State heeds patient need, approves plans for new dialysis center in Bolingbrook

"We applaud Mayor Roger Claar and Trustee Ricardo Morales and the entire village board for their leadership in ensuring Bolingbrook residents have greater access to quality dialysis services now and in the future," said U.S. Renal Care President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Pirri. "We also commend Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and its system leadership for their support and recognition of the patient need and demand in the region."

Bolingbrook's healthcare needs have grown exponentially as the village has grown in both population and diversity. This includes an influx of Hispanic and African American residents, who develop diabetes at disproportionately higher rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects diabetes cases in the Chicago area to grow by nearly 50 percent in the next 15 years. The growth in age of the area population has also contributed to an accelerated demand for dialysis services in the village.

"We commend the state board for putting patients' needs first and providing better access to health care for area residents," said U.S. Renal Care Chief Medical Officer Stan Lindenfeld. "Bolingbrook is a vibrant community, and we look forward to delivering on our promises by bringing the highest quality of care to the region."

Leading the facility will be Dr. Anis Rauf and Dr. Mohammed Ahmed. Both have been serving dialysis patients in the area for many years and are known for the quality of care they provide and the strong loyalty of their patients.

Local patients and community organizations expressed their support for the facility throughout the months-long approval process, providing support letters and speaking at a public hearing in July and the state board meeting this month.

"People don't choose to have dialysis, but they should be able to choose where they receive their treatment," said Cartrell Collins, a patient cared for by Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Rauf. "Patients need and deserve another dialysis facility, and I'm thrilled that state and local leaders recognized our need for more dialysis options."

U.S. Renal Care serves 6,200 patients and operates 125 clinics and outpatient facilities in 11 states. The company also received state approval this month for new dialysis facilities in Oak Brook and Streamwood.