Fresenius Medical Care North America plans to open a new dialysis center near Hayden, Idaho, in November.


The Waltham, Mass.-based company operates five other dialysis centers in Spokane, Post Falls, and Coeur dAlene in a joint venture with Sacred Heart Medical Center, and the one in Hayden will be part of that venture as well, says Jean Stevens, Portland-based regional vice president for Fresenius.


The cost of equipment and remodeling for the new center is more than $600,000, says Gary Pete, a project manager for Fresenius. The new dialysis center will occupy a 6,500-square-foot space in the Coeur dAlene Tech Center office park at 7600 Mineral Drive, north of Coeur dAlene near U.S. 95.


Leone & Keeble Inc., of Spokane, is remodeling the space for the center, which will include 12 dialysis stations, along with offices and exam rooms. Bernardo Wills Architects PS, also of Spokane, is the project architect.


The primary alteration needed to prepare the 6,500-square-foot space is setting up a water system for the planned dialysis stations, Pete says.


Stevens says Fresenius is opening the center to extend its service territory into the Hayden area, and the new center will provide easier access to other North Idaho communities as well. She says the center will employ six or seven people.


Sacred Heart started the dialysis centers in Spokane and Coeur dAlene in collaboration with Renal Care Group Inc., of Nashville, Stevens says. Fresenius bought Renal Care Group in April 2006.


Michael Threadgill, of Hope Realty, handled the lease for the new center.


Contact Jeanne Gustafson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at jeanneg@spokanejournal.com.