Dakota Energy Cooperative Partners with HRMC for Dialysis Expansion Funding
June 11, 2023
Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc. recently presented a check for $300,000 in revolving loan funds to Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) to assist in funding the expansion of dialysis services in Huron. Funds are provided through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Development Grant. The grant supplements the total project cost of $2.45 million.
The revolving loan funds are specifically directed toward the cost of the water system that is essential to dialysis treatment. The sophisticated water system utilizes hydrostatic pressure to drive water across a semi-permeable membrane to eliminate contaminants, bacteria and endotoxins. During dialysis, filtered water is mixed with concentrates in accordance with each patient’s hemodialysis prescription to make up the dialysis solution, called dialysate. A special filter in dialysis machines cleans the blood, doing the work of a healthy kidney, and passes it back into the patient’s body.
The new water system is in place at the recently expanded dialysis center, located at 142 Third Street SE in Huron, which is expected to open to patients later this month. Currently, dialysis is held in the HRMC Central Towers building at HRMC. The new location will house 12 treatment chairs to accommodate up to 36 patients per week, while the current location houses seven treatment chairs. Capacity limitations, ease of access and an aging water system were among the reasons the HRMC board of directors determined to relocate and expand the vital service.
Dakota Energy also partnered with HRMC in 2020 to provide USDA funding for a state-of-the-art fluoroscopy machine. “Dakota Energy is proud to support HRMC in sustaining and expanding local access to important medical services right here in our community,” says Chad Felderman, CEO and general manager for Dakota Energy. “Local partnerships are paramount in preserving programs and services that allow us the excellent quality of life we enjoy in our rural communities.”
Dakota Energy is a not-for-profit, consumer governed electric cooperative serving approximately 3,600 member-consumers primarily in Beadle, Hand and Hyde counties in South Dakota, with offices in Miller and Huron. To learn more, visit www.dakotaenergy.coop/.
HRMC is a not-for-profit, board governed, 25-bed critical access hospital, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services.
Photo cutline: From left, Jodene Decker, manager of HR and communications for Dakota Energy, Jennifer Jungemann, director of dialysis for HRMC, Laurie Solem, board chairperson for HRMC, Chad Felderman, CEO and general manager for Dakota Energy, Marcia Zwanziger, senior VP-finance for HRMC and Justin Picek, dialysis project owner’s representative and board treasurer for HRMC.
Back to News Listing | Subscribe to News Alerts | Back to Blogs
