Posted on: Thursday, February 7, 2002

Hawai'i Dialysis center changing hands

Advertiser Staff

St. Francis Medical Center is selling its Pearlridge kidney dialysis center to Fresenius Medical Care North America of Lexington, Mass., its joint venture partner in the 2-year-old operation.

The 25 employees at the St. Francis Medical Center Pearlridge Dialysis Facility will be offered jobs with Fresenius or at other St. Francis operations, St. Francis spokeswoman Maggie Jarrett said yesterday.

Patients can continue to receive treatment at the Pearlridge facility or at one of three other O'ahu dialysis sites that St. Francis operates, Jarrett said. St. Francis has 1,200 dialysis patients statewide.

The sale of the Pearlridge facility is part of an ongoing review of costs at St. Francis, Jarrett said. Last April, St. Francis Healthcare System eliminated 150 jobs as it struggled with higher medical costs and lower Medicare reimbursement levels.