”

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