Press Release
Baxter celebrates 20th anniversary of first Australian private haemodialysis unit
Baxter Healthcare, today celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Epworth Baxter Therapy Services (BTS) Centre in Melbourne, the first private haemodialysis centre in Australia.
The Centre which opened on 4 October 1989 runs three shifts per day, accommodating up to 36 patients and operating seven days a week. Epworth Private Hospital has partnered with Baxter Healthcare since 2006 to continue to operate this service within the Epworth Group.
Michelle Duddington, BTS Group Manager and Clinical Affairs says: "The partnership between Baxter and Epworth Healthcare has allowed the Epworth BTS Centre to continue to provide high quality service for the Victorian dialysis community."
"The Epworth BTS Centre has become well known as the unit where patients can receive dialysis in conjunction with surgery for many other issues. The Centre also accommodates visitors from around Australia and all over world who come to Melbourne for a holiday."
Up until the 1980s, haemodialysis was only available through the public health system. Professor Gavin Becker saw a need for his privately insured patients to have dialysis available through the private system.
Epworth Healthcare and private health insurance companies were approached and funding for this new venture was attained for a four bed ward in the Children's Ward to be set aside for the new unit.
Starting with just four haemodialysis machines with portable reverse osmosis machines, and recliner chairs for three patients, the Centre was staffed by three technicians from Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) who each worked one shift per week. Six weeks later a morning shift was added with a technician to work all three shifts per week.
Susan Coppola, Karyn Jones and Angela Lindsey were three of these technicians and still work at Epworth today.
Karyn Jones, Renal Technician Epworth Richmond says: "Sometimes we are referred to as the 'Dialysis Dinosaurs'. We prefer 'Dialysis Legends'."
Over the years the Epworth BTS Unit has expanded rapidly. The Unit quickly outgrew the original ward and after various extensions was moved to the current ward in 1997.
Karyn says: "We have been very lucky to have the support and expertise of many of the consultants from Royal Melbourne Hospital to call upon when we have had issues arise. For each shift of patients we have a consultant rostered to visit and the staff and patients are very grateful for this service."
About Baxter International Inc.
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with haemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.
