Dialysis Program

At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, we recognize the critical role of dialysis in the holistic continuum of care of children with kidney failure. More than three-quarters of children who come to Packard Children’s for kidney transplantation do so while receiving maintenance dialysis. We believe optimal dialysis is a key contributor to the excellent outcomes our kidney transplant program provides. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital’s 3,000 square-foot dialysis center houses six state of- the-art dialysis machines plus a training annex where parents can learn how to care for their children on dialysis at home.

Because the Dialysis Center is located inside the hospital, patients can be seen by the medical team frequently during dialysis to monitor care and respond to problems Packard Children’s also provides the most advanced dialysis water purification technology available anywhere; only at Packard can children receive treatment using ultra-pure dialysis water.

Children receive highly specialized nursing care and attention from a multi-disciplinary team in a cheerful and stimulating setting.

This is especially important to those children with families who come to Packard for kidney transplantation from outside the Bay Area. The expertise of the dialysis team keeps patients awaiting kidney transplants in optimal physical condition, while the Center’s fun and creative activities boost patient morale. Children can access the Internet, play video games, watch movies, spend time with child life therapists and even do homework in an are area overlooking a sunny, landscaped courtyard.

Medical Director:  Cynthia J. Wong, MD, Assistant Professor – Pediatric Nephrology

Programs

  • Hemodialysis
  • Peritoneal Dialysis
  • Plasmapheresis

Dialysis Team

Manager:  Marlys Ludlow, RN

Assistant Manager:  Kathy Cagan, RN

Nurse Coordinators: Lonisa McCabe, RN

Dialysis Unit Staff: Vivien Paquia, RN and Germain Wilkom, RN

Engineer:  Dean Peterson

Billing:  Marison Miller

Useful Links to Reference Literature/Web sites:

 

Hemodialysis Unit Main Phone: 650- 724-1000