County Dialysis Center Calls on Community to Complete Fundraising Effort

The County Dialysis Center, the only kidney dialysis service in Aroostook County, announced the public phase of its $750,000 capital campaign for an upgraded facility and equipment. 

The Center is asking the public to help support this critical healthcare service by donating to its capital campaign.

One in three Americans is at risk for kidney disease and that number is growing both nationally and in Maine. The County Dialysis Center provides treatments three times a week to patients from every corner of Aroostook County some of whom travel over 340 miles each week for their critical care.

Founded in 1997 with 12 patients, the County Dialysis Center, a department of TAMC, is the only not-for-profit dialysis center in the state of Maine.  Now serving 53 patients, the Center has provided over 102,000 vital treatments since it opened and has more than quadrupled the number of patients in less 20 years.

The County Dialysis Center operates at a loss annually, but it is a unit our community desperately needs.  The life-sustaining service is an integral part of TAMC’s commitment to providing the best care for all County patients,” said Glenda Dwyer, TAMC’s interim president.

Last summer, TAMC began the quiet phase of a $750,000 capital campaign to update and enlarge the kidney dialysis center to accommodate the growing number of County patients. Not only was the space no longer adequate to serve patients, but critical equipment which had operated consistently six days a week for nearly 20 years had far exceeded its useful life. The upgrades to both facilities and equipment were desperately needed.

Without the Center, patients would have to travel to Lincoln or Bangor for treatment, move from The County or go without treatments altogether. Having a dialysis center close to home allows patients to receive local care with the support network of their families and friends.  This is a great cause that truly saves the lives of our neighbors in need and we hope people will support this critical program,” said Pamela Frank, manager of the County Dialysis Center.

An anonymous Aroostook County donor recently made a $125,000 gift to the County Dialysis Center campaign and hopes their County neighbors will join to support this service that allows patients to receive care close to home.  In addition, several other local individuals and companies have made financial contributions to the effort and annual net proceeds from TAMC’s Country Heart Shop have been allocated to the campaign.   All of this critical support has helped the campaign raise 54% of its total goal.

To donate and lend your support to the County Dialysis Center campaign, please call 207-768-4350 or you can make a donation online at tamc.org/dialysis