Grady Patients Turned Away from Private Dialysis Clinics

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Several patients have been turned away from the private clinics they were sent to, after Grady Hospital closed its outpatient dialysis center on Saturday. They're waiting for help, and some have already gone to Grady's Emergency Room to get the vital treatment.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

Karla Miranda's 74-year old grandmother, Rosa Lira, was told that a clinic in Norcross would give her the next 3 months of dialysis. But when Miranda called on Friday the clinic said it hadn't received her grandmother's name.

MIRANDA: So I called today around 9, and they told me that she wasn't on their list, and the only thing I could do was go to through Emergency (Room) so she could get her dialysis.

Ignacio Godinez Lopez reported to his clinic in College Park at 7:30 this morning:

LOPEZ: I got there and they told me there were some changes, they cannot not see me there, I have to come back to Grady, and start going to the Emergency Room.

Grady spokesperson Matt Gove says these are hiccups on the part of the operator of these clinics, a company called Fresenius:

GOVE: We have since discussed with Fresenius and understand from them that they have made a few last-minute location changes for some of the patients, and are doing everything they can to ensure that every patient is communicated with as soon as possible.

Calls to Fresenius were not returned by airtime.

Grady closed its clinic because it loses $2 million a year.

Odette Yousef, WABE News.