PHOTO PROVIDED Staff at Mount Nittany Health recently celebrated the opening of a new dialysis space.

STATE COLLEGE — Mount Nittany Health celebrated the opening of their newly renovated Dialysis space at Mount Nittany Medical Center with a special ribbon cutting ceremony.

This space includes everything needed to provide dialysis treatments for individuals whose kidneys are failing. The equipment performs normal kidney functions, such as filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. Treatments typically take four hours, and patients often have treatments three times a week. It’s not unusual for dialysis patients to follow this regimen for decades, which is why it’s so essential to provide a serene environment with the latest technology.

The renovations at Mount Nittany Medical Center include special improvements and upgraded technology, which will allow for a better patient experience and the highest standards for safety and infection control.

The four bay unit is twice the size of the previous dialysis space, and includes remote telemetry capabilities and a new filtration water system. The room is bright and features large windows with lots of natural light for patients to enjoy during their treatment.

“Offering a comfortable and peaceful space is important to help patients throughout their treatment and healing process,” said Stephen Donelan, MD, nephrology. “Furthermore, I can’t overstate the importance of what this type of center means to the patients who depend on it for treatments that they can’t live without. It is incredibly important for serving their needs, and it is a critical part of the entire medical system, because it impacts our patients who often need cross-disciplinary care. I’m proud of the work our dialysis team does, and very pleased they can continue to serve patients in this new space.”

The dialysis center serves from 40-90 patients each month, and the new space was designed with this in mind so that patients can have greater privacy.

“I’d like to applaud the Dialysis staff,” said Tiffany Cabibbo, DSc, MSN, RN, CENP, executive vice president, Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer, Mount Nittany Health. “It’s always challenging to continue to provide uninterrupted services while planning for a new space. There are lots of moving parts, and our team members continued to provide high-quality and compassionate care to our patients throughout the process.”

In addition to the new dialysis space, Mount Nittany Health recently celebrated the expansion of Women’s & Children’s Services at Mount Nittany Medical Center; the groundbreaking of the new Outpatient Center in Toftrees West, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2024; and announced the construction of a new Patient Tower at Mount Nittany Medical Center, tentatively scheduled to be completed in 2026.