U.S. Renal Care, a local provider of dialysis services, has announced the closure of its facility on the Adventist Health Tillamook campus, effective February 23, 2024. This decision impacts all patients currently receiving dialysis care at the location, which has been operational since 2004. Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson expressed his concerns regarding the closure: “It is disappointing that U.S. Renal Care was unable to sustain its business model in Tillamook County, a region where the need for regular dialysis care is critical. We understand the challenges this presents to our community members who rely on these essential services. Our leadership team is actively exploring long-term solutions to establish another dialysis partnership, aiming to minimize the impact on our patients’ daily lives.”
Brian Loveridge, Region Vice President of U.S. Renal Care also shared his disappointment in a statement, “This was a very difficult decision which we and the attending physician reached only after considering all possible options to keep this dialysis center open. We’ve worked for more than a year with the local hospital and state officials to try and find a way to keep this center operational. Providing care in communities like Tillamook is a challenge many health care providers face as Medicare reimbursement has not kept up with the rising costs of operating a dialysis center.”
It is important to note that Adventist Health Tillamook’s inpatient and outpatient facilities are not equipped to provide dialysis treatment and care. In the coming weeks U.S Renal Care is working with their patients to ensure everyone has a comfortable place to dialyze, including the possibility of in-home treatment options.