DaVita Lufkin Dialysis Center reopened its doors Wednesday morning for the first time in two months, treating nine patients as it works with state health officials in a phased reopening.
The facility closed its doors April 28 after contacting police, state and federal health officials about a spike in patient deaths and health complications. Lufkin police have charged former DaVita nurse Kimberly Clark Saenz, 34, of Pollok, with aggravated assault for allegedly injecting two patients with bleach. Both patients survived.
A health survey conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services in mid-May was released to The Lufkin Daily News through open records and contained a heavily censored document that did not include a description of deficiencies found at the 700 S. John Redditt Drive facility. DaVita has reopened with state approval after hiring physician, nurse and technical monitors to oversee its staff.
DaVita spokesman Michael Chee issued a statement at a press conference held Wednesday morning.
"Our patients are returning to a state-of-the-art facility committed to providing quality dialysis care in a safe and secure environment," Chee said. "Our teammates are very pleased once again to resume caring for their Lufkin patients who may have missed (our facility while it) has been closed."
Family members of the late Thelma Metcalf, a patient who died at the center April 1, were barred from attending a press conference held outside the facility at 11 a.m. Wednesday. An Angelina County sheriff's deputy kept watch on the premises, and said he expected to be there all day.
Wanda Hollingsworth, who is Metcalf's daughter, along with her daughter, nephew and sister-in-law, had been protesting the facility's reopening in front of the clinic earlier in the day by holding up homemade signs, including one with the statement "Beware. They don't care. My granny was murdered there."
"I wanted to ask a few questions or at least listen to what he had to say. I wasn't going to make a scene, and he told me to get off the property," Hollingworth said of Chee. "If he was so sure of himself and his statement, then he shouldn't have had a problem with one of the victims' family members being here. But with how they have handled things, it doesn't surprise me."
Hollingsworth said she wants the facility to shut down, DaVita to take responsibility and the nurse who has been charged to serve jail time.
"You can't tell me that someone else did not know what was going on," she said.
As the group held up signs, several drivers who passed by them on South Loop 287 honked in support.
"We're out here today because we are wanting to get some other public opinion on who wants DaVita here," Hollingsworth said.
Comments
By An oldtime patient
Oct 11, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
I've been on and off dialysis for 37 yrs. and in the last 10 yrs. through the same company. Which has been bought by DaVita. It's been only a few years now and there has been the usual up & downs that you get at any job. But our care givers are the best and I've come to know them as my friends. These people are caring and get concerned when I am ill. If there is a problem, then look at the individual that's causing it. The Bible says to not listen to those who are mutters meaning people that complain all the time and are just not happy. As a patient, I hear everything, and most of it is about each other. The Techs. and the nurses. I'm sorry that me being ill is a source of your problems, but we do have our own and if we don't meet your goals- oh well! I realize there are those patients that are impossible to work with, please remember that they aren't happy about thier circumstances.
By urbandjazz1
Oct 2, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
DaVita is indeed very money hungry!! They would not
support me on a physical threat from a patient.
Can not in good faith work for a company that would not
support me. Now working for FMC.
By Action needs to be made
Sep 18, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
This company is the worst. Trust me I know because I worked for them and they are a bunch of evil, coniving, money hungry people (Davita). Everything that I've read from articles and as well as from family members of patients that belong to Davita facilities all say the same thing. The state has also stated that they're basically always non compliant with the state. And that is true because I've done research about Davita in other states and they're all saying the same thing. We need to come together and put them out of business because patients are not getting the proper care. And the patients are paying their salaries and just making the big wigs of Davita richer and it's not fair. The unit I worked in New York is horrible and another unit has just closed down in New York as well. Please everyone come together and makea public stand to the media so the whole nation could know what Davita is all about. I will be making a stand to my state governor as well as the media real soon.
By Delia
Aug 21, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
What is going on with this situation? Is this nurse being charged, being let go or what? I would like an update.
By wow gold
Aug 6, 2008 1:49 AM | Link to this
wow gold
wow gold
By wow gold
Aug 6, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this
wow gold
wow gold
By ex tech indiana
Jul 30, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Obviously only the first line of my comment was read because i go on to explain that I cannot live my life being pissed for there decision on there own choice for there life. But i do get upset that i try and try to explain to them the bad decisions they make will ultimatly kill them. The resentment I feel I guess I should say is more towards other staff because of there lack of care for patients and there love for money, as well as higher up davita employees who do not actually work in a facility with these people, make it impossible for the pts to hear my voice because everyone else around us few caring staff is saying who cares just make sure your here and on time so we don't have any delays and you better not have any problems or will be really mad at you.
By concerned
Jul 29, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
There is no reason for resentment towards patients. The patients are the reason you have a job. Resent the company that promises you something that they know you will never get. If you are just there for the money you are in the wrong place. Sure, everyone goes to work to get a paycheck, but if that is the ONLY reason you go to work, you need to find another field to work in. Healthcare is no place for you. Love of money is what caused all of this in the first place. DaVita and their greed, not wanting to spend money where it needs to be spent and cutting corners that shouldn't be cut.
By another one
Jul 28, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
"Would we feel slight resentment to patients that do not meet there goals and affect the bonus" "a little sure!"
And, this tells it all. Patient care driven by bonuses? Resentment towards patients! Thanks for your honesty. If this is prevalent a closer look is warranted.
By ex tech to professional
Jul 27, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Would we feel slight resentment to patients that do not meet there goals and affect the bonus? a little sure! but they are, for the most part, adults they will do as they wish. It is our job to take care of them while there at treatment and educate them on the decisions they should be making with there diets and meds. But, again they are adults and it helps me to sleep knowing I at least tried instead of being pissed off about there "own life" decision they have made. Regardless of all that, the matter is I never felt that good about caring for these patients because Davita wouldn't give me that time to properly care for them! Because of this we were making there condition worse rather than better. If they feel we don't care and were pushing them aside then why should they care. Are push aside, scream at them for making a wrong decision attitude gives them the same reaction. They think fine then i might as well push my care aside to because if "professional's" are doing it why can't I?!?
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