Sanford Tom & Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis

Dialysis is literally a life-saving procedure for patients whose kidneys have been lost or do not properly function due to disease, birth defects or injury. The treatment removes waste and extra fluids from patients with diseased kidneys.

Dialysis can be used temporarily until the kidneys resume function or the patient receives a transplant—or for years if those options are not available.

There are two types of dialysis—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is a process that uses a man-made membrane to clear wastes from the blood, restore the proper balance of electrolytes in the blood and eliminate extra fluid from the body. Peritoneal dialysis uses a natural filter—a membrane inside your body—to clear wastes and extra fluid from your body and to return electrolyte levels to normal. After being trained at a dialysis center, a patient can do peritoneal dialysis treatments at home, on his or her own schedule. Not all dialysis patients qualify for this type of treatment.

Doctors

	Michael LeBeau, MD Nephrology
	Jacques Youssef, MD Nephrology

Nurse practitioner

Cindy Weigum, NP Nephrology

Tom & Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis Center

The western region of Sanford Health has been an innovator in treatment options for kidney failure. Sanford Health’s Tom & Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis is the only free-standing kidney dialysis center in central and western North Dakota. In addition, this region of Sanford Health also provides chronic hemodialysis at our Fort Yates and Jamestown locations.

Driving directions/parking

The innovative, free-standing center allows patients to receive treatment without having to enter the hospital. Dialysis patients have been proven to have better outcomes when receiving services in a free-standing center, rather than inside a hospital, because of improved comfort, access and aesthetics. The center offers 15 state of-the-art dialysis stations, including a pediatric station featuring a videogame system. Each station includes a personal television and telephone. The spacious facility uses natural light, a warm color scheme and a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system to ensure patient comfort. A drive-through loop and canopy on the east side of the building provide convenient access and protection from the elements.

The Tom & Frances Leach Bismarck Dialysis was named in honor of a generous grant made by the Tom and Frances Leach Foundation. The couple founded the Leach Foundation in 1955 to promote the public welfare with private resources, providing grants each year that benefit arts and culture, education, human services and health and medical services.

Sanford Health has been and continues to be the leader in kidney transplant services. In 1988, legacy Medcenter One performed the first kidney transplant in North Dakota. Sanford Health is the only medical facility in central and western North Dakota performing kidney transplants.

Recommended links

Links to websites outside Sanford Health are provided for convenience and information only, and Sanford Health assumes no responsibility for their content. Sanford Health is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. You should always read the privacy policy at a website before revealing any personal information.

American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
http://www.aakp.org

American Kidney Fund (AKF)
http://www.kidneyfund.org

National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
http://www.niddk.nih.gov

Life Options Rehabilitation Program
www.lifeoptions.org and www.kidneyschool.org

National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
www.kidney.org

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