By Niko Robledo

Fresenius Kidney Care will be opening its third dialysis clinic in Springfield, located in the former Department of Human Services building at 1800 E. Washington St. A building permit filed on May 24 puts the total value of the project at $891,342.

The architect is Christopher Kidd & Associates, LLC and the general contractor is Thomas Finch with Peoria Metro Construction, Inc. The 6,950-square-foot facility will contain nine dialysis stations and will have the capacity to treat 54 patients.

Fresenius also operates two other locations in the Springfield area, the first being RAI Centre West at 1112 Centre West Drive, which has been in Springfield for over 15 years. The other at 2068 S. Koke Mill Road, which opened last year, serves as a home therapy clinic. Patients who are seen at this clinic are able to treat their kidney disease in the comfort of their own home.

Kara Thomas, RN, the current manager of the RAI Centre West location, will be managing the new Springfield East location and plans to hire nine employees when the clinic is operating at full capacity.

The new Springfield East location is expected to be completed in October, with doors opening the following month. In an effort to be more accessible, Fresenius expects to be Medicare certified by April 2019.

Fresenius Kidney Care, a division of Fresenius Medical Care North America, operates over 2,400 dialysis clinics nationwide providing services to more than 190,000 people with kidney disease every year.