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More than 125 show up to celebrate 20th anniversary of Agarwal Renal Center in Ogdensburg

Posted 6/13/18

OGDENSBURG -- More than 125 people recently turned out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center. Twenty years ago, the scope of renal care in the North Country …

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More than 125 show up to celebrate 20th anniversary of Agarwal Renal Center in Ogdensburg

Posted

OGDENSBURG -- More than 125 people recently turned out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center.

Twenty years ago, the scope of renal care in the North Country was changed forever with the opening of the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center, the first free-standing renal center in the region. Already home to the first “artificial kidney machine” in the region since 1968, Claxton-Hepburn supported the new center because of a growing demand for dialysis services locally.

With Claxton-Hepburn’s first nephrologist, Dr. Michael Seidman, as a champion and with over 1,000 generous donors financially supporting the project, the $2.2 million, 24-station unit opened to provide residents and visitors high-quality renal care close to home.

In the twenty years since its grand opening, the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center—named for benefactor Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal—has evolved to meet and anticipate the needs of its patients. With personalized treatment plans and a team of caring professionals that includes a dedicated dietician, social worker, and nurse manager, the Agarwal Renal Center puts the patient at the center of a strong support network and wraps services around them to address both social and clinical needs.

The Agarwal Renal Center has also embraced the future of renal care: home dialysis services. Over 25 percent of patients are currently on home programs, giving them the freedom to live as normally as possible, with less time and energy spent on travel.

To honor the continued dedication and vision of the Dr. Ravinder N. Agarwal Renal Center staff, a celebration was held on June 8 to mark twenty years of excellence since its grand opening in 1998. The event featured a short program, including an address by Dr. Michael Seidman, and special recognition of the Agarwals in the form of a plaque that will hang in the Agarwal Renal Center.

The event was attended by more than 125 people, including Agarwal Renal Center patients and staff, donors, physicians, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center board members and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Foundation board members. A fundraising campaign will be launched in the fall to broaden the impact of the growing home program, enhance patient safety and comfort throughout the facility, and prepare for telehealth innovations in the future.