Kidney Dialysis

The job of the kidneys is to get rid of waste and excess water in the blood and help restore the chemical balance of the body.  If a kidney is damaged, a person would need dialysis to "do the job" of a kidney. Dialysis can also quickly extract toxins or drugs from the system. 

There are many reasons for kidney failure, including:

• Complications from diabetes
• Side effects of drugs
• Renal cancer
• Hypertension
• 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. Patients will start one of two types of dialysis: Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis. 

Dialysis Team

• Registered nurses
• Licensed practical nurses
• Technicians
• Social worker
• Registered dietitians
• Pharmacists
• Bio-medical technicians
• Medical Director, Tina Melanson, MD, FNKF, FACP
• Stefanie Roby, Certified Physician Assistant
• Chelsey Sundberg, Certified Nurse Practitioner
• Dialysis Director, Jan Hansen

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 or otherwise. Dr. Tina Melanson, Stefanie Roby PA-C and Chelsey Sundberg CNP visit the dialysis units frequently and see patients at outreach clinics in the region.

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System owns and operates three dialysis units, located in:

• Watertown, SD
• Sisseton, SD
• Ortonville, MN 

All of our facilities are open to all patients and accept visitors for treatments when possible. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 605-882-5455. For general information, please contact the Prairie Lakes Kidney Dialysis Department at 605-882-7905.