Apheresis Center Opens

Last week, Sarasota Memorial launched its in-house apheresis program, which employs advanced technology to separate and remove, exchange or modify a blood component to treat conditions such as kidney disease, cancer, neurological conditions, blood-related and autoimmune disorders, sickle cell and other diseases.

The demand for apheresis treatment is expected to increase in the coming years, with the expansion of oncology services and facilities throughout the health care system.

Frequency of apheresis depends on the diagnosis, but on average, a patient will receive treatment three times a week for two to four weeks.

From left: Hemodialysis & Apheresis Center staff Benny Kruger and Sonia Jarrett, with Lisa Benning-Cooper of Critical Care, show the special equipment that performs a variety of apheresis procedures. Last week, SMH began offering the treatment, which previously had been outsourced.

Hemodialysis and Apheresis Center Staffed by Specially Trained Team

Before the in-house service began last week, SMH had outsourced apheresis. Now, it’s provided by our specially trained Hemodialysis staff.

Apheresis is similar to hemodialysis, but there are some key differences. Apheresis separates the blood and removes antibodies or other components, while hemodialysis filters the blood and removes impurities or an abundance of fluids.

Apheresis now is offered to inpatients at the bedside or in the Hemodialysis Department, and to outpatients at the Sarasota Memorial Infusion Center. The Hemo staff also provide therapeutic phlebotomy treatments.

Hemodialysis & Apheresis Center Manager Lisa Hinds, left, and
Medical Director Nishant Bhensdadia, MD

Lisa Hinds, who had been serving as manager of Hemodialysis at SMH, now is the manager of the combined Hemodialysis and Apheresis Center. Nephrologist Nishant Bhensdadia, MD, has been named medical director of the center, and oversees all orders and policies directly related to hemodialysis and apheresis.

Ordering of the apheresis procedure is currently limited to nephrologists, neurologists, hematologists, oncologists and rheumatologists.

Patient care staff may contact an Apheresis/Dialysis nurse by calling ext. 1870 during regular business hours or on VOALTE under APHERESIS NURSE. After hours and on Sunday, patient care staff can call the operator and request a call to the Hemodialysis/Apheresis on-call nurse.

Many thanks to staff from Infusion, the Laboratory and Hemodialysis for their great work during the two-year planning process for the new center.