Sweetwater Dialysis Center
Outpatient Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
The Dialysis Clinic of Sweetwater Memorial offers chronic outpatient hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis care.
Chronic outpatient hemodialysis is offered Monday through Saturday for Sweetwater County and surrounding areas. The eight-station facility is on the third floor of the Specialty Clinics of Sweetwater Memorial at 1180 College Drive, Rock Springs.
If you would feel more comfortable using our TeleHealth services for your nephrology appointment, just call the office at 307-212-7711. You can make an appointment and connect with your provider from home. We’re just a screen away – computer, iPad or smartphone. It’s easy.
MHSC’s dialysis patients benefit from the in-house dietitian, who helps them with their restricted fluids and meal changes in their life. The clinic also offers the assistance of the in-house social worker who aids in the psychological and social changes that occur when initiating dialysis.
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis treatment filters the blood through a machine outside of the body.
Dr. Rahul Pawar, the Medical Director of Nephrology and Dialysis at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County explains that the kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each roughly the size of a fist, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys filter about 200 quarts of blood daily, producing 1 to 2 quarts of urine.
Toxins in the blood stream typically come out in the urine. When the kidneys fail, hemodialysis is used to filter the blood.
It takes about 3 1/2 hours to filter the blood through hemodialysis – something healthy kidneys can do naturally in 24 hours, says Clinic Director Nicole Halstead.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis filters and cleans blood inside of the body. The patient’s abdomen is filled with a solution called dialysate that helps remove waste and extra fluids from the blood.
Peritoneal dialysis patients accomplish this in one of two ways:
CAPD — Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is done manually with four to five exchanges every day.
CCPD — Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis is done with the help of a machine at night while the patient sleeps.
Be Kind to Your Kidneys
Kidney disease in the United States has skyrocketed with more than a half-million people currently on dialysis, according to Dr. Pawar.
“Kidney disease — as well as the conditions that contribute to it, including diabetes, obesity and hypertension — is often asymptomatic, enabling the condition to progress ‘silently’ for many years,” he says.
The leading cause of kidney damage is diabetes type 1 or 2 and high blood pressure. Kidney failure can occur at any age from a wide variety of causes – cancer, hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, medications, Hepatitis C or obesity.
What’s the best thing you can do for your kidneys?
Dr. Pawar suggests:
- Control your blood pressure and monitor it regularly.
- Stay active. Physical activity can help control diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Don't smoke, vape or use tobacco.
- Avoid chronic use of medications such as Ibuprofen, Advil, and Aleve.
- Limit use of alcohol.
- Eat foods lower in salt. Cook with spices instead.
- Follow the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil.
Referral
Ask your primary care provider for a referral to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pawar.
Contact
Medical Director: Rahul Pawar, MD - Nephrologist
Interim Clinic Director:
307-212-7711
Hours: 5:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Fax: 307-352-5334
