Peconic Bay Medical Center Expands Lifesaving Care through New Dialysis Program

Contact: Steven Vulpis
(631) 548-6891
svulpis@northwell.edu

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK (JANUARY 18) – Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) has announced that the hospital has implemented a new and advanced dialysis program, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), which will now be available to treat patients experiencing kidney injury. CRRT is administered much slower than typical dialysis, and it is a more comfortable alternative for critically ill patients, as it is gentler on the body.

For critically ill patients experiencing kidney injury who can no longer tolerate traditional dialysis, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy is PBMC’s new way to continue lifesaving treatment,” said PBMC Chief of Nephrology Dr. Khurram Mehtabdin. “With a drastic increase in intensive care patients and renal failures throughout Suffolk County, this technology will help further the hospital’s mission to save lives and enhance patient care.”

When dialysis treatment is no longer viable, and a patient is critically ill, CRRT is conducted to purify the blood using a catheter-based dialyzer that filters out waste. As an advanced form of dialysis, CRRT takes over the kidneys’ function and filters out more waste and fluids than traditional dialysis. CRRT is conducted until patients can tolerate standard dialysis or no longer require it at all.

Several conditions can cause kidney injury—severe dehydration, urinary tract obstructions, untreated diseases such as heart or liver disease and autoimmune kidney diseases—each of which weakens the kidney’s ability to remove waste from the blood efficiently. Studies have shown that kidney injuries can also result from severe cases of COVID-19. As kidney-related health issues increase, PBMC is adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape by offering new innovative ways to treat patients with critical care needs.

"By introducing CRRT to our ICU, PBMC is elevating the care patients within our ICU receive,” said PBMC Executive Director Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN. “With the launch of this new program, patients will no longer need to be transferred to larger outside facilities for this level of care. We are incredibly proud to see our community hospital’s programs grow each year as we continue our mission to provide the highest quality medical care to residents of Eastern Suffolk County."

The new dialysis system will be available to patients at PBMC’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Corey Critical Care Pavilion. Implementing this new technology is a part of Peconic Bay Medical Center’s ongoing efforts to make the most advanced medical technology available to Eastern Suffolk County residents.

For more information about Peconic Bay Medical Center, visit www.pbmchealth.org.

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About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Located in Riverhead, NY, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 144-bed nonprofit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers wide-ranging, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women’s health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and an extensive range of outpatient services, along with state-of-the-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.