Waipahu community invited to see new dialysis clinic

Tennessee-based DSI Renal opened a new dialysis center in Wai­pahu last week.

The company will host an open house in the 24-station hemodialysis facility from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for patients, physicians and the community.

DSI acquired nine Oahu clinics from Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. in June, including the Wai­pahu facility, which was under construction, as part of a divestiture order by federal regulators. A purchase price was not disclosed. The company, which has 325 workers, retained nearly all of the former employees.

"We’re committed to the market and want to grow to meet the needs of the market," said Jay Gunter, the company’s chief operating officer.

The company treats about 1,300 patients with end-stage renal disease annually.

DSI, also known as Dialysis Newco Inc., purchased the clinics as part of a larger transaction of 54 facilities driven by a U.S. Federal Trade Commission order to preserve competition in Hawaii and other states, following Fresenius’ acquisition of Liberty Dialysis Holdings.

DSI completed construction of the building at 94-862 Kahuailani St. behind the former Ara­kawa building in March. The company owns and operates 88 dialysis clinics in 23 states.

There are more than 256,000 Hawaii residents with chronic kidney disease or predisposed to develop the condition, according to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii. The state has a higher-than-average rate of chronic kidney disease, with 1 in 7 people affected locally compared with 1 in 9 nationally.