Holtz Children's Hospital expands Pediatric Dialysis Unit

Jackson Memorial Hospital's Holtz Children's Hospital celebrated the renovation of the Pediatric Dialysis Unit Tuesday morning by honoring the Batchelor Foundation, George E. Batchelor, founder; Alonzo Mourning and Zo's Fund for Life; the Jackson Memorial Foundation Guardian Angels; and Alma Hernandez, in memory of her husband Dr. Ismael Hernandez. Together, they raised all of the $800,000 needed for the project.

“We are really pleased to be able to improve the facility where young children have to spend so much time receiving treatment. The efforts of the Batchelor Foundation, Alonzo Mourning, Alma Hernandez and our own Guardian Angels has been really spectacular”

The project expanded the facility to eight hemodialysis stations from six, completed esthetic remodeling for a more child-friendly environment, and increased patient capacity by 33 percent. The renovation enables the accommodation of 48 patients from 36. Treatment chairs in the treatment stations were placed to enhance patient privacy and one unit was converted into an isolation area. Each child undergoing dialysis is connected to a machine for three or four hours, three times a week. A child-friendly environment makes a difficult process that much more tolerable for children.

"We are really pleased to be able to improve the facility where young children have to spend so much time receiving treatment. The efforts of the Batchelor Foundation, Alonzo Mourning, Alma Hernandez and our own Guardian Angels has been really spectacular," said Roland D. Rodriguez, President and CEO of Jackson Memorial Foundation.