Dialysis offered at hospital Published June 8, 2011 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Medical Group Hospital again offers hemodialysis to patients requiring the care. The treatment has been available since the 81st Medical Operations Squadron dialysis unit reopened in November 2009 and increased service in March 2010. Hemodialysis removes waste products such as creatinine and urea as well as free water from the blood when the kidneys are in renal failure. The staff of three dialysis nurses and a specialized medical technician currently cares for Department of Defense beneficiaries only in the mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The eight dialysis machines, located in three treatment rooms, allow them to care for up to 12 patients a week. They presently see four. However, they hope to increase the number of patients in the near future and establish a second "shift" as more eligible beneficiaries learn of the service. First Lt. Nicole Ward, one of the nurses, observed, "Patients undergo dialysis for 3½ to four hours three times a week. We provide very individualized attention; each patient has their own nurse. We are less crowded than many dialysis units, allowing us to offer more personal care. We also support the hospital's graduate medical education program as internal medicine residents see patients here (during one-month rotations)." In addition to the staff and residents, Lieutenant Ward said a hospital nutritionist sees patients frequently -- many dialysis patients have diet restrictions -- and a social worker stops by at least monthly. Retired Sailor Virgil Tummons has the distinction of being the unit's first patient. Second Lt. Renee Shaw, another staff member, commented, "Mr. Tummons was our inaugural and only patient for a few months. As word spread, a couple more people came to us. We get to know them very well since we see them so frequently." Mr. Tummons, who retired in 1969, undergoes his 200th dialysis treatment in June. He stated, "This is one terrific staff they have here. They treat me very well." He's a former resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home but had left there before Hurricane Katrina (August 2005). Two other dialysis patients currently reside at the AFRH. Maj. (Dr.) Wayne Latack, 81st MDOS and chief of nephrology, has been at Keesler almost four years, much of the time spent restoring the unit. "Our goal is to renovate the old ICU (after the intensive care unit relocates to the new inpatient tower later this year), move over there and expand our capabilities," he said. "Long-term, we'd like to have a 20-patient chronic dialysis unit. We'll welcome a second nephrologist in July and this will allow us to easily accommodate up to 12 chronic patients. He added, "We currently train our staff 'in house' and also send them to Travis (Air Force Base, Calif.) Almost half the training is done here and the rest at Travis, which has a 50-patient unit. This gives our staff the opportunity to see and work in a very robust unit." Dr. Latack noted that Keesler and Travis are among only three Air Force medical treatment facilities (not including the one formerly located at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio) to offer chronic dialysis care.The Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, hospital is the third.