Fresenius Medical Care and Shad Ireland Honor Quarter Century Patients
January 27 2011 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Patient advocate and triathlete Shad Ireland will help raise
awareness of patients on dialysis for 25 years or more by visiting
a select group of clinics across the U.S. over the next two months.
Ireland is a national spokesman for Fresenius Medical Care North
America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading network of dialysis
facilities, which annually recognizes its 25-year patients with the
Quarter Century Patient Recognition Program. Ireland’s visits will
include a plaque presentation to patient honorees in Texas,
Virginia, Louisiana and Ohio.
Most dialysis patients go to a clinic three times a week for
treatments lasting three to four hours at a time. Quarter Century
Patients have demonstrated that a sustained commitment to their
treatment program and healthy living, combined with receiving high
quality care, can lead to a long and productive life.
"Our Quarter Century patients have shown courage and an
unwavering dedication to achieving better health, including an
active lifestyle, healthy diet, and working closely with their
health care team," said Raymond Hakim, MD, chief medical officer at
FMCNA. "Their accomplishment is proof that patients can live long,
healthy, and fulfilling lives while on dialysis."
Ireland is a home dialysis patient and a Quarter Century Patient
himself — he was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 10 and has
been on dialysis for 27 years, while surviving two failed kidney
transplants. Despite his struggles with kidney disease, Ireland is
an accomplished athlete who has completed more than 20 triathlons.
In 2009, he biked 4,639 miles across the U.S. on his “What Inspires
You” bike tour to promote chronic kidney disease education and
awareness.
"It's rewarding to meet these patients, and help inspire them to
stay dedicated to their treatment and to continue leading rewarding
lives," said Ireland. "These strong, devoted people help show other
patients that there is life after a kidney disease diagnosis, and
they can still accomplish great things."
Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products
from the blood, removes extra fluids and controls the body’s
chemistry when a person’s kidneys fail. Dialysis patients typically
require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney
transplant.
About Fresenius Medical Care
Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) is the world’s leading
company devoted to patient-oriented renal therapy. Through more
than 2,700 clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America,
Asia-Pacific and Africa, we provide kidney dialysis treatments to
approximately 210,000 patients worldwide. We are also the world's
leading maker of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines,
dialyzers and related disposable products. Chronic kidney failure
is a condition that affects about 1.9 million individuals
worldwide.
For more information about the company’s more than 1,800 U.S.
dialysis facilities, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com (in English
and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care,
visit www.fmc-ag.com or www.fmcna.com.
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