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SATELLITE DIALYSIS is an in-center dialysis program that is focused on improving clinical outcomes and making lives better for those who have chronic kidney disease. Our longstanding experience and professional expertise allow us to provide the highest quality care and to meet or exceed clinical benchmarks for critical indicators of patient outcomes. Below is a summary of SATELLITE DIALYSIS outcomes for 2008 as compared to national outcomes (The latest reported figures are from 2007).
Kt/V is unitless measure of adequate dialysis treatment. Satellite employs formal urea kinetic modeling as recommended by the National Kidney Foundation KDOQI clinical practice guidelines for adequacy in hemodialysis. KDOQI guidelines advise providing a Kt/V of ≥ 1.2. The graph above illustrates that the percentage of SATELLITE DIALYSIS patients who achieved the target Kt/V, 95%, significantly exceeded the national benchmark at 90%.
Anemia is a troublesome condition for many people on dialysis. Hemoglobin is the blood measure that indicates a shortage of oxygen carrying blood cells. Low hemoglobin is associated with tiredness, lack of energy, heart disorders, shortness of breath and other physical symptoms. National guidelines recommend maintaining the hemoglobin between 10 and 12 g/dL. The chart above demonstrates that SATELLITE DIALYSIS outcomes for hemoglobin surpassed the national benchmark.
Albumin is a protein in the blood that may indicate nutrition status, although other factors can cause albumin levels to be low. Low albumin is a significant indicator of risk for death. SATELLITE DIALYSIS is committed to maintaining blood albumin levels at ≥ 3.5 g/dL. Approximately, 81% of patients across the nation achieved this target, whereas 83% of SATELLITE DIALYSIS patients achieved the albumin target.
Hospitalization rates provide an average number of days that each patient spends in the hospital each year. Lower hospitalization rates are equated with better health and fewer serious medical problems.
The type of vascular access that is used for hemodialysis can significantly affect patient outcomes. The order of choice for vascular access is fistula, graft, and then catheter. Catheters are associated with poorer outcomes including infection and hospitalization. It is recommended that as many patients as possble have a permanent vascular acess (fistula or graft) rather than a catheter. While it is preferable for a fistula or graft to be placed prior to the need for dialysis, if the patient starts dialysis with a catheter, it is best t place a permanent access as quickly as possible. The chart above shows that SATELLITE DIALYSIS had significantly lower catheters > 90 days than the national average. The chart below shows that SATELLITE DIALYSIS had a significantly higher percentage of patients with a fistula.
Standardized Mortality Rates (SMR) provide information about how long a patient lives on dialysis. Optimally the SMR is less than 1.0. SATELLITE HEALTHCARE has consistently had SMRs below 1.0 and the SMRs have continued to drop over the previous 3 years, meaning that our patients have an increased survival rate. 
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