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Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

Area dialysis patients will not have to travel far for treatment in the future. American Renal Associates is coming to Pineville. The new business will be located in the old off-betting track building located along U.S. 25E.

Construction on the building will begin at the first of August. Renovations to the exterior have already began.

This new business will provide a convenience for dialysis patients who have to travel out of the area to receive treatments. This will also provide jobs for the area.

“This will provide decent employment. That is the main thing,” said Colby Slusher, the owner of the building. Slusher predicts that the business will bring 15 to 22 jobs in the beginning.

Slusher said this is something that the region needs. He claims there were several companies that spoke to him about placing a business in the building, but the dialysis company was the best thing to bring the most jobs.

“I am thrilled (American Renal Associates) are going to be able to do that in this area,” said Pineville Mayor Sherwin Rader. “It will boost the economy as well as provide jobs and growth.”

Rader also said the new center will benefit patients because it will allow easier access to treatment.

“I’m glad they are here,” said Rader.

American Renal Associates (ARA) is a national provider of dialysis services, focused exclusively on joint venture relationships with nephrologists. According to their website, they provide care and services to over 7,000 patients who choose to receive treatment in one of the 102 facilities located in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

ARA believes that the dialysis clinic is, in many ways, a natural extension of the nephrology practice. According to the website, the founding operating philosophy of ARA has always been that the physician and staff who treat the patients make ARA into the company they strive to be.

• The website states that the following principles support the operations of ARA:

• Take good care of the patients and the financial success will follow.

• Enable the nephrologist to practice as he/she sees appropriate;

• Provide the nephrologist the autonomy to make operational decisions;

• Acknowledge that facility staff members are a critical and valuable asset. Do everything possible to hire and retain the best possible staff;

• Listen to the practitioners and provide the tools needed to take excellent care of their patients;

• Service our patients, physicians and our staff in all facilities through our Corporate resources.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com.