Kidney failure occurs for many reasons including complications from diabetes, hypertension, and renal cancer; side effects of drugs, or the result of an accident. Patients are generally referred to a nephrologist prior to requiring kidney dialysis. When kidney function falls below 10 to 15 percent, dialysis is usually required.

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System owns and operates four dialysis units.  They are located in Watertown, SD; Sisseton, SD; and Ortonville, MN. All Prairie Lakes facilities are open to all patients and accept visitors for treatments when possible.

The medical director for the three dialysis units is Prairie Lakes Nephrologist, Dr. Tina Melanson. She visits the dialysis units frequently and sees patients at outreach clinics in the region. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Melanson, please call 605-882-5455.

Staffing at the dialysis units include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and technicians. Other support staff members include a social worker, registered dietitians, pharmacists and bio-medical technicians. Providing management and leadership along with Dr. Melanson is the Prairie Lakes Dialysis Director Tim Jackan.

Kidney disease is not just about kidney failure. Each patient is different and all suffer from many related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and vascular problems. Some dialysis patients are cancer survivors and some have had amputations, etc. The dialysis staff is very experienced and takes great pride in assisting the patients with their problems and any concerns whether they are physical, psycho-social, financial, etc. Clinically, our units have excellent results especially in the area of dialysis adequacy, anemia control and morbidity rates.

For more information, please contact the Prairie Lakes Kidney Dialysis Department at 605-882-7905.