History of the Dialysis Crisis
Beginning in August of 2009, Grady Hospital closed its outpatient dialysis clinic. At this time uninsured foreign patients were not provided with an alternative dialysis
provider. The Advocates for Responsible Care was then established to advocate on behalf of the patients’ right to receive continuous treatment. At this time we first issued a Letter to the Grady Board of Directors followed by our Statement to the Grady Board of Directors . Our action was especially pertinent given that the patients are dependent upon dialysis treatment three times a week for their survival. Thanks to the volunteer legal services provided by Lindsay Jones and the tremendous support from the press, Grady
contracted with a private company, Fresenius, to provide dialysis treatment at their local centers. Multiple times Grady attempted to prematurely terminate their contract with Fresenius, but, thanks to the steadfast efforts of ARxC, Grady eventually allowed the contract to fulfill its year-long duration.Beginning in May 2010 Grady sent out letters to the patients notifying them that treatments at Fresenius will end on August 31, 2010 (click the following link to view Grady's letter to the patients). Fresenius personnel confirmed this to be the case.
We have appealed to the private companies or existing hospitals (click the following links to view our Petition to Save the Grady Dialysis Patients and our Letter to President Wagner of Emory University) and to our elected officials to help our deserving patients (click the following links to view our August 27, 2010 Press Release , Letter to the Elected Officials and the Precautionary Measures of OAS issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights). To date all our legislators and elected officials have ignored our plight with the exception of DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson and Jeffrey Taylor of Oakhurst Medical Centers Inc.
In the months leading up to the September 1, 2010 deadline Commissioner Johnson held meetings with all of the concerned parties (Grady Hospital officials, private dialysis providers, and ARxC) to find a viable solution.
The Fresenius contract ended on August 31,2010 at which time ARxC patients were granted with an extension of dialysis treatment to ensure the patients would receive dialysis treatment until negotiations were finalized (see August 31, 2010 Press Release).
On September 10, 2010 a settlement was reached for 38 of the dialysis patients in need of finding ongoing care (ARxC’s 32 patients plus 5 additional uninsured End Stage Renal Disease patients of Grady Hospital). It was determined that
13 randomly selected patients would receive ‘in kind’ treatment from Emory Dialysis, Fresenius, and DaVita. The remaining 25 patients would be provided dialysis treatment for one year through a contract between Grady Hospital and Fresenius. Part of this contract requires that the patients pay a monthly fee for their dialysis care (see September 14, 2010 Press Release).At this time none of ARxC’s patients have received a written statement verifying that their dialysis will be continued by a specified dialysis provider. However, to date, all of the patients have continued to receive their routine dialysis treatments. We expect their care to continue until September 1, 2011.
We believe that this is a crisis of honoring human life. This is the reason why we have appealed to the Human Rights Commission to help us find sustainable dialysis for these patients.
Please post your comments on the Contact Us page. We welcome your input on this issue as we have yet to find a solution that ensure the remaining 30 patients will receive long-term dialysis treatment after the August 31, 2010 deadline.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization we rely on donations to continue our work as patient advocates. Please consider making a donation to further our efforts by going to our Please Donate webpage.
Advocacy Initiatives to Resolve the Dialysis Crisis
Summer 2011: ARxC and patients work to increase awareness about the dialysis crisis. Go to Dialysis Crisis or
Diálisis Crisis (en español) to see the latest articles and media releases.
May, 2011: ARxC works with Commissioner Emma Darnell in attempt to renew all of the patients' Grady Cards.
April 1-3, 2011: ARxC participates as an exhibitor at the Global Humanitarian Summit at Emory University.
Spring 2011: ARxC collaborates with an immigration attorney to ensure all eligible patients begin the legalization process.
February 9, 2011: ARxC mobilizes patients to receive primary care and discounted medication from a local community health center.
August 29, 2010: ARxC and 33 Patients with their families attended Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, for service and prayers at the invitation of Rev. Pastor Nibs Strope and ARxC attorney Lindsay Jones. The congregation openly received ARxC members offering their prayers and support. DeKalb Comm. Larry Johnson graciously attended and addressed the congregation. Comm. Johnson delivered a message of hope for a care home for the ARxC patients. He promised to continue negotiations on Tuesday, August 31, toward a resolution of continuous dialysis treatment. Some other supports including a few Grady Coalition members also attended. The service was followed by a meeting between ARxC and their attorney Lindsay Jones to announced the 33 Dialysis patients would receive one more week of treatment. Negotiations will continue this week as ARxC expressed their continued resolve toward a viable solution with all parties. New York Times and Mundo Hispanico reporters and photographers were also present.
August 27, 2010: ARxC again appeals to county, state, and federal officials. See Dialysis Crisis tab to view the complete press release.
August 27, 2010: The Petition to Save the Grady Dialysis Patients is submitted with 507 signatures and the personal comments of the undersigned to the dialysis providers of Atlanta, Georgia as a means to encourage them to partake in the negotiations and collaboratively provide ongoing dialysis treatment for the patients. To view the petition letter, signatures, and comments please follow the link to the
Petition to Save the Grady Dialysis Patients.
To see later action taken by ARxC please view ARxC “A Crisis of Care” timeline
