U.S. House of Representatives and Gov. Christine Gregoire recognize milestone
Seattle, WA (Jan. 30, 2012): Throughout 2012 nonprofit Northwest Kidney Centers is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the world’s first dialysis organization. The largest community-based, nonprofit dialysis provider in the United States, Northwest Kidney Centers has grown into a leader in patient care, education and research, changing the face of care for kidney disease in the United States and worldwide.

On Jan. 13 Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire issued a congratulatory proclamation, and on Jan. 27, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) of Seattle introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing Northwest Kidney Centers’ 50th anniversary and the contributions the nonprofit organization has made. Co-sponsors are Reps. Dave Reichert (R-WA), Norm Dicks (D-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Jay Inslee (D-WA), each of whom represents a Washington district where Northwest Kidney Centers operates.

“We are deeply grateful to Rep. McDermott for sponsoring the resolution. As cofounder of the bipartisan Congressional Kidney Caucus, he has long been a champion for people with kidney disease,” said Joyce F. Jackson, president and CEO of Northwest Kidney Centers. “We thank Gov. Gregoire and the co-sponsoring members of Congress as well for recognizing that Northwest Kidney Centers’ 50th anniversary marks a significant milestone in health care nationwide.”

Both the resolution and the proclamation recognize significant steps in the creation and development of Northwest Kidney Centers:

In 1960, University of Washington researcher Dr. Belding Scribner created the Scribner Shunt, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribner_shunt#History) a medical device that allowed people to live indefinitely with repeated dialysis. As a result, community leaders came together to raise money and find space so Northwest Kidney Centers could open its doors in Seattle on Jan. 8, 1962. That made Northwest Kidney Centers the first organization in the world established to deliver dialysis treatments outside of a hospital.

Last year it served nearly 1,500 patients in 14 dialysis centers and 11 local hospitals, and trained and supported 200 patients who give themselves dialysis at home. All together the organization provided 226,000 dialysis treatments to patients in 2011. With a staff of 565, Northwest Kidney Centers is the largest dialysis provider in King and Clallam counties. It treats 78 percent of the people in its service area who require dialysis.

Throughout its history Northwest Kidney Centers has taken the...